JP2020049516A - Formed product production system - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a system which can automatically measure a weight of a molded formed product while transporting the product.SOLUTION: A formed product production system comprising: a table 31 in which a vertically penetrating mortar hole 4 is provided; a filling device for filling powders into the mortar hole 4 of the table 31; and a powder compression molding machine A having an upper pestle and a lower pestle which molds a formed product P by compressing the powders filled in the mortar hole 4. In the formed product production system, a weight measuring device A2 which measures a physical amount correlated to a weight of the formed product P is located at a prescribed position along a movement path of the formed product P which moves after molding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a molded product production system that can consistently execute processes such as molding and inspection of molded products.

  The table of the turntable is provided with a die hole, and an upper punch and a lower punch are slidably held above and below each die hole, and the table and the punch are horizontally rotated together to form a pair of the upper punch and the lower punch. 2. Description of the Related Art A rotary powder compression molding machine is known which compresses (or compresses) powder filled in a die hole when the powder passes between an upper roll and a lower roll. This type of powder compression molding machine is used for manufacturing pharmaceutical tablets, foods, electronic components and the like.

  The molded article is inspected for any abnormalities on its outer surface, inspected for contained components, inspected for the presence of foreign matter, and the like. In recent years, equipment (or equipment) for inspecting molded articles and performing other post-processes has been connected downstream of the powder compression molding machine, and the process from molding of molded articles to post-processing is performed collectively. (For example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  Further, a module capable of transferring the molded product in an aligned state while maintaining the order in which the molded product is molded by the powder compression molding machine has been developed (for example, see Patent Document 2 below). This product has many holes in the outer periphery of a transfer body (rotary body) that rotates horizontally about a vertical axis, and captures one by one in each of the holes to rotate the molded product on the orbit. Transport along. If an inspection device is provided at a predetermined position on the rotation trajectory, which is the locus of the movement of the molded product, it is possible to sequentially inspect each conveyed molded product.

  On the other hand, in the powder compression molding machine, a sensor (typically, a load cell) for detecting the magnitude of the pressure acting on the punch when compressing the powder filled in the die hole is installed in advance. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 3 below), and the density and hardness of the molded article can be estimated from the pressure at the time of compression molding of the molded article. Conventionally, this is excluded from molded products having an inappropriate density or hardness, that is, molded products having abnormal pressure during compression molding.

  However, even if the pressure during compression molding is normal, it cannot be concluded that the target molded product is not defective. In the case of tableting failure in which the powder remains attached to the die or punch after compression of the powder, so-called binding or sticking occurs, the molded product is chipped and its shape, size or weight becomes poor, From the magnitude of the pressure at the time of compression molding, it is not possible to detect such a defect of the molded product due to the tableting trouble.

JP 2017-164786 A JP 2017-104902 A JP 2010-260100 A

  An object of the present invention is to implement a system that can automatically measure the weight of a molded article while transporting the molded article.

  In the present invention, a table provided with a vertically penetrating mortar hole, a filling device for filling powder into the mortar hole of the table, and a method for molding a molded product by compressing the powder filled in the mortar hole A molded product production system comprising a powder compression molding machine having a punch and a lower punch, wherein a physical quantity correlated with the weight of the molded product is determined at a predetermined position along a movement path of the molded product moving after being molded. A molded product production system equipped with a weight measuring device for measurement was configured. In such a case, the weight of the molded article can be automatically measured while being transported.

  Here, the powder is an aggregate of minute solids, and is a concept including an aggregate of particles such as so-called granules and an aggregate of powder having a shape smaller than the particles. Specific examples of the powder include a powder containing a main drug (base agent, active ingredient), an excipient for increasing the bulk and weight of a molded product to an appropriate size, and powder adhering to a die or punch. Stable to stabilize the quality, such as a lubricant to prevent crushing, a binder to bind the powders together, a starch as a disintegrant, a crystalline cellulose and a carbonate, which disintegrate the molded product by absorbing moisture. And additives such as preservatives for extending the storage period. A powder obtained by mixing two or more kinds of powders is also a kind of the powder according to the present invention, and a powder obtained by mixing a powdery main ingredient with a powdery additive also corresponds to the powder.

  The weight measuring device includes, for example, a sensor provided on a member to which a moving molded article collides in the course of movement, and which detects a force received by the member at the time of the collision.

  The powder compression molding machine, while providing a die hole in the table of the rotating disk, holding the upper punch and the lower punch slidably above and below each die hole, horizontally rotating the die hole and the punch together. When the pair of upper punch and lower punch is of a rotary type that compression-molds the powder filled in the die hole when passing between the upper roll and the lower roll, a rotary powder compression molding machine is used. The pressure sensor can be provided on a scraper that is positioned immediately above the horizontal rotation trajectory of the mortar hole so as to overlap the table from above and scrapes the molded product pushed out from the mortar hole by the lower punch.

  A control device for estimating the weight of the molded product based on the output signal of the sensor, the control device outputs an output signal of the sensor when the molded product to be a sample collides with the member, and the weight of the molded product If the input of the calibration curve data, which is a set of, is to be received and stored, the same number of calibration curve data obtained for a plurality of samples as for the same number of samples can be fitted to a straight line through regression analysis or interpolation or a curve. By performing fitting, a calibration curve which is a relational expression between the output signal of the sensor and the weight of the molded product can be obtained. Then, at the time of actual operation of the present system, the weight of the molded article can be accurately calculated by substituting the signal value output by the sensor when the molded article collides with the member into the relational expression.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the system which can measure the weight automatically while conveying the molded article is implement | achieved.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary powder compression molding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The principal part top view of the powder compression molding machine and molded article removal apparatus of the embodiment. The cylindrical view of the powder compression molding machine of the embodiment. The principal part top view of the extraction device of the embodiment. The principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the extraction device of the embodiment. The principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the extraction device of the embodiment. The principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the extraction apparatus and dust removal apparatus of the embodiment. The principal part top view of the molded article conveyance device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the transport device of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the transport device and the inspection device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the transport device and the inspection device of the embodiment. The principal part top view of the molded article conveyance device of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the transport device of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the transport device and the inspection device of the embodiment. The longitudinal section of the important section of the conveyance device and the rejection device of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the transport device and the inspection device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the roll and load cell of the rotary powder compression molding machine of the embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overall outline of a rotary powder compression molding machine (hereinafter, referred to as “molding machine”) A in the present embodiment will be described. The molding machine A has an upper punch 5 and a lower punch 6 which are vertically slidably held above and below a die hole 4 which penetrates vertically, and the powder filled in the die hole 4 is filled with the upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6. Then, the molded product P, for example, a tablet of a pharmaceutical product is molded by compressing. The mortar hole 4 and the upper and lower punches 5, 6 serve as a mold for molding the molded product P.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an upright shaft 2 serving as a rotating shaft is established in a frame 1 of the molding machine A, and a rotating disk 3 is attached to an upper portion of the upstanding shaft 2 via a connection portion.

  The turntable 3 rotates horizontally around the axis of the upright shaft 2, that is, rotates. The turntable 3 includes a table (mill disk) 31, an upper punch holder 32, and a lower punch holder 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the table 31 has a substantially disc shape when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the turntable 3, that is, from above and below. A plurality of die holes 4 are provided on the outer peripheral portion at predetermined intervals along the rotation direction (circumferential direction). The mortar hole 4 penetrates the table 31 in the vertical direction. The table 31 may be divided into a plurality of plates. Also, instead of directly forming the mortar hole 4 in the table 31 itself, a plurality of mortar members that are separate from the table 31 and detachable from the table 31 are mounted on the table 31, and the mortar members 4 It is good also as a structure which drilled the mortar hole which penetrated in the up-down direction in each.

  An upper punch 5 and a lower punch 6 are arranged above and below each die hole 4. The upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6 are held by the upper punch holding portion 32 and the lower punch holding portion 33 such that each can be individually slid in the vertical direction with respect to the die hole 4. The tip 53 of the upper punch 5 enters and exits the die hole 4. The tip 63 of the lower punch 6 is always inserted into the die hole 4. The upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6 rotate horizontally, that is, revolve around the axis of the upright shaft 2 together with the turntable 3 and the die hole 4.

  A worm wheel 7 is attached to the lower end of the upright shaft 2. A worm gear 10 meshes with the worm wheel 7. The worm gear 10 is fixed to a gear shaft 9 driven by a motor 8. The driving force output by the motor 8 is transmitted to the gear shaft 9 by the belt 11, and drives the upright shaft 2, that is, the turntable 3 and the punches 5, 6 via the worm gear 10 and the worm wheel 7 to rotate.

  The raw material of the molded product P, that is, the powder as the constituent material is filled into the die hole 4 from the feed shoe X as a filling device. The feed shoe X includes a stirring feed shoe and an open feed shoe, and any of them may be employed. A powder supply device is used for supplying the powder to the feed shoe X. The powder is supplied to the powder supply device from the hopper 19. The hopper 19 can be attached to and detached from the molding machine A.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the preload upper roll 12 and the preload lower roll 13, which are paired up and down with the punches 5 and 6 interposed therebetween, on the orbit of the punches 5 and 6 around the axis of the upright shaft 2. There is a main roll 14 and a main roll 15. The preload upper roll 12 and the preload lower roll 13 and the main pressure upper roll 14 and the main pressure lower roll 15 are moved up and down so as to compress the powder filled in the die hole 4 from above and below with the tips of the punch tips 53 and 63. The punches 5 and 6 are urged in a direction to approach each other.

  The upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6 have heads 51 and 61 pressed by the rolls 12, 13, 14 and 15, respectively, and body portions 52 and 62 smaller in diameter than the heads 51 and 61. The upper punch holding portion 32 of the rotating disk 3 holds the body portion 52 of the upper punch 5 slidably up and down, and the lower punch holding portion 33 holds the body portion 62 of the lower punch 6 slidably up and down. I do. The tip portions of the body portions 52, 62, ie, the punch tips 53, 63, are thinner than the other portions and have a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the die hole 4 so that they can be inserted into the die hole 4. Due to the revolution of the punches 5, 6, the rolls 12, 13, 14, 15 approach the heads 51, 61 of the punches 5, 6, and come into contact with the heads 51, 61 so as to ride on them. Further, the rolls 12, 13, 14, 15 push down the upper punch 5 and push up the lower punch 6 upward. While the rolls 12, 13, 14, 15 are in contact with the flat surfaces on the punches 5, 6, the punches 5, 6 continue to apply a constant pressure to the powder in the die hole 4.

