JP2021155176A - Adsorption conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an adsorption conveying device capable of printing onto each of both upper and lower surfaces of an object from above.SOLUTION: An adsorption conveying device comprises: endless and annular conveyor belts 35, 36 each formed of an approach path 60, a return path 62, a first connection passage 61, and a second connection passage 63; a suction box 31 which is provided with a suction port formed along the approach path 60, the first connection passage 61, and the return path 62, and which suction box is arranged inside a ring so as to slidably come into contact with the conveyor belts 35, 36; a drive mechanism 42 for driving a drive pulley 38 to move the conveyor belts 35, 36; and a negative pressure mechanism 37 for making a negative pressure act on the suction box 31. The conveyor belts 35, 36 comprises two conveyance support faces along a travel direction thereof, and the negative pressure from the suction box 31 is applied to between the conveyance support faces. A rotary roller is arranged in a portion corresponding to the first connection passage 61 of the suction box 31 along the first connection passage 61, and the conveyor belts 35, 36 are wound over so as to come into external contact with the rotary roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an adsorption transport device capable of adsorbing and transporting pharmaceuticals such as tablets and capsules, small confectioneries such as candy, and small articles such as button batteries.

Conventionally, as an example of the above-mentioned suction transfer device, the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-248047 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. This suction transfer device has a pair of slit plates facing each other so as to form slits between the end edges, a guide rail formed on the edge of each slit plate, and an endless ring guided by each guide rail. It is composed of two transport belts and a suction means for exhausting air from between the slit plates and applying a negative pressure to the slits.

According to this suction transfer device, a negative pressure acts between the transfer belts through the slit, and the object is attracted to the transfer belt by the negative pressure. Then, as the transport belt travels, the object attracted to the transport belt is transported together with the transport belt.

In Patent Document 1 below, two suction transport devices having the same configuration, that is, a transport system in which the first and second suction transport devices are connected in an inverted state is constructed, and further, the transport system is constructed. A visual inspection device using the system has been constructed. The first and second suction transport devices are connected so that their suction transport surfaces face each other, and the first suction transport device is arranged so that the suction transport surfaces face downward. On the other hand, the second suction transport device is arranged so that its suction transport surface faces upward, and the transport end of the first suction transport device is connected to the transport start end of the second suction transport device. Further, an appearance inspection mechanism is arranged below the first suction transfer device, and similarly, an appearance inspection mechanism is arranged above the second suction transfer device.

Thus, according to this visual inspection device, the object is transported in a state where its upper surface is adsorbed by the first suction transport device, and in the transport process, the lower surface and the side surface thereof are transported by the visual inspection mechanism. The appearance is inspected. Then, the object conveyed by the first suction transfer device is then delivered to the second suction transfer device, and is conveyed in a state where the lower surface thereof is adsorbed by the second suction transfer device. In the transport process, the appearance of the upper surface and the side surface is inspected by the appearance inspection mechanism.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-248047

By the way, in the field of pharmaceuticals, in recent years, in addition to visual inspection of tablets and the like, printing of product numbers and the like has been performed on the surface. Attempts have been made to incorporate the printing mechanism by arranging the printing mechanism in parallel with the appearance inspection mechanism. As a printing mechanism, the adoption of an inkjet printing mechanism is being considered because of its ease of use, which can easily handle various types of printing.

However, in the case of the inkjet printing mechanism, due to the characteristic that ink droplets are ejected onto an object to print, good printing can be realized in the case of ejecting ink droplets downward. In the case of ejecting ink droplets upward, there is a problem that good printing cannot be performed because the ink droplets are ejected in the direction opposite to the gravity, and the sprayed ink droplets are ejected downward. There is a problem that the area around the device is contaminated by the dripping and dripping ink.

Therefore, when printing on both sides of a tablet or the like, it is necessary to print on the tablet or the like from above, but when the above-mentioned transport system is used, printing is performed on both sides of the tablet from above. It was not possible to take the aspect of doing so.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an adsorption transfer device capable of printing on both upper and lower surfaces of an object such as a tablet from above. ..