  A transfer position 16 for the molded product P is located at a position further advanced in the rotation direction of the turntable 3 and the punches 5 and 6 from the press position by the main pressure upper roll 14 and the main pressure lower roll 15. By the transfer position 16, the lower punch 6 is raised until the upper end surface of the punch tip 63 of the lower punch 6 is substantially at the same height as the upper end of the die hole 4, that is, the upper surface of the table 31. Is extruded from the die hole 4. The molded product P extruded from the die hole 4 is transferred at a transfer position 16 to a molded product processing device (hereinafter, referred to as “processing device”) connected to the molding machine A.

  The control device 0 that controls the molding machine A and the processing device (each module B, C, and D) of the present embodiment includes a processor, a main memory that is a storage device, and an auxiliary storage device (for example, a flash memory, a hard disk drive, or the like). ), A microcomputer system having an input / output interface, a personal computer or a workstation, or a programmable controller. The control device 0 reads a program stored in advance in an auxiliary storage device into a processor via a memory, decodes the program in the processor, and controls the molding machine A and the processing device.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the upper rolls 12, 14 of the molding machine detect the pressure when the rolls 12, 13, 14, 15 compress the powder in the die hole 4 via the punches 5, 6. A load cell A1 as a sensor is provided. The control device 0 receives the signal output from the load cell A1 attached to the rolls 12, 13, 14, 15 to thereby determine the magnitude of the pressure (preload pressure) at which the preload rolls 12, 13 compress the powder and the main pressure. The magnitude of the pressure (main pressure) at which the rolls 14 and 15 compress the powder can be known. Further, the signal provided from the load cell A1 takes the form of a pulse signal train that peaks at a point in time when the pressure at which the set of punches 5 and 6 compresses the powder in the one die 4 is maximized. Therefore, the control device 0 can obtain the production quantity of the molded product per unit time in the molding machine by counting the number of the pulse trains.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, and 12, in the present embodiment, the processing device attached to the molding machine A includes modules B, C, and D for performing some post-process processing on the molded product P. Are arranged in a plurality.

  The module B directly connected to the downstream of the molding machine A has an unloading device B1 for sequentially taking out the moldings P from the molding machine A while maintaining the order in which the moldings P are molded in the molding machine A. The take-out device B1 takes out the molded product P at the transfer position 16, and conveys the molded product P to the processing device B2 that performs the next process on the molded product P. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 to 7, the unloading device B 1 includes a rotating body 17 as a transfer body that horizontally rotates around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating plate 3 and the table 31 of the molding machine A, and a rotating body 17. A plurality of projections 171 projecting downward from the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 facing the holding body 18 toward the holding body 18; An outer guide 20 which is close to the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 17 and closes a gap between the protrusions 171 from the outer side, and which is inside the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 and is between the protrusions 171 and 171. A main component is an inner guide 21 that closes the air gap from the inner side.

  The rotating body 17 rotates clockwise in the figure with respect to the table 31 that rotates counterclockwise in the figure. In order to synchronize the rotation of the table 31 and the rotation of the rotating body 17, a motor for rotating the rotating body 17 is a servo motor or a stepping motor, and the rotating disk 3 and the rotating body are rotated by using an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder. The rotation angle and the rotation speed of each of the motors 17 are detected, and the rotation speed of the motor is feedback-controlled so that the rotations of the two are synchronized. Alternatively, the turntable 3 and the rotating body 17 may be mechanically connected to each other via a gear transmission mechanism or a wrapping transmission mechanism to make them interlock.

  The rotator 17 has a substantially disk shape in plan view as viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotator 17, that is, from above and below. The plurality of protrusions 171 provided on the rotating body 17 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 17, that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 17. I have. It goes without saying that these projections 171 rotate integrally with the rotating body 17. The molded product P molded by the molding machine A is captured by the projection 171 of the rotating body 17 and transported in a state of being accommodated in the gap between the projection 171 and the projection 171.

  The size W of the gap between the protrusions 171 adjacent in the circumferential direction is larger than the longest outer dimension of the molded product P formed by the molding machine A. The longest outer dimension referred to herein means that the shape extends from a point on the outer edge (contour) of the molded product P toward the center of gravity or the geometric center of the molded product P in a plan view, and passes through the same center of gravity or the geometric center. Among the lengths of the line segments that reach another point on the outer edge of the article P, the length is the largest. When the molded product P has an elliptical shape in plan view, it corresponds to the outer dimension whose major axis or major axis is the longest.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the holding body 18 face each other at a predetermined distance in the up-down direction. The lower surface of the rotating body 17 is higher than the upper surface of the table 31 of the molding machine A. Then, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 overlaps the table 31 of the molding machine A from above. The tip of the projection 171 protruding from the lower surface of the rotating body 17 is extremely close to the upper surface of the holder 18 and the upper surface of the table 31. With the synchronous rotation of the table 31 and the rotating body 17, each of the die holes 4 and the gap between each of the projections 171 temporarily overlap at the transfer position 16 of the molded product P.

  Unlike the rotating body 17, the holding body 18 does not rotate and is arranged so as to overlap the outer periphery of the rotating body 17 from below. The holding body 18 is adjacent to the table 31 of the molding machine A, and has an upper surface substantially at the same height as the upper surface of the table 31. The molded product captured in the space between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 slides or slides on the upper surface of the holding body 18 while rotating horizontally with the projections 171. That is, the holder 18 supports the transferred molded product from below. In order to avoid interference with the table 31, a portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the delivery position 16 where the table 31 and the rotating body 17 overlap in a plan view is cut out in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the table 31. The edge of this portion of the holder 18 is very close to the outer peripheral edge of the table 31, and the molded product P is smoothly transferred from the upper surface of the table 31 of the molding machine A to the upper surface of the holder 18 of the unloading device B1. be able to.

  The separation distance H between the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the holder 18 is equal to or greater than the thickness of the molded product P formed by the molding machine A in the vertical direction, and is the shortest of the molded product P. Set smaller than the outer dimensions. The shortest outer dimension referred to here means extending from a point on the outer edge of the molded product P toward the center of gravity or the geometric center of the molded product P in a plan view, passing through the same center of gravity or the geometric center, and forming the molded product P. The smallest line segment that reaches another point on the outer edge. When the molded product P has an elliptical shape in plan view, the minor axis or minor axis corresponds to the shortest outer dimension. The thickness of the molded product P is along the vertical direction of the punch tip 53 of the upper punch 5 and the punch tip 63 of the lower punch 6 when the compression of the powder filled in the die hole 4 is completed in the molding machine A. It is almost equal to the distance.

  The outer guide 20 is adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 17 and extends so as to form a substantially circular arc surrounding the rotating body 17 in plan view. The guide 20 closes the gap between the projections 171 that are open outward in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotating body 17 from the outside, and the molded product P moves outward from the gap by centrifugal force. Suppress jumping out. The starting end 201 of the outer guide 20 protrudes toward the table 31 of the molding machine A, and is positioned immediately above the horizontal rotation path of the die hole 4 so as to overlap the table 31 from above. At the transfer position 16, the molded product P extruded to the position serves as a scraper (or a damper) to be taken into the scraping-out device B1.

  Further, the inner guide 21 is adjacent to the radially inner edge of the projection 171 of the rotating body 17 and is expanded inside the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 so as to form a substantially arc shape in plan view. I have. The guide 21 closes a gap that opens inward along the radial direction of the rotating body 17 from the inside, thereby preventing the molded product from being unintentionally displaced inward. The inner guide 21 may be fixed to the holder 18 or integrated with the holder 18. The lower surface of the portion of the rotating body 17 facing the upper surface of the inner guide 21 is slightly higher than the lower surface facing the gap at the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 (that is, the portion where the projection 171 is not provided). It is concave. The upper surface of the inner guide 21 is located at a position slightly higher than the lower surface facing the gap at the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 except for the area where the dust removing device B2 described later is provided. This prevents the molded product P from entering the gap between the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the inner guide 21.

  As described above, in the molding machine A, the lower punch 6 rises and pushes out the molded product P from the die hole 4 until the die hole 4 containing the molded product P reaches the transfer position 16. The extruded molded product P contacts the outer guide 20 with the rotation of the table 31 at the transfer position 16, moves along the outer guide 20, and transitions from the table 31 to the holding body 18. . At this time, the molded product P is captured by the projection 171 projecting downward from the rotating body 17 and enters a gap between the projection 171 and the projection 171 in a region between the rotating body 17 and the holding body 18. The molded articles P are accommodated one by one in each void. Thereby, the moldings P are arranged one by one in each gap without breaking the order in which the molding holes P of the table 31 of the molding machine A are arranged, in other words, the order in which the moldings P are compression molded in the molding machine A. Can be accommodated. Moreover, in the process of transferring the molded product P from the table 31 of the molding machine A to the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 of the module B, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

  The molded article P captured in the gap between the projections 171 abuts on the projection 171 on the rear side along the rotation direction of the rotating body 17, and is pushed along the trajectory of the projection 171 while being pressed by the projection 171. Is transported while sliding or sliding on the holding body 18. Each molded product P has a substantially constant relative position to the projection 171 in each gap. The molded article P receives the action of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 17 and is displaced from the inside to the outside along the radial direction of the rotating body 17 in the gap. However, the molded article P abuts on the inner edge of the outer guide 20 to prevent further displacement, and does not protrude outward from the gap. Further, since the upper part of the gap is closed by the rotating body 17, the molded article P captured in the gap does not suddenly jump and escape from the gap.

  The molded product P captured by the projection 171 of the rotating body 17 is transferred to the delivery position 23 which is the end position of the transfer. A portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the transfer position 23 is cut out in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 24 in order to avoid interference with the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 described later. That is, at the transfer position 23, the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 and the holding body 18 do not overlap in plan view. Therefore, each molded product P that has reached the transfer position 23 loses the support from below by the holding body 18, falls off from the gap between the projections 171, and is transferred to the transfer device C 1 of the module C directly connected to the downstream of the module B. Delivered without breaking the order.

  In a part of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 in the conveyance section of the molded product P from the transfer position 16 to the transfer position 23, the processing device in the module B removes dust adhering to the molded product P. A dust removing device B2 is installed.

  A communication hole 172 that allows the space between the protrusions 171 to communicate with the outside is formed in the rotating body 17 in advance. The communication hole 172 is a slot that is located radially inward of the rotating body 17 from each of the gaps, penetrates the rotating body 17 in the vertical direction, and extends along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 17. is there. The number of communication holes 172 is the same as the number of voids. The dust removing device B2 covers the communication hole 172, the gap between the protrusions 171, and the boundary between the rotating body 17 and the outer guide 20 from above, and extends along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 17. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, the dust removal device B2 includes a jet nozzle 221 that is located immediately above the communication hole 172 and jets compressed air K supplied from a pump (not shown) downward toward the communication hole 172, and a rotating nozzle. A dust collecting port 222 is provided immediately above the boundary between the body 17 and the outer guide 20 and sucks air K upward by a pump (not shown). The compressed air K may be ionized by a static eliminator in advance, or may be ejected in a pulsed manner. The compressed air K supplied from the ejection nozzle 221 reaches the gap between the projections 171 through the gap between the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the inner guide 21, and is applied to the outer surface of the molded product P accommodated in this gap. The dust that is sprayed and adheres to the outer surface of the molded product P is blown off from the molded product P and removed. The air K containing dust after blowing on the molded product P leaks upward from a gap between the rotating body 17 and the outer guide 20 and is sucked into the dust collecting port 222.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the starting end 201 of the outer guide 20 facing the molded product transfer position 16 stores a physical quantity correlated with the weight of the molded product P sequentially taken out of the molding machine A by the module B. A weight measuring device A2 for measuring is installed. The weight measuring device A2 includes a sensor that detects the magnitude of the force applied to the start end 201 when the molded product P pushed out from the die hole 4 of the table 31 collides with the start end 201 of the guide 20. As the sensor A2, a strain gauge type load cell having a thin plate shape is used. This type of load cell A2 detects the amount of distortion of the start end 201 due to the stress generated when the molded article P collides with the start end 201. However, the specific mode of the sensor A2 is arbitrary, and is not limited to the strain gauge. For example, as the sensor A2, a sensor that detects the amount of displacement of the start end 201 when the molded article P collides with the start end 201 may be employed.

The output signal from the sensor of the weight measuring device A2 is received by the control device 0. The magnitude f of the force applied to the starting end 201 when the molded article P collides with the starting end 201 of the guide 20 and the weight m of the molded article P colliding with the starting end 201, detected via the sensor A2. The following applies, for example, to the relation between
From Newton's equation of motion, m ≒ f / a
f [N] is the force a [m / s ² ] received from the molded product P colliding with the sensor A2, and deceleration when the molded product P collides with the sensor A2, m ≒ 2k / v ² from the law of conservation of energy.
k [J] is the kinetic energy of the molded article P to be detected through the sensor A2, k ≒ mv ^2/2
v [m / s] is the moving speed of the molded product P rotating and moving together with the die hole 4 of the table 31, and v ≒ 2πrn / 60.
r [m] is the distance from the center of the table 31 to the die hole 4, that is, the rotation radius n [rpm] of the rotating and moving molded product P is the number of revolutions per minute of the rotating plate 3 including the table 31 Molding machine A side For example, if the type and amount of the powder to be filled in the die hole 4, the number of rotations of the turntable 3 and the like are constant, the increase in the pressure f or the energy k detected via the sensor A2 will cause the molded product P Means an increase in the weight m, and a decrease in the pressure f means a decrease in the weight m of the molded article P.

  It is simple to calculate the weight of the molded article P in the controller 0 according to the above equation. However, there is a possibility that an error may be mixed in the calculation result of the weight due to the scattering of the powder during operation of the molding machine A and other changes with time, the state of the assembly of the guide 20 to the table 31, and the like. In order to reduce the error in the weight measurement of the molded article P, the molded article P is sampled as a sample (or a standard substance), and the weight is actually measured using a scale A3 such as an electronic balance. Then, the output signal of the sensor A2 when the molded article P serving as a sample collides with the start end 201 of the guide 20, and the weight of the molded article P actually measured using the scale A3 are used as a set of calibration curve data. I do. The calibration curve data is obtained for a plurality of, for example, several tens of specimens of the molded article P.

  The control device 0 receives the input of the calibration curve data and stores it in the memory. An output signal of the sensor A2 when the molded article P selected as a sample collides with the starting end 201, which is an element of the calibration curve data, can be directly received from the sensor A2. The actual measured value of the weight of the molded article P can be received from the scale A3. However, the control device 0 reads out from the recording medium storing the calibration curve data, receives an input (manual input, voice input, or the like) through an input device that can be operated by a human, or receives an input through an electric communication line. In some cases, the input of calibration curve data may be received.

  Thus, the control device 0 performs linear fitting or curve fitting by regression analysis, interpolation, or the like on the same number of calibration curve data obtained for a plurality of samples of the molded article P as the samples, and outputs the output of the sensor A2. A calibration curve, which is a relational expression between the signal and the weight of the molded product P, is obtained. Then, at the time of actual operation of the present system, the weight of the molded article P is accurately determined by substituting the signal value output by the sensor A2 when the molded article P collides with the start end 201 of the guide 20 into the relational expression. Can be calculated.

  The entire number of the molded products P formed by the molding machine A sequentially collide with the starting end 201 of the guide 20. Therefore, the weight of the total number of the molded products P molded by the molding machine A can be measured by the weight measuring device A2.

  The transfer device C1 of the module C following the module B receives the molded product P from the unloading device B1 at the transfer position 23 of the molded product P, and performs processing devices C21, C22, It is transported toward C3 and C4. When the molded product P is transferred between the unloading device B1 and the transport device C1, the order in which the molded product P is molded in the molding machine A is still maintained. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the transport device C1 mainly includes a rotating body 24 as a transport body that horizontally rotates around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1.

  The rotating body 24 rotates counterclockwise in the figure with respect to the rotating body 17 rotating clockwise in the figure. In order to synchronize the rotation of the rotator 17 with the rotation of the rotator 24, for example, the rotation axis of the rotator 17 and the rotation axis of the rotator 24 are mechanically connected via a gear transmission mechanism or a winding transmission mechanism. And make them work together. Alternatively, a servo motor or a stepping motor is used as a motor for rotating the rotating body 24, and the rotation angle and the rotating speed of each of the rotating body 17 and the rotating body 24 are detected using an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder. The rotation speed of the motor may be feedback-controlled so that the rotations are synchronized.

  The rotator 24 has a substantially disk shape in plan view when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotator 24, that is, from the up and down direction. More specifically, the rotating body 24 is formed by combining two disk bodies 240 and 241 having different outer diameters into a disk body 240 having a smaller outer diameter and a disk body 241 having a larger outer diameter. It is configured by superimposing on top and rigidly connecting the two 240 and 241 together. Accordingly, the outer peripheral portion 242 of the lower disk body 241 extends outward from the base of the rotary body 24, that is, the outer peripheral edge of the upper disk body 240, in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotary body 24. put out. This outer peripheral portion 242 serves as a flange of the rotating body 24.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the base 240 of the rotator 24, a pocket 243 that is recessed inward and opens outward in the radial direction is formed. The outer peripheral edge of the base 240 has a generally circular shape, but is recessed only in the pocket 243 in a direction approaching the rotation axis of the rotating body 24. A suction hole 244 having a closed peripheral edge is opened at one side of the flange 242 along the direction of the rotation axis, that is, at a position facing the pocket 243 from below. The suction hole 244 functions as a capturing unit that captures the molded product P in the rotating body 24. When the rotating body 24 is viewed from above and below, at least a part of the suction hole 244 overlaps the pocket 243 and opens upward toward the pocket 243. In plan view, the inner peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 is along the inner wall surface of the pocket 243. The suction holes 244 are through holes that penetrate the flange 242 in the up-down direction.

  The pockets 243 and the suction holes 244 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outside of the rotating body 24, that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 24. Needless to say, the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 rotate integrally with the rotating body 24. The molded product P delivered from the unloading device B1 of the module B to the transfer device C1 of the module C is engaged with the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 and is transferred while being captured by the suction hole 244.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the upper surface of the flange 242 on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 24 of the transfer device C1 is located lower than the lower surface of the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 of the module B, and is substantially the same as the upper surface of the holding body 18. They are at the same height. The outer periphery of the base 240 of the rotating body 24 and the pocket 243 are located at substantially the same height position as the gap between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 so as to horizontally face the gap. Then, a part of the flange 242 of the rotator 24 in a plan view overlaps a part of the rotator 17 from below, and the two face each other in the vertical direction. The tip of the projection 171 projecting from the lower surface of the rotating body 17 comes extremely close to the upper surface of the holder 18 and the upper surface of the flange 242. With the synchronous rotation of the rotating body 17 and the rotating body 24, the gap between each projection 171 and the suction hole 244 temporarily overlap at the transfer position 23.

  In order to avoid interference with the flange 242 of the rotating body 24, a portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the transfer position 23 where the flange 242 and the rotating body 17 overlap in a plan view is cut in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the flange 242. I'm missing. The edge of this portion of the holding body 18 is extremely close to the outer peripheral edge of the flange 242, and the molded product P is moved from the upper surface of the holding body 18 of the unloading device B1 to the upper surface of the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1. Transfers can be made smoothly.

  At the transfer position 23, the molded product P accommodated in the gap between the protrusions 171 of the rotating body 17 and being transported while being pressed by the projection 171 is moved from above the holding body 18 to the rotating body 24 with the rotation of the rotating body 17. On the flange 242. At this time, the molded product P enters the pocket 243 formed in the rotating body 24 and is captured by the suction hole 244. The molded products P are stored one by one in each of the suction holes 244. Thereby, the molded products P are formed one by one in each suction hole 244 without changing the order in which the gaps between the protrusions 171 of the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 are arranged, in other words, the order in which the molded products P are compression-molded in the molding machine A. P can be engaged in sequence. In the process of transferring the molded product P from the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 to the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

  The molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 is transferred along the locus of rotation of the suction holes 244 as the rotating body 24 rotates. The relative position of each molded product P with respect to the rotating body 24 and the suction holes 244 in each suction hole 244 is substantially constant. The molded product P receives the action of the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 24, but is attracted to the suction holes 244 to prevent its displacement, and does not fly out. Further, in the process of transferring the molded product P, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

  Finally, the molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 is transferred to the transfer position 27 which is the end position of the transfer. The molded article P that has reached the transfer position 27 is transferred from the transfer device C1 of the module C to the transfer device D1 of the module D directly connected to the downstream of the module C.