The present invention for solving the above problems
A linear outward and return paths formed in an endless ring and arranged side by side at intervals, a first connection path connecting the end of the outward path and the start end of the return path, and the start end of the outward path. A transport belt forming a second connecting path connecting the end of the return path and
It is arranged in the ring of the transport belt so as to be in sliding contact with the transport belt in the outward path, the return path and the first connection path, and is formed corresponding to and along the outbound path, the return path and the first connection path. A suction box having a suction port and applying a negative pressure to the outward path, the return path, and the first connection path through the suction port.
A drive pulley around which the transport belt is wound and a drive motor for rotating the drive pulley are provided in the second connection path, and the drive pulley is driven by the drive motor to drive the feed belt in the rotational direction. Drive mechanism and
It is configured to include a negative pressure mechanism that applies negative pressure to the suction box.
The transport belt has two transport support surfaces formed in parallel along the traveling direction, and a negative pressure from the suction box acts between the transport support surfaces, whereby the outward path, the return path, and the first path. 1 connection path forms a suction transfer path,
Further, a plurality of rotating rollers rotatably provided around the support shaft orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport belt are provided along the first connecting path in the portion of the suction box corresponding to the first connecting path. The transport belt is provided and relates to a suction transport device wound around the plurality of rotating rollers in the first connection path so as to be in contact with the plurality of rotary rollers.

According to this suction transfer device, the inside of the suction box is made negative pressure by the negative pressure mechanism, thereby corresponding to and formed along the outward path, the return path and the first connection path of the transfer belt. Negative pressure acts on the outward path, the return path, and the first connecting path of the transport belt through the suction port. The transport belt has two transport support surfaces formed in parallel along the traveling direction, and a negative pressure from the suction box acts between the transport support surfaces to cause the outward path and the return path. And the first connection path becomes the suction transfer path.

In the portion of the suction box corresponding to the first connecting path, a plurality of rotating rollers rotatably provided around a support shaft orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport belt are arranged along the first connecting path. Although it is provided, the negative pressure acting on the suction port acts on the transport belt through the gaps between the plurality of rotating rollers, so that the first connection path becomes the suction transport path.

On the other hand, the transport belt is driven in the rotation direction by the drive mechanism and travels in the rotation direction. At that time, since the transport belt is wound around the plurality of rotating rollers in the first connecting path so as to circumscribe the plurality of rotating rollers, the circumscribed rotating rollers rotate when traveling on the first connecting path. As a result, the vehicle can travel on the first connecting road without receiving resistance. Further, the transport belt is configured to be in sliding contact with the suction box on the outward path and the return path, but since the outward path and the return path are linear, the transport belt travels in the rotational direction without receiving a large sliding resistance. ..

As described above, according to this suction transport device, at the transport start end on the outward path side of the transport belt, the appropriately supplied object is sucked onto the two transport support surfaces of the transport belt, and is thus sucked. The object can be transported from the outward path side to the return path side via the first connecting path by traveling the transport belt while maintaining the suction state.

Therefore, if this suction transport device is arranged with its outward path side down and the return path side up, and one surface that is the upper surface of the object on the outward path side is sucked and transported to the return path side, the return path side , The other side of the object is the top surface. That is, according to this suction transfer device, the top and bottom of the object can be inverted by transferring the object from the outward path side to the return path side.

Thus, according to this suction transfer device, for example, when it is desired to print on the other side of the object by using an inkjet printing mechanism, the inkjet printing mechanism is arranged above the return path side of the transfer belt. By executing printing, printing can be performed on the other surface of the object in such a manner that ink droplets are ejected from above the other surface of the object. For this reason, better printing can be achieved as compared with the case where ink droplets are ejected from below to perform printing, and the sprayed ink droplets hang down downward, resulting in a problem that the periphery of the device is contaminated. Will not occur.

The suction port can be formed from one opening, or can be formed from a plurality of openings arranged along the outward path, the first connecting path, and the returning path.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the outward path and the return path of the transport belt are formed in parallel with each other, and the first connecting path is formed in an arc shape. In this way, the object can be stably transported (transferred) from the outward path side to the return path side in a state where the object is attracted to the transport belt.