  Hereinafter, a mechanism for sucking the molded product P into the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 will be described. A negative pressure is supplied into each of the pockets 243 and the suction holes 244, whereby the molded product P can be sucked into the pockets 243 and the suction holes 244. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, suction passages 2451 and 2452 for supplying a negative pressure into the pocket 243 are formed in the rotating body 24 in advance. The suction passages 2451, 2452 have opening ends at the innermost positions on the inner wall surface of the pocket 243, and extend therethrough from the inside of the rotating body 24 toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 24. And a suction port 2452 for excavating the rotating body 24 upward from the lower surface thereof toward the end of the internal passage 2451 to open the internal passage 2451 to the lower surface side of the rotating body 24. More specifically, the internal passage 2451 is a groove that opens downward and is formed on the lower surface of the upper disk 240 that is the base of the rotating body 24. The groove 2451 is closed from below by the disk 241 joined to the lower surface of the disk 240. The suction port 2452 is a through hole vertically penetrating a portion of the lower disk 241 located immediately below the end of the internal passage 2451. By the suction passages 2451 and 2452, the inside of the pocket 243 communicates with the position of the suction port 2452 on the lower surface of the rotating body 24, which is biased inward from the pocket 243. The number of suction passages 2451 and 2452 is the same as the number of pairs of pockets 243 and suction holes 244.

  In order to supply a negative pressure into the pocket 243, the atmosphere in the internal passage 2451 and the pocket 243 may be sucked from the suction port 2452. Below the rotator 24, a duct 25 for supplying a negative pressure, which is extended along the outer periphery of the rotator 24 in a plan view so as to form a semicircular arc, is provided. The duct 25 includes a top wall 251 that is extremely close to the lower surface of the rotating body 24, a side wall 252 that hangs down from an inner end and an outer end of the top wall 251, and a bottom wall 253 that connects the lower ends of the side walls 252 to each other. It is a tubular body surrounding the internal space. The internal space of the duct 25 is sucked by a pump (not shown) to make it negative pressure.

  Two slot holes 254 and 256 are formed in a portion of the top wall 251 of the duct 25 located immediately below the suction port 2452 in a partially arc shape with the rotation axis of the rotator 24 as a center. Each of the slot holes 254 and 256 penetrates the top wall 251 in the vertical direction. Each of the slot holes 254 and 256 extends along a trajectory in which each suction port 2452 moves as the rotating body 24 rotates. The expansion range of the former slot hole 254 is a range from the upstream side of the transfer position 23 for receiving the molded product P from the unloading device B1 to the predetermined position downstream of the transfer position 23 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24. Over. The latter expansion range of the slot hole 256 extends from the upstream side of the transfer position 27 for transferring the molded product P to the transfer device D1 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24 to the position immediately before the transfer position 27. Over.

  The negative pressure is supplied into the pocket 243, that is, the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked because the suction ports 2452 of the suction passages 2451 and 2452 connected to the pocket 243 are located immediately above any of the slot holes 254 and 256. It is limited to the time when it is located, that is, the time when the internal space of the duct 25 under negative pressure communicates with the inside of the pocket 243. When the suction port 2452 is at a position where the slot holes 254 and 256 do not exist, the top wall 251 is interposed between the internal space of the duct 25 and the suction port 2452, and the internal space of the duct 25 and the pocket 243 are isolated. , The inside of the pocket 243 is not sucked.

  The duct 25 also has a role of supplying a negative pressure into the suction hole 244. A slot hole 255 is formed in a portion of the top wall 251 of the duct 25 located immediately below the suction hole 244, and has a partial arc shape about the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 in plan view. The slot hole 255 also penetrates the top wall 251 in the vertical direction. The slot hole 255 extends along a trajectory in which each suction hole 244 moves as the rotating body 24 rotates. The expansion range of the slot hole 255 extends from the position immediately after the transfer position 23 for receiving the molded product P from the unloading device B1 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24 to the transfer position 27 for transferring the molded product P to the transport device D1. The range extends to the position immediately before.

  The negative pressure is supplied into the suction hole 244, that is, the suction inside the suction hole 244 is performed when the suction hole 244 is located immediately above the slot hole 255, that is, the internal space of the duct 25 under negative pressure. It is limited to the time when the communication with the inside of the suction hole 244 is established. When the suction hole 244 is at a position where the slot hole 255 does not exist, the inner space of the duct 25 and the suction hole 244 are isolated by the top wall 251 and the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked.

  In the process of delivering the molded product P captured in the gap between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 to the set of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1, first, the transfer position 23 The pair of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 that are located upstream and do not hold the molded product P move toward the transfer position 23. Then, when these reach the position immediately before the transfer position 23, the suction port 2452 connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451 reaches just above the slot hole 254, and the negative pressure supply duct is provided. 25, the suction in the pocket 243 is started. At this point, the suction hole 244 paired with the pocket 243 has not yet reached just above the slot hole 255, and the suction hole 244 is not sucked.

  Of the pair of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 reaching the transfer position 23 of the molded product P, the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked, but the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked. Therefore, the molded article P that has been captured in the gap between the protrusions 171 of the rotating body 17 and arrived at the delivery position 23 is sucked toward the pocket 243 inward toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 24, and Engages. Thereby, the molded article P is positioned at a fixed relative position with respect to the suction hole 244.

  When the pocket 243 sucking the molded article P and the suction hole 244 paired with the pocket 243 move downstream from the transfer position 23, the suction hole 244 reaches immediately above the slot hole 255, and is formed by the duct 25 for supplying negative pressure. The suction in the suction hole 244 is started. As a result, the molded article P adsorbed in the pocket 243 is also adsorbed to the suction hole 244. At this point, the suction port 2452 connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451 is still located immediately above the slot hole 254, and negative pressure is supplied to both the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244.

  When the rotating body 24 rotates and the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 that have sucked the molded product P move further downstream, the suction port 2452 that is connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451 is formed from immediately above the slot hole 254. Because of the separation, the inside of the pocket 243 is not sucked, and the molded product P is not adsorbed to the pocket 243. On the other hand, since the suction hole 244 for sucking the molded product P is still located immediately above the slot hole 255, the molded product P is continuously captured while being sucked by the suction hole 244.

  When the suction hole 244 sucking the molded product P moves downstream and approaches the transfer position 27 for transferring the molded product P to the transport device D1, the pocket 243 and the internal passage 2451 paired with the suction hole 244 are formed. The suction port 2452 connected via the nozzle reaches just above the slot hole 256, and suction in the pocket 243 by the negative pressure supply duct 25 is started, and the molded product P is temporarily stored in the pocket 243. Is also adsorbed.

  Thereafter, when the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 that have sucked the molded product P reach the position immediately before the transfer position 27, the suction hole 244 is separated from immediately above the slot hole 255, and the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked. Then, the molded product P is not adsorbed in the adsorption hole 244. At about the same time or immediately thereafter, the suction port 2452 connected via the internal passage 2451 to the pocket 243 to which the molded article P has been sucked is separated from immediately above the slot hole 256, and the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked. As a result, the molded article P does not adhere to the pocket 243. In this state, the transfer of the molded product P from the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 to the rotating body 28 of the transport device D1 is performed.

  In a part of the outer circumference of the rotating body 24 in the conveyance section of the molded product P from the transfer position 23 to the transfer position 27, as a processing device in the module C, the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed in the molded product P is determined. A foreign matter inspection device C21 for inspecting, a quality inspection device C22 for inspecting the contained components and other qualities of the molded product P, an external surface inspection device C3 for photographing an image of the outer surface of the molded product P and inspecting its state, and A shape inspection device C4 for detecting the shape and position of the outer surface is provided. The quality inspection device C22 constitutes a density measuring device for measuring the density of the molded product P, and the shape inspection device C4 constitutes a volume measurement device for measuring the volume of the molded product P together with the shape inspection device D4 of the module D.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the foreign matter inspection device C21 includes, as an element, a set of a sensor 262 and a light source 261 which are light receiving elements installed at a position overlapping a movement trajectory of the molded product P conveyed by the conveyance device C1 in a plan view. The sensor 262 and the light source 261 are arranged so as to face each other along the vertical direction which is the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 with the molded article P and the rotating body 24 that transports the molded article P interposed therebetween. Then, among the light or electromagnetic wave (which may be a laser) emitted from the light source 261, the transmitted light L1 that has passed through the molded article P is incident on the sensor 262 as signal light, and the signal light L1 is analyzed. It is inspected whether foreign matter is mixed in the molded product P. As a specific method of the inspection, a known method can be adopted. For example, in a transmitted light image obtained by receiving the transmitted light L1 by the sensor 262, if a foreign matter is reflected as a shadow of a color or pixel value different from that of the molded product P, this is detected by image analysis, The presence of foreign matter mixed in the molded article P can be sensed.

  The quality inspection device C22 is located in the same area as the foreign matter inspection device C21. The quality inspection device C22 has, as an element, a set of a sensor 263, which is a light receiving element, and a light source 261 installed at a position that overlaps the movement trajectory of the molded article P transported by the transport device C1 in a plan view. The light source 261 of the quality inspection device C22 may be common to the light source 261 of the foreign material inspection device C21, or may be separate from the light source 261 of the foreign material inspection device C21. It is assumed. The quality inspection device C22 detects, as signal light, the reflected light L2 reflected from a predetermined surface, for example, the upper surface of each molded product P captured and transferred by the suction hole 244, out of the light or the electromagnetic wave emitted from the light source 261. 263, and the signal light L2 is analyzed to check whether the components and other qualities of the molded article P are appropriate. As a specific method of the inspection, a known method can be adopted. For example, a spectral spectrum of the reflected light L2 received by the sensor 263 is obtained, and the absorption and / or scattering of light by the molded article P is measured with reference to the spectral spectrum, in other words, the effective light included in the molded article P is measured. The molded product P is broken by absorbing the concentration of the component (or the main drug, the main agent), the additives (excipients, lubricants, binders that bind the powders, and water) added to the active ingredient, and absorbing moisture. Concentration of active ingredient and additive, degree of mixing of active ingredient and additive (uniformity of powder, whether or not segregation occurs), density of molded article P, The hardness of the molded article P and other qualitative or quantitative analyzes are performed.