Further, it is preferable that the suction box is provided with guide portions for guiding the traveling of the transport belt on both sides of the suction port in the portion corresponding to the outward path, the return path and the first connection path. In this way, the traveling of the transport belt can be guided by the guide unit, and the transport belt can be traveled in a stable state.

The transport belt in this case can be composed of one belt-shaped belt. Then, by forming a groove for suction along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the transport belt, the two transport support surfaces can be formed. Further, by forming a plurality of through holes along the circumferential direction on the bottom surface of the suction groove, the negative pressure acting on the suction port of the suction box is applied to the inside of the groove, that is, 2 through the through holes. It can act between the two transport support surfaces.

Further, the transport belt is composed of two belts provided in parallel, and the outer surface of each belt forms the transport support surface.
The suction box may be provided with guide grooves for guiding the running of each belt on both sides of the suction port in a portion corresponding to the outward path, the return path and the first connection path. ..

Even in such an aspect, a negative pressure for suction can be applied between the two belts in a stable state, and the belt can be driven in a stable state by the guiding action of the guide groove.

Further, the rotating rollers may be arranged on both sides of the suction port along the first connecting path, and may be cantilevered and supported by the suction box. In this way, in the first connecting path, a negative pressure that can reliably and stably attract the object to the transport belt can be applied between the two transport support surfaces.

Further, it is preferable that the rotating rollers are arranged at equal intervals along the first connecting path. By doing so, it is possible to stabilize the running of the transport belt on the first connecting path.

According to the suction transport device according to the present invention, at the transport start end on the outward path side of the transport belt, one surface of the appropriately supplied object is sucked onto the two transport support surfaces of the transport belt in this way. The adsorbed object can be transported from the outward path side to the return path side via the first connection path by running the transport belt while maintaining the suction state. Therefore, by disposing the suction transport device with its outward path side down and the return path side up, and transferring the object from the outward path side to the return path side, the top and bottom can be inverted.

Therefore, for example, when it is desired to print on the other side of the object by using the inkjet printing mechanism, the target is printed by arranging the inkjet printing mechanism above the return path side of the transport belt. Printing can be applied to the other surface of the object in a manner in which ink droplets are ejected from above the other surface of the object. Therefore, better printing can be achieved as compared with the case where ink droplets are ejected from below to perform printing, and there is a problem that the sprayed ink droplets hang down and the periphery of the device is contaminated. It never happens.

It is a front view which showed the inspection / printing apparatus provided with the 2nd suction transfer apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which showed the 1st suction transfer apparatus which comprises the inspection / printing apparatus. It is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow AA in FIG. It is a front view which showed the 2nd suction transfer apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow BB in FIG. It is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction of arrow CC in FIG.

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

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an inspection / printing apparatus provided with a second suction transfer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the inspection / printing device 1 of this example, in addition to the second suction transfer device 30, the first suction transfer device 10, 3D inspection units 70, 75, printing units 71, 76, and appearance inspection It is configured to include units 72 and 77, a sorting and collecting unit 78, a control device 80, and the like. In the inspection / printing apparatus 1 of this example, the object to be processed is a tablet T which is a pharmaceutical product, the three-dimensional shape and appearance of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet T are inspected, and printing is performed on the upper and lower surfaces.

The first suction transport device 10 has a linear suction transport path along the direction D indicated on the upper surface thereof, while the second suction transfer device 30 has a linear outward path 60 on the lower surface and a right side surface thereof. It has a suction transport path that rotates in the direction of arrow E, which consists of an arc-shaped first connection path 61 and a straight return path on the upper surface, and the suction transport start end of the outward path 60 is the first suction transport. It is arranged above the first suction transport device 10 so as to face the suction transport end of the device 10.

Then, the 3D inspection unit 70, the printing unit 71, and the appearance inspection unit 72 are above the first suction transfer device 10 along the arrow D direction so as to face the suction transfer path of the first suction transfer device 10. The 3D inspection unit 75, the printing unit 76, the visual inspection unit 77, and the sorting and collecting unit 78 are sequentially arranged in the direction of arrow E so as to face the return path 62 of the second suction transfer device 30. The second suction transfer device 30 is sequentially arranged above the second suction transfer device 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first suction transfer device 10 has a suction box 11 having an elongated housing shape, two transfer belts 15 and 16 having an endless annular shape, and a negative inside of the suction box 11. It is composed of an exhaust pump 17 for applying pressure, a cover body 23 for surrounding the suction box 11, and the like.