  As the wavelength of the light or electromagnetic wave to be used, that is, the light or electromagnetic wave supplied from the light source 261, for example, a wavelength band in which there is no peak of an excipient or a lubricant and which is a specific absorption peak of the active ingredient is used. This light or electromagnetic wave may be near-infrared light. In that case, the quality inspection device C22 can analyze the quality of the molded article P by near-infrared spectroscopy. Further, in the foreign substance inspection device C21, it is easy to detect foreign substances derived from living bodies such as hair and insects mixed in the molded article P. Of course, this does not prevent the foreign substance inspection device C21 from detecting metals and other foreign substances. The near-infrared light is less likely to destroy the active ingredient and the like contained in the molded article P than visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and the like. Therefore, the commercial value of the molded product P that has undergone the quality inspection is not lost, and can be supplied to the market as it is as a product. Ultraviolet rays and radiation are harmful to the human body and require protection, but near-infrared light has no such disadvantages.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor 262 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 and the sensor 263 of the quality inspection device C22 in the side view or the side cross section view the molded product P and the rotating body 24 that transports the molded product P. It is arrange | positioned so that it may be sandwiched and may be opposed along the up-down direction. At the same time or almost at the same time that one sensor 262 receives the transmitted light L1 from the molded product P passing through a specific position on the locus of movement of the molded product P, the other sensor 263 passes through the position. Another molded product P that receives the reflected light L2 from the molded product P or passes a position immediately upstream or immediately downstream of the position along the locus of the movement of the molded product P (particularly, passes through the position. From the molded product P adjacent to the molded product P, that is, the molded product P engaged with the suction hole 244 adjacent to or near the suction hole 244 engaged with the molded product P passing through the position. Is received. Then, at the same time or almost at the same time as the foreign matter inspection device C21 inspects the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product P passing through the position, the quality inspection device C22 sets the same molded product P or a neighboring molded product P. Inspect the components and other qualities.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the outer surface inspection device C3 has a camera sensor that captures a predetermined surface, for example, the upper surface of each molded product P captured and transferred by the suction hole 244, and acquires an image thereof. The acquired image can be used for inspection of the state of the outer surface of the molded article P. That is, it is possible to determine whether the state of the outer surface of the molded product P is normal or defective by analyzing the photographed image or comparing it with the image of the normal molded product P.

  The camera of the visual inspection device C3 may not only photograph the upper surface of the molded product P but also photograph the lower surface of the molded product P. The width, length, diameter, area, and the like of the molded product P can be measured by analyzing an image obtained by photographing the upper surface / lower surface of the molded product P. Further, it is also possible to photograph the side surface of the molded article P and determine whether the state is normal or defective. The thickness (or height) dimension of the molded product P can be measured by analyzing an image obtained by photographing the side surface of the molded product P. The process in the visual inspection device C3 is not limited to adopting any one of them, and a plurality of processes may be combined.

  The suction hole 244 for capturing the molded product P penetrates vertically through the flange 242 of the rotating body 24, and one of the light source 261 and the sensor 262 is located immediately above the flange 242, and the other is located immediately below the flange 242. doing. Further, in plan view as viewed from above and below, the peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 is closed continuously for one round, and the peripheral edge has a size and shape that fits inside the outer edge of the molded product P sucked by the peripheral edge. . When the suction hole 244 for capturing the molded product P passes through the area where the foreign matter inspection device C21, the quality inspection device C22, and the external surface inspection device C3 are located, a negative pressure is supplied from the duct 25 into the suction hole 244. Therefore, the molded product P adheres exactly to the suction hole 244, and no gap is formed between the peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 and the outer edge of the molded product P.

  For this reason, in the foreign substance inspection device C21, while the signal light L1 transmitted through the molded product P is appropriately incident on the sensor 262 through the suction hole 244, stray light other than the signal light L1, that is, light not transmitted through the molded product P is The light is shielded by the rotating body 24 and the flange 242, and is prevented from entering the sensor 262. The molded article P sucked and held by the suction holes 244 is conveyed along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24, but the relative position with respect to the rotating body 24 and the suction holes 244 is fixed. This means that the molded article P is irradiated with light or electromagnetic waves to analyze the signal light L1 transmitted through the molded article P, to analyze the reflected light L2 reflected by the molded article P, and to analyze the molded article P with a camera. This is effective for processing for photographing and performing an external inspection.

  The shape inspection device C4 detects the shape and position of a predetermined surface, for example, the upper surface of each molded product P captured and transferred by the suction hole 244. In the present embodiment, the shape inspection device C4 measures the shape and position of the upper surface of the molded product P by a known light cutting method. As shown in FIG. 16, the shape inspection device C4 irradiates a light source 264 that irradiates a line beam (which may be a laser) which is a slit-like or line-like light or an electromagnetic wave toward the upper surface of the molded article P to be transferred. Then, an image is taken of a light cutting line (bright line) PL appearing on the upper surface of the molded product P as a result of being illuminated by the line beam, that is, a portion that appears to be shining (for the sensor 265) by the reflected light of the line beam on the upper surface of the molded product P. And a camera sensor 265 as a light receiving element. On an image photographed at one time via the sensor 265, a shining light cutting line PL that is curved or bent along the surface shape of the upper surface of the target molded product P is projected. Based on the position coordinates of the light cutting line PL in this image, on a one-dimensional area extending in a direction intersecting or orthogonal to the moving direction of the molded product P on the upper surface of the molded product P (the amount of one light cutting line PL 3) The three-dimensional position coordinates of each place can be obtained.

  With the rotation of the rotating body 24, the suction hole 244 and the molded article P supplemented by the rotation body 24 are moved along the rotation locus relative to the light source 264 and the sensor 265 of the shape inspection device C4. Move in the direction. The moving direction is constant, and can be regarded as a substantially linear direction when viewed locally. Eventually, the upper surface of the molded product P is scanned by the line beam and the optical cutting line PL, and in the process, the sensor 265 repeatedly and repeatedly acquires a photographed image including the optical cutting line PL in a short cycle. The three-dimensional position coordinates of each part of the whole are obtained. As a result, the shape inspection device C4 measures the shape and height position of the upper surface of the molded product P, including fine irregularities.

  However, the shape inspection device C4 does not always detect the shape and the height position of the upper surface of the molded product P by the light cutting method. For example, a rangefinder (laser) that emits a laser that is coherent light or electromagnetic waves toward various locations on the upper surface of the molded article P and measures the time required for the laser reflected by the molded article P to be received by a sensor. The shape and height position of the upper surface of the molded product P can be measured using a distance meter. It is also conceivable that the shape inspection device C4 detects the shape and height position of the upper surface of the molded article P by a phase shift method, a space coding method, a moiré method, a stereo matching method, or the like.

  The wavelength of the light or the electromagnetic wave used by the shape inspection device C4, that is, the light or the electromagnetic wave supplied from the light source 264 may be near-infrared light. As described above, the near-infrared light does not easily destroy the effective components and the like contained in the molded article P, and is not harmful to the human body and does not require protection.

  The table 31 of the molding machine A, the rotator 17 of the unloading device B1 of the module B, and the rotator 24 of the transfer device C1 of the module C rotate in synchronization with each other. The control device 0 of the molding machine A and the processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an angular position sensor (a rotary encoder or the like) attached to the rotating disk 3 of the molding machine A, the rotating body 17 of the unloading apparatus B1, or the rotating body 24 of the transporting apparatus C1. By referring to the signal output from the rotary member 24, it is possible to know at which position each of the suction holes 244 arranged along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 is currently located. Furthermore, it is possible to know at what position in the module C the molded article P which has been compression-molded in the numbered die hole 4 on the table 31 of the molding machine A is currently located. This means that it has just passed in front of the sensor of the weight measuring device A2, has now passed in front of the sensors 262 and 263 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 and the quality inspection device C22, and has now passed in front of the camera of the external surface inspection device C3. Or, the molded product P that has just passed the sensor 265 of the shape inspection device C4, that is, the molded product P that has been subjected to weight measurement, foreign material inspection, quality inspection, outer surface inspection, or shape inspection, It means that it can be determined whether or not it has been molded. The control device 0 includes information (results of the molding of the object) on the result of measuring or inspecting the molded product P via the weight measuring device A2, the foreign material inspection device C21, the quality inspection device C22, the external surface inspection device C3, or the shape inspection device C4. Judgment as to whether foreign matter is mixed in the product P, whether there is any abnormality in the quality of the target molded product P, whether the target molded product P is normal or defective in the state and shape of the outer surface, etc. (Including the result) is stored in the storage device in association with the ID number indicating the number of the die hole 4 of the target molded product P.

  The transfer device D1 of the module D following the module C receives the molded product P from the transfer device C1 at the transfer position 27 of the molded product P, and sends the processed products D2 and D4 which perform the next process to the molded product P. To be transported. When the molded product P is transferred between the transport device C1 and the transport device D1, the order in which the molded product P is molded in the molding machine A is still maintained. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the transfer device D1 mainly includes a rotating member 28 as a transfer member that horizontally rotates around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating member 28 of the transfer device C1.

  The rotating body 28 rotates clockwise in the figure with respect to the rotating body 28 rotating counterclockwise in the figure. In order to synchronize the rotation of the rotator 24 with the rotation of the rotator 28, for example, the rotation axis of the rotator 24 and the rotation axis of the rotator 28 are connected via the gear transmission mechanism 42 or the winding transmission mechanism. Connect them mechanically. Alternatively, a servo motor or a stepping motor is used as a motor for rotating the rotating body 28, and the rotation angle and the rotating speed of each of the rotating body 24 and the rotating body 28 are detected using an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder. The rotation speed of the motor may be feedback-controlled so that the rotations are synchronized.

  The rotator 28 has a substantially disk shape in plan view when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotator 28, that is, from above and below. More specifically, the rotator 28 includes two disk members 280 and 281 having different outer diameters, and a disk member 281 having a larger outer diameter and a disk member 280 having a smaller outer diameter. It is configured by superimposing on top, rigidly connecting the two 280 and 281 and integrating them. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion 282 of the upper disk 281 extends outward from the base of the rotor 28, that is, the outer peripheral edge of the lower disk 280, in the radial direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotor 28. put out. The outer peripheral portion 282 serves as a flange of the rotating body 28.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the base 280 of the rotating body 28, a pocket 283 that is concave inward and opens outward in the radial direction is formed. The outer peripheral edge of the base 280 has a substantially circular shape, but is recessed only in the pocket 283 in a direction approaching the rotation axis of the rotating body 28. A suction hole 284 having a closed peripheral edge is formed in the flange 282 at a position facing the pocket 283 from the other side in the direction of the rotation axis, that is, from above. The suction hole 284 functions as a capturing unit that captures the molded product P in the rotating body 28. When the rotating body 28 is viewed from above and below, at least a part of the suction hole 284 overlaps the pocket 283 and opens downward toward the pocket 283. In plan view, the inner peripheral edge of the suction hole 284 is along the inner wall surface of the pocket 283. The suction hole 284 is a through-hole that penetrates the flange 282 in the up-down direction.

  The pockets 283 and the suction holes 284 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outside of the rotating body 28, that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 28. Needless to say, the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 rotate integrally with the rotating body 28. The molded product P transferred from the transfer device C1 of the module C to the transfer device D1 of the module D is engaged with the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 and is transferred while being captured by the suction hole 284.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the lower surface of the flange 282 on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 28 of the transport device D1 is higher than the upper surface of the flange 242 on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 of the module C. The outer periphery of the base 280 of the rotating body 28 and the pocket 283 are located at substantially the same height position as the base 240 and the pocket 243 of the rotating body 24 so as to be horizontally opposed. Then, a part of the flange 282 of the rotator 28 in a plan view overlaps a part of the flange 242 of the rotator 24 from above, and the two oppose each other in the vertical direction. The suction hole 244 and the suction hole 284 temporarily overlap at the transfer position 27 with the synchronous rotation of the rotating body 24 and the rotating body 28. The upper surface of the base 240 of the rotator 24 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the flange 282 of the rotator 28, and the upper surface of the flange 242 of the rotator 24 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the base 280 of the rotator 28. It does not interfere with the body 28.

  At the transfer position 27, the molded product P captured and transported by the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 transitions from above the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 to immediately below the flange 282 of the rotating body 28. At this time, the molded product P enters the pocket 283 formed in the rotating body 28 and is captured by the suction hole 284. The molded products P are accommodated one by one in each of the suction holes 284. Thereby, the molded products P are individually placed in the respective suction holes 284 without changing the order in which the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 are arranged, in other words, the order in which the molded products P are compression-molded in the molding machine A. They can be engaged in order. In the process of transferring the molded product P from the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 to the rotating body 28 of the transport device D1, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P are not turned over.

  The molded product P captured by the suction holes 284 is transferred along the locus of rotation of the suction holes 284 with the rotation of the rotating body 28. In each of the molded products P, the relative position with respect to the rotating body 28 and the suction holes 284 is substantially constant in each of the suction holes 284. The molded product P receives the action of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 28, but is attracted to the suction holes 284 to prevent its displacement, does not fly outward, and does not fall out of the suction holes 284. Further, in the process of transferring the molded product P, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

  Finally, the molded product P captured by the suction hole 284 is transferred to the end position E of the transfer by the transfer device D1 unless it is removed by a removal device D3 described later. Then, at this end position E, it is detached from the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 and is transferred to a device for performing the next step for the molded product P, or flows down to a container or the like for collecting the molded product P. Will be done.

  Hereinafter, a mechanism for sucking the molded product P into the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 will be described. A negative pressure is supplied into each of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284, so that the molded product P can be sucked into the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, suction passages 2851 and 2852 for supplying a negative pressure into the pocket 283 are formed in the rotating body 28 in advance. The suction passages 2851 and 2852 have opening ends at the innermost positions on the inner wall surface of the pocket 283, and extend therethrough from inside the rotating body 28 toward the rotation axis of the rotating body 28. And a suction port 2852 for excavating the rotating body 28 downward from the upper surface thereof toward the end of the internal passage 2851 to open the internal passage 2851 to the upper surface side of the rotating body 28. Specifically, the internal passage 2851 is a groove that opens upward and is formed on the upper surface of the lower disk body 280 that is the base of the rotating body 28. The groove 2851 is closed from above by a disk 281 joined to the upper surface of the disk 280. The suction port 2852 is a through hole that vertically passes through a portion of the upper disk 281 that is located immediately above the end of the internal passage 2851. By the suction passages 2851 and 2852, the inside of the pocket 283 communicates with the position of the suction port 2852 on the upper surface of the rotating body 28, which is biased inward from the pocket 283. The number of suction passages 2851 and 2852 is the same as the number of sets of pockets 283 and suction holes 284.

  In order to supply a negative pressure into the pocket 283, the atmosphere in the internal passage 2851 and the pocket 283 may be suctioned from the suction port 2852. Above the rotator 28, a duct 29 for supplying a negative pressure, which is extended along the outer periphery of the rotator 28 in a plan view so as to form a semicircular arc, is provided. The duct 29 includes a bottom wall 291 that is extremely close to the upper surface of the rotating body 28, side walls 292 that rise from the inner end and the outer end of the bottom wall 291, and a top wall 293 that connects the upper ends of the side walls 292 together. It is a tubular body surrounding the internal space. The internal space of the duct 29 is suctioned by a pump (not shown) to be a negative pressure.

  In a portion of the bottom wall 291 of the duct 29 located directly above the suction port 2852, a slot hole 294 having a partial arc shape centering on the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 in plan view is formed. The slot hole 294 extends vertically through the bottom wall 291. The slot holes extend along the trajectory where each suction port 2852 moves as the rotating body 28 rotates. The expansion range of the slot hole 294 extends from the upstream side of the transfer position 27 for receiving the molded product P from the transfer device C1 to a predetermined position downstream of the transfer position 27 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28. .

  The negative pressure is supplied into the pocket 283, that is, the inside of the pocket 283 is sucked when the suction ports 2852 of the suction passages 2851 and 2852 connected to the pocket 283 are located immediately below the slot hole 294. That is, it is limited to the time when the internal space of the duct 29 under negative pressure and the inside of the pocket 283 communicate with each other. When the suction port 2852 is at a position where the slot hole 294 does not exist, the bottom wall 291 is interposed between the internal space of the duct 29 and the suction port 2852, and the internal space of the duct 29 and the pocket 283 are isolated. The inside of 283 is not sucked.

  The duct 29 also has a role of supplying a negative pressure into the suction hole 284. In a portion of the bottom wall 291 of the duct 29 located immediately above the suction hole 284, a slot hole 295 having a partial arc shape about the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 in a plan view is formed. The slot hole 295 also penetrates the bottom wall 291 in the vertical direction. The slot holes 295 extend along the trajectory where the suction holes 284 move as the rotating body 28 rotates. The extension range of the slot hole 295 extends from the transfer position 27 where the molded product P is received from the transport device C1 to a position immediately before the end position E of the transport of the molded product P by the transport device D1 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28. Over the range.

  The negative pressure is supplied into the suction hole 284, that is, the suction inside the suction hole 284 is performed when the suction hole 284 is located immediately below the slot hole 295, that is, the internal space of the duct 29 under negative pressure. It is limited to the time when the communication with the inside of the suction hole 284 is established. When the suction hole 284 is at a position where the slot hole 295 does not exist, the inner space of the duct 29 and the suction hole 284 are isolated by the bottom wall 291, and the inside of the suction hole 284 is not sucked.

  In the process of transferring the molded product P captured by the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 of the transfer device C1 to the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 of the transfer device D1, first, the transfer position 27 The pair of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 that does not hold the molded product P and is located upstream of the container 27 moves toward the delivery 27. Then, when these reach the position immediately before the transfer position 27, the suction port 2852 connected to the pocket 283 via the internal passage 2851 reaches just below the slot hole 294, and the duct for supplying the negative pressure. The suction in the pocket 283 by 29 is started. At this time, the suction hole 284 paired with the pocket 283 has not yet reached the position immediately below the slot hole 295, and the inside of the suction hole 284 is not sucked.

  On the other hand, in the transport device C <b> 1, a set of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 that is located upstream of the transfer position 27 and holds the molded product P moves toward the transfer 27. Then, when these reach the position immediately before the transfer position 27, the suction hole 244 is separated from immediately above the slot hole 255 of the duct 25, and the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked. No longer adsorbs. At about the same time or immediately thereafter, the suction port 2452 connected via the suction passages 2451 and 2452 to the pocket 243 to which the molded article P is sucked is separated from immediately above the slot hole 256, and Is no longer sucked, and the molded article P does not adhere to the pocket 243. Therefore, the molded article P that has arrived at the transfer position 27 is placed only on the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the transport device C1 and is not restrained by the pocket 243 or the suction hole 244.

  In the transport device D1, when the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 that do not hold the molded product P reaches the transfer position 27 of the molded product P, the suction hole 284 reaches directly below the slot hole 295, and The suction in the suction hole 284 by the pressure supply duct 29 is started. At this time, the suction port 2852 connected to the pocket 283 via the internal passage 2851 is still located immediately below the slot hole 294, and a negative pressure is supplied to both the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284. As a result, at the transfer position 27, the molded product P on the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the transporting device C1 moves toward the pocket 283 of the rotating body 28 of the transporting device D1 so as to approach the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 inward. And transitions under the flange 282 to engage with the pocket 283. Thereby, the molded article P is positioned at a fixed relative position with respect to the suction hole 284. Further, the molded product P is in a state of being sucked not only in the pocket 283 but also in the suction hole 284.

  When the rotating body 28 rotates and the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 that have sucked the molded product P moves downstream from the transfer position 27 by a certain amount or more, the suction port 2852 connected to the pocket 283 via the internal passage 2851. Is removed from immediately below the slot hole 294, so that the inside of the pocket 283 is not sucked, so that the molded product P is not sucked into the pocket 283. On the other hand, since the suction hole 284 for sucking the molded product P is still located immediately below the slot hole 295, the molded product P is continuously captured while being sucked by the suction hole 284.

  Thereafter, when the suction hole 284 that has sucked the molded product P reaches the position immediately before the end position E, the suction hole 284 separates from immediately below the slot hole 295, and the inside of the suction hole 284 is not sucked. P is no longer adsorbed in the adsorption hole 284. Therefore, the molded product P is detached from the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 and falls from the flange 282, and is transferred to the apparatus for performing the next process on the molded product P, or a container or the like for collecting the molded product P Flow down toward.