The suction box 11 includes slits 12 that are open on the upper surface thereof and are formed along the longitudinal direction thereof, and further include guide grooves 13 and 14 formed on both sides of the slit 12, respectively. ..

The cover body 23 is provided with drive pulleys 18, driven pulleys 19, 20, and 21 so as to surround the suction box 11 at its four corners, and the transport belts 15, 16 are the suction boxes. The drive pulley 18 and the driven pulleys 19, 20 and 21 are wound around the guide grooves 13 and 14 formed on the upper surface of the eleven. A drive motor 22 is connected to the drive pulley 18, and the drive pulley 18 is driven by the drive motor 22. Then, when the drive pulley 18 is rotated by the drive motor 22, the transport belts 15 and 16 rotate in the direction D indicated by the arrow.

The transport belts 15 and 16 of this example are composed of timing belts, and the drive pulley 18 and the driven pulleys 19, 20 and 21 are each composed of timing pulleys.

In the first suction transfer device 10, when the inside of the suction box 11 is exhausted by the exhaust pump 17 and the inside of the suction box 11 is made a negative pressure, the negative pressure is applied between the transfer belts 15 and 16 through the slit 12. Acts on. Then, when the tablets T are sequentially supplied from the upstream side of the first suction transport device 10 so as to straddle the transport belts 15 and 16, the supplied tablets T are subjected to the action of the negative pressure to cause the transport belts 15 and 16. The tablets adsorbed on the transfer belts 15 and 16 and adsorbed on the transfer belts 15 and 16 are conveyed toward the second suction transfer device 30 by traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow D of the transfer belts 15 and 16.

As described above, in the first suction transport device 10, the upper surface of the transport belts 15 and 16 is the transport support surface, and the traveling path thereof is the suction transport path.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6, the second suction transfer device 30 includes a suction box 31 having an elongated housing shape, two transfer belts 35 and 36 having an endless annular shape, and a suction box 31. It is composed of an exhaust pump 37 as a negative pressure mechanism that creates a negative pressure inside, and cover bodies 43 provided on both side surfaces of the suction box 31. Note that FIG. 4 shows the second suction transport device 30 with the cover body 43 removed.

The two transport belts 35 and 36 are composed of an endless ring-shaped timing belt, and have a linear outward path 60 and a return path 62, and an arc shape connecting the end of the outward path 60 and the start end of the return path 62. The first connecting path 61 and the second connecting path 63 connecting the start end of the outward path 60 and the end of the return path 62 are formed. The outward route 60 and the return route 62 are provided in parallel, the outward route 60 is located on the lower side, and the return route 62 is located on the upper side.

The suction box 31 is arranged in the ring of the transport belts 35, 36 so as to be in sliding contact with the transport belts 35, 36 on the outward path 60, the first connection path 61, and the return path 62. That is, the portion corresponding to the outward path 60 and the return path 62 is formed in a straight line, and the portion corresponding to the first connecting path 61 is formed in an arc shape (semicircular shape).

Further, the suction box 31 is provided with suction ports 32 corresponding to the outward path 60, the first connection path 61 and the return path 62, and formed along the suction ports 32, and on both sides of the suction ports 32. , Guide grooves 33 and 34 are formed along the outward path 60, the first connection path 61 and the return path 62, respectively, and the transfer belts 35 and 36 are fitted into the guide grooves 33 and 34, respectively. There is. The suction port 32 can be composed of one opening formed along the outward path 60, the first connection path 61, and the return path 62, or the outward path 60, the first connection path 61, and the return path 62. It can consist of a plurality of groups of openings arranged continuously, preferably evenly spaced along the line.

Then, the inside of the suction box 31 becomes a negative pressure when the air inside the suction box 31 is exhausted by the exhaust pump 37, and this negative pressure is applied to the outward path 60 and the first connection path through the suction port 32. It acts between the transport belts 35 and 36 forming the 61 and the return path 62. Thus, the outward path 60, the first connecting path 61, and the returning path 62 form a suction transport path.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the portion of the suction box 31 corresponding to the first connection path 61, rotating rollers are provided so as to face each other and be coaxial with each other on both sides of the suction port 32. 48, 49 and rotating rollers 54, 55 are arranged, respectively.