  As a processing device in the module D, an image of the outer surface of the molded product P is photographed in a part of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 28 in the conveyance section of the molded product P from the transfer position 27 to the end position E. An outer surface inspection device D2 for inspecting the state and a shape inspection device D4 for detecting the shape and position of the outer surface of the molded product P are provided. The shape inspection device D4 and the shape inspection device C4 of the module C constitute a volume measuring device for measuring the volume of the molded product P.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the outer surface inspection device D2 has a camera sensor that captures an image of a predetermined surface, for example, a lower surface of each molded product P captured and transferred by the suction hole 284, and acquires an image thereof. The acquired image can be used for inspection of the state of the outer surface of the molded article P. That is, it is possible to determine whether the state of the outer surface of the molded product P is normal or defective by analyzing the photographed image or comparing it with the image of the normal molded product P.

  The camera of the appearance inspection device D2 may not only photograph the lower surface of the molded product P but also photograph the upper surface of the molded product P. The width, length, diameter, area, and the like of the molded product P can be measured by analyzing an image obtained by photographing the upper surface / lower surface of the molded product P. Further, it is also possible to photograph the side surface of the molded article P and determine whether the state is normal or defective. The thickness of the molded product P can be measured by analyzing an image obtained by photographing the side surface of the molded product P. The process in the visual inspection device D2 is not limited to adopting any one of them, and a plurality of processes may be combined.

  In a plan view as viewed from above and below, the periphery of the suction hole 284 is closed continuously for one round, and the periphery has a size and shape that fits inside the outer edge of the molded product P sucked by the periphery. In addition, when the suction hole 284 for capturing the molded product P passes through the area where the external surface inspection device D2 is located, since the negative pressure is supplied from the duct 29 into the suction hole 284, the molded product P Adheres exactly to the suction hole 284, and no gap is formed between the peripheral edge of the suction hole 284 and the outer edge of the molded product P. The molded product P sucked and held by the suction holes 284 is conveyed along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28, but the relative position with respect to the rotating body 28 and the suction holes 284 is fixed. This is effective for processing for photographing the molded article P with a camera and performing an outer surface inspection.

  The shape inspection device D4 detects the shape and position of a predetermined surface, for example, a lower surface of each molded product P captured and transferred by the suction hole 284. In the present embodiment, the shape inspection device D4 measures the shape and position of the lower surface of the molded product P by a known light cutting method. The structure and function of the shape inspection device D4 are the same as those of the shape inspection device C4 of the module C, and have a structure as shown in FIG.

  However, the shape inspection device D4 does not always detect the shape and the height position of the lower surface of the molded product P by the light cutting method. For example, a range finder is used in which a laser that is a coherent light or an electromagnetic wave is emitted toward various places on the lower surface of the molded article P, and a time required until the laser reflected by the molded article P is received by a sensor is measured. Thus, the shape and height position of the lower surface of the molded product P can be measured. It is also conceivable that the shape inspection device D4 detects the shape and height position of the lower surface of the molded article P by a phase shift method, a space coding method, a moiré method, a stereo matching method, or the like.

  The wavelength of the light or the electromagnetic wave used by the shape inspection device D4, that is, the light or the electromagnetic wave supplied from the light source may be near-infrared light. As described above, the near-infrared light does not easily destroy the effective components and the like contained in the molded article P, and is not harmful to the human body and does not require protection.

  The table 31 of the molding machine A, the rotator 17 of the take-out device B1 of the module B, the rotator 24 of the transfer device C1 of the module C, and the rotator 28 of the transfer device of the module D rotate in synchronization with each other. The control device 0 of the molding machine A and the processing device is provided with an angular position sensor (rotary body 3) associated with the rotating plate 3 of the molding machine A, the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1, the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1, or the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1. By referring to a signal output by a rotary encoder or the like, it is possible to know at which position each of the suction holes 284 arranged along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 is currently located. In addition, it is possible to know at which position in the module D the molded product P which has been compression-molded in the numbered die hole 4 in the table 31 of the molding machine A is currently located. This is because the molded product P that has just passed in front of the camera of the external surface inspection device D2 or has now passed in front of the sensor of the shape inspection device D4, that is, the molded product P that has been subjected to the external surface inspection or shape inspection, This means that it is possible to know whether it is formed in the second die hole 4. The control device 0 is configured to provide information on the result of inspection or measurement of the molded product P via the external surface inspection device D2 or the shape inspection device D4 (the state or shape of the outer surface of the target molded product P is normal or defective. (Including the determination result of whether there is a molded article P) is stored in the storage device in association with the ID number indicating the number of the die hole 4 in which the molded article P is formed.

  The quality inspection device C22 of the module C functions as a density measurement device that measures the density of each molded product P. In addition, the shape inspection device C4 of the module C and the shape inspection device D4 of the module D function as a volume measuring device that measures the volume of each molded product P. That is, since the shape inspection device C4 measures the shape and height position of the upper surface of the molded product P, and the shape inspection device D4 measures the shape and height position of the lower surface of the same molded product P, the measurement results of both are obtained. The thickness of the target molded product P can be determined by calculating the target and the volume of the molded product P can be calculated. Further, from the density and volume of the molded product P, the weight of the molded product P can be estimated.

  The control device 0 of the molding machine A and the processing device is configured to measure or calculate the density, volume and weight of the molded product P via the density measuring device and the volume measuring device (the density of the target molded product P). , Including the determination result of whether the volume and / or weight is normal or defective) is associated with an ID number indicating the number of the die hole 4 of the target molded article P, The data is stored in the storage device.

  In the present embodiment, the quality inspection device C22, which is a density measuring device, performs the inspection on the components contained in the molded article P and the measurement of the density based on the light reflected on the molded article P or the electromagnetic wave L2. On the other hand, a quality inspection device, which is a density measuring device, may inspect the components contained in the molded article and measure the density based on light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded article.

  In quality inspection and density measurement of a molded article referring to transmitted light, similarly to that of referring to reflected light, a spectrum of transmitted light received by a sensor is obtained, and the spectrum is referred to, in other words, the molded article is referred to. By measuring the absorption and / or scattering of light by the method, the concentration of the active ingredient and the concentration of the additive contained in the molded article, the ratio of the active ingredient and the additive, the degree of mixing of the active ingredient and the additive, the molded article Perform a qualitative or quantitative analysis of the density of the product, the hardness of the molded product, and other factors.

  The molded product P captured in the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 of the transport device D1 is usually transferred to the transfer end position E. However, there is a demand that a specific molded product P, for example, a defective product or a sampled product is to be selectively removed or collected from a group of molded products P to be transported to the terminal position E.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, in the transfer device D1 of the module D, the specific molded product P is excluded in the path of the rotational movement of the suction hole 284 and the molded product P to the end position E. It is also preferable to install a rejection device D3 for the purpose. The removing device D3 includes an injection nozzle 301 that injects compressed air K toward the molded product P engaged with the suction hole 284, and a chute 302 into which the molded product P blown off by the compressed air K is dropped. And The injection nozzle 301 and the chute 302 are arranged so as to face up and down with the suction hole 284 for sucking the molded product P therebetween, and are held in the suction hole 284 by the compressed air K injected from the injection nozzle 301. The molded product P is detached from the suction hole 284, and the molded product P, which falls off from the flange 282 of the rotating body 28, is received and collected by the chute 302. The injection amount (flow rate per unit time) and injection pressure of the compressed air K may be small. The relative position of the injection nozzle 301 with respect to the rotating body 28 and the direction in which the compressed air K is injected from the injection nozzle 301 are arbitrary as long as the molded product P can be separated from the flange 282.

  The control device 0 of the molding machine A and the processing apparatus determines that the molded product P engaged with each of the suction holes 284 of the rotating body 28 is formed in the numbered die hole 4 of the molding machine A. I know. Then, the control device 0 determines the results of various inspections on the molded product P, that is, whether there is an abnormality in the compression pressure during compression molding, whether there is any foreign matter, and whether there is an abnormality in the quality, outer surface, shape, density, volume, or weight. , Etc. are stored for each molded product P in association with an ID number indicating the number of the die hole 4 in the molding machine A at which the molded product P was formed. Therefore, the control device 0 recognizes whether the molded product P engaged with each of the suction holes 284 of the rotating body 28 is a normal product or a defective product. It is possible to know the current position of the suction hole 284 that is combined.

  The control device 0 controls the flow of the compressed air K when the suction hole 284 that has captured the defective molded product P passes near the injection nozzle 301 (it may be built in the injection nozzle 301). Is supplied, the compressed air K is injected from the injection nozzle 301 toward the defective molded product P, and the molded product P is dropped from the rotating body 28 and eliminated. The molded product P that has fallen on the chute 302 cannot reach the end position E.

  The molded product P sucked by the suction holes 284 is conveyed along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28, but the relative position with respect to the rotating body 28 and the suction holes 284 is fixed. This is also effective for the process of injecting the compressed air K to the molded article P engaged with the specific suction hole 284 and eliminating or extracting the compressed air K.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation axis of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1, the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 of the transfer device C1, and the rotation axis of the rotation body 28 of the transfer device D1 are connected via a gear transmission mechanism. , These rotate synchronously. There is one motor that rotationally drives the rotating bodies 17, 24, and 28, and this motor is directly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1. The driving force output by the motor rotates the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 and is also transmitted to the rotating shafts of the rotating bodies 24 and 28 of the transporting devices C1 and D1 via the gear transmission mechanism. Rotate 28.

  In the modules C and D for transferring the molded product P, an optical inspection is performed on each molded product P. The quality inspection device C22, the outer surface inspection devices C3 and D2, and the shape inspection devices C4 and D4 in the modules C and D are radiated from the illumination light sources 261 and 264 and captured by the suction holes 244 and 284 of the rotating bodies 24 and 28. Sensors 263 and 265 that receive illumination light or electromagnetic waves L2, L3, and PL reflected on the surface layer of the molded product P are provided. On the other hand, the foreign matter inspection device C21 in the module C includes a sensor 262 that receives the transmitted light or the electromagnetic wave L1 emitted from the light source 261 and transmitted through the molded product P captured by the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24. In order to improve the accuracy of the inspection by these inspection devices C21, C22, C3, C4, D2, D4, light other than the reflected light L2, L3, PL or the transmitted light L1 of the molded product P, especially the rotating bodies 24, 28 It is required to suppress the irregularly reflected light from entering the optical sensors 262, 263, and 265, which are elements of the inspection devices C21, C22, C3, C4, D2, and D4.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, at least the surfaces of the rotating bodies 24 and 28, which are elements of the transfer devices C1 and D1 of the modules C and D, around the suction holes 244 and 284 (in particular, the inside of the suction holes 244 and 284). The upper and lower surfaces of the disk bodies 241 and 281 connected to the peripheral surface and the opening edge thereof, the inner peripheral surfaces of the pockets 243 and 283 facing the suction holes 244 and 284, the upper surface of the disk body 240 located around the pocket 243, and the pocket 283. (A lower surface of the disc 280 located around the periphery of the disk) is provided with an anti-reflection layer for suppressing reflection of light or electromagnetic waves.

  The antireflection layer has, for example, a known antireflection effect of absorbing light or an electromagnetic wave and reducing its reflection on the surfaces of the discs 240, 241, 280, and 281 that are members constituting the rotating bodies 24 and 28. It can be formed by applying a paint or a dye (or coating the discs 240, 241, 280, 281 with an antireflection agent). Here, the application includes immersing a part or all of the disc bodies 240, 241, 280, 281 in a solution of an antireflection paint or a dye. It is also preferable to apply an antireflection paint or dye to substantially the entirety of the discs 240, 241, 280, and 281, and to provide an antireflection layer over substantially the entire area of the rotating bodies 24 and 28.

  When the material of the discs 240, 241, 280, 281 is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the process of forming the anti-reflection layer on the surface may be black alumite treatment. As is well known, the alumite treatment is to form an oxide film by anodizing the surface of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and countless fine holes are formed in the film. By applying an antireflection paint or dye to this film, a coloring agent (dye, pigment or dye) having an antireflection effect enters and adheres not only to the surface of the film but also to the fine pores. In such anodizing, there is a possibility that the fine pores of the film may remain open only by coating with a paint or a dye. Therefore, it is preferable to separately perform a sealing treatment for closing the pores.

  Of course, instead of applying an anti-reflection paint or a dye, a known anti-reflection film or sheet may be attached to the surfaces of the discs 240, 241, 280, 281 to form an anti-reflection layer. Since the antireflection paint, the antireflection dye, the antireflection film or sheet is usually black, the outer surfaces of the rotating bodies 24 and 28 provided with the antireflection layer are black. In addition, the surface of the antireflection layer is in a so-called matte state with no gloss due to suppression of mirror reflection of light or electromagnetic waves.

  The anti-reflection layer is radiated from the illumination light sources of the external surface inspection devices C3 and D2 as compared with the surfaces of (the discs 240, 241, 280, and 281) of the rotating bodies 24 and 28 without the anti-reflection layer. The reflectance of light in the wavelength band to which the illumination light belongs is reduced, the reflectance of light in the wavelength band to which light emitted from the light source 261 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 or the quality inspection device C22 belongs, and the shape inspection device are reduced. The reflectance of light in the wavelength band to which the line beam emitted from the light sources 264 of C4 and D4 belongs is reduced. In short, the antireflection layer reduces the reflectance of visible light and / or infrared light. The antireflection layer also functions to absorb environmental light other than the light emitted from the light sources 261 and 264 of the inspection devices C21, C22, C3, C4, D2, and D4 and to suppress the reflection thereof.

  The take-out device B1 including the rotating body 17 and the holding body 18, the transporting devices C1, D1, including the rotating bodies 24, 28 and the suction ducts 25, 29, the motor serving as the drive source of the removing device B1 and the transporting devices C1, D1, the dust removal The device B2, the foreign material inspection device C21, the quality inspection device C22, the external surface inspection devices C3 and D2, the shape inspection devices C4 and D4, and the rejection device D3 are supported by a single support 511 to constitute one unit. I have. This unit is supported by a gantry via a slide rail mechanism. A caster that rolls while being in contact with the floor is mounted below the gantry, and the gantry can be easily moved together with the unit. In short, the module B, the module C, and the module D are integrated via the unit and the gantry, and the modules B, C, and D are integrally attached to and detached from the molding machine A.

  The size of the gap between the protrusions 171 that accommodates the molded product P in the unloading device B1 is larger than that of the molded product P itself. Therefore, the positional accuracy of the transfer of the molded product P from the table 31 of the molding machine A to the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B does not become strict. Therefore, the removal and transfer of the molded product P can be appropriately performed even if the mounting positions of the mounts of the modules B, C, and D and the unit with respect to the molding machine A are not remarkably high.

  The molding machine A is housed in a containment container. The modules B, C, and D of the processing device are also housed in the containment container. The containment container of the molding machine A and the containment containers of the modules B, C and D are connected via a joint. This joint communicates the internal space of the containment container containing the molding machine A with the internal space of the containment container containing the modules B, C, and D, and optionally connects the former containment container and the latter containment container. It can be attached and detached. The molded product take-out position 16 where the table 31 of the molding machine A and the rotating body 17 of the take-out mechanism B1 overlap in a plan view and the surrounding area are accommodated in a joint.

  The containment container and the joint suppress unintentional leakage of the atmosphere of the internal space accommodating the molding machine A and the modules B, C, and D to the outside of the containment container. Forming of the molded product P, transfer of the molded product P between the molding machine A and the module B and between the modules B, C, and D, and post-processing of the molded product P, for example, dust adhering to the molded product P Removal and inspection of the molded product P are generally performed in a containment container. There is no need to discharge the molded product P out of the system for performing the post-process. Therefore, it is possible to realize a containment environment in which the atmosphere containing the powder does not leak to the outside, which is particularly useful in the production of a molded article P containing a high pharmacologically active substance. Further, contamination (contamination) of the molded product P can be suppressed.

  It goes without saying that the devices provided in the modules B, C, and D for performing the post-process on the molded product P are not limited to the above-described example. Specific examples of such an apparatus include a laser processing machine-type printing device for engraving and laser marking the outer surface of a molded product P by irradiating laser light to the molded product P, and an inkjet device for performing inkjet printing on the surface of the molded product P. A printer-type printing apparatus, a packaging apparatus for packaging a molded article P in a PTP (Press Through Pack) packaging sheet, an ESOP (Easy Seal Open Pack) packaging sheet, and the like can be given.

  In the present embodiment, a table 31 provided with a vertically extending die hole 4, a filling device X for filling the powder into the die hole 4 of the table 31, and compressing the powder filled in the die hole 4 A powder compression molding machine A having an upper punch 5 and a lower punch 6 for molding a molded product P by using the processing devices B, C, and D for taking out and transporting the molded product P molded by the powder compression molding machine A. A molded product production system comprising a powder compression molding machine A or a processing device B, at a predetermined position along a movement path of the molded product P moving in the D, there is a correlation with the weight of the molded product P A molded product production system having a weight measuring device A2 for measuring a physical quantity was configured. According to the present embodiment, the weight of the molded article P can be automatically measured while being transported.

  The weight measuring device A2 is provided at the start end 201 of the guide 20, which is a member against which the molded product P moving in the powder compression molding machine A or the processing devices B, C, and D collides in the process of moving. It includes a sensor for detecting the force received by the start end 201 at the time of the collision. As the sensor A2, an existing strain gauge type load cell or the like can be adopted, and the cost is low. Further, with such a configuration, it is possible to sequentially measure the weight of all the molded products P molded by the molding machine A.

  In this system, the control device 0 estimates the weight of each molded article P based on the output signal of the sensor A2. The controller 0 receives and stores calibration curve data, which is a set of the output signal of the sensor A2 when the molded article P serving as a sample collides with the member 201 and the weight of the molded article P. The control device 0 performs linear or curve fitting through regression analysis or interpolation on the same number of calibration curve data obtained for a plurality of specimens of the molded article P, and outputs the output signal of the sensor A2. A calibration curve, which is a relational expression between the weight of the molded product P and the weight, is obtained. Then, during actual operation of the present system, the weight of the molded article P is calculated by substituting the signal value output by the sensor A2 when the molded article P collides with the member 201 into the relational expression. Thereby, the accuracy of the weight measurement of the molded product P is further improved. The calibration, that is, the acquisition of the calibration curve data for a plurality of samples and the determination of the function formula of the calibration curve are preferably performed at appropriate times or at regular intervals even during the actual operation of the present system.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above. In the above embodiment, the sensor of the weight measuring device A2 is provided on the scraper 201, but it goes without saying that the sensor may be provided on a member other than the scraper 201. For example, a chute that receives the molded product P that reaches the terminal position E and receives the molded product P that falls or flows down from the flange 282 or that receives the molded product P that falls or flows down from the flange 208 before reaching the terminal position E. It is conceivable to provide a sensor on the bottom wall or side wall of 302 for detecting the force received when the molded article P collides.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

0 ... Control device 31 ... Table 4 ... Mounting hole 5 ... Upper punch 6 ... Lower punch 201 ... Members (guides and scrapers) against which the molded product collides in the process of movement
A: powder compression molding machine A2: weight measuring device (sensor as an element of)
B, C, D ... processing unit (module)
P: molded product X: filling device

Claims (4)

A table provided with vertically penetrating mortar holes, a filling device for filling powder into the mortar holes of the table, and an upper punch and a lower punch for molding a molded product by compressing the powder filled in the mortar holes A molded product production system comprising a powder compression molding machine having
A molded product production system in which a weight measuring device that measures a physical quantity correlated with the weight of a molded product is installed at a predetermined position along a movement path of the molded product that moves after being molded. 2. The molded article production system according to claim 1, wherein the weight measuring device includes a sensor provided on a member to which the moving molded article collides in the process of movement, and which detects a force applied to the member at the time of the collision. The powder compression molding machine is provided with mortar holes on a table of a rotating disk, and holds an upper punch and a lower punch slidably above and below each mortar hole, and horizontally rotates the mortar hole and the punch together. When the pair of upper punch and lower punch passes between the upper roll and the lower roll, it is a rotary type that compression-molds the powder filled in the die hole,
The member is a scraper that is positioned immediately above the locus of horizontal rotation of the die hole so as to overlap the table of the rotary powder compression molding machine from above, and scrapes the molded product extruded from the die hole by the lower punch. The molded product production system according to claim 2. A control device for estimating the weight of the molded article based on the output signal of the sensor,
4. The molded article according to claim 3, wherein the control device receives and stores calibration curve data which is a set of a sensor output signal when the molded article serving as a sample collides with the member and the weight of the molded article. Production system.

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