The rotating rollers 48, 49 are rotatable about a support shaft 46 orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport belts 35, 36, and the support shaft 46 is fastened in the suction box 31 by a nut 50. As a result, the rotating rollers 48 and 49 are cantilevered by the support shaft 46. The rotating roller units including the support shafts 46, the rotating rollers 48, 49, and the nuts 50 are arranged at equal intervals along the first connecting path 61.

Similarly, the rotating rollers 54 and 55 are rotatable about a support shaft 52 orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport belts 35 and 36, and the support shaft 52 is housed in the suction box 31 by a nut 56. It is fastened so that the rotary rollers 54 and 55 are cantilevered by the support shaft 52. The rotating roller units including the support shaft 52, the rotating rollers 54, 55, and the nut 56 are arranged at equal intervals along the first connecting path 61.

Then, the transport belt 35 is wound around the plurality of rotating rollers 48, 49 arranged along the first connecting path 61 in the first connecting path 61 so as to circumscribe, and similarly, the said. The transport belt 36 is wound around the plurality of rotating rollers 54 and 55 arranged along the first connecting path 61 so as to circumscribe the plurality of rotating rollers 54 and 55.

Further, in the portion corresponding to the second connection path, a drive pulley 38 and a driven pulley 39, 40, 41 respectively composed of a timing pulley are arranged, and the transport belts 35, 36 are the drive pulleys. 38, It is wound around the driven pulleys 39, 40, 41. Further, the driven pulley 41 is provided with a tension adjusting mechanism, and the tension of the transport belts 35 and 36 is adjusted by the action of the tension adjusting mechanism.

Further, a drive motor 42 as a drive mechanism is connected to the drive pulley 38, and the drive pulley 38 is driven by the drive motor 42. Then, when the drive pulley 38 is rotated by the drive motor 42, the transport belts 35 and 36 rotate in the direction E indicated by the arrow. At this time, since the transport belts 35 and 36 are wound around the plurality of rotating rollers 48, 49, 54 and 55 in the first connecting path 61 so as to circumscribe, they travel on the first connecting path 61. In this case, the circumscribed rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55 rotate so that the rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55 can travel on the first connecting path 61 without receiving resistance. Further, the transport belts 35 and 36 are configured to be in sliding contact with the guide grooves 33 and 34 of the suction box 31 on the outward path 60 and the return path 62, but the outward path 60 and the return path 62 are linear. It travels in the direction of arrow E, which is the direction of rotation, without receiving a large sliding resistance.

In the second suction transfer device 30 of the present example having the above configuration, when the inside of the suction box 31 is exhausted by the exhaust pump 37 and the inside of the suction box 31 is made a negative pressure, this negative pressure becomes the suction port 32. Acts between the transport belts 35 and 36 via. Then, the tablet T transported to the suction transport end in a state where the lower surface thereof is sucked by the transport belts 15 and 16 by the first suction transport device 10 is the suction transport start end of the outward path 60 of the second suction transport device 30. In the above, due to the action of the negative pressure, the upper surface thereof is attracted so as to straddle the transport belts 35 and 36, and is transferred from the outward path 60 to the return path 62 side via the first connecting path 61 in the direction of arrow E. .. The outer surfaces of the transport belts 35 and 36 are transport support surfaces on the outward path 60, the first connection path 61, and the return path 62, respectively.

The 3D inspection units 70 and 75 irradiate the slit light orthogonal to the transport direction from diagonally forward or backward in the transport direction, and image the slit light irradiated on the tablet T from directly above the slit light to obtain the result. It is an inspection unit that measures the three-dimensional shape of the tablet T by a so-called photocutting method based on the obtained image and determines the quality of the tablet T.

The printing units 71 and 76 are units provided with a so-called inkjet printing mechanism that ejects ink droplets onto an object to print.

Further, the appearance inspection units 72 and 77 photograph the outer surface of the tablet T with a camera, and based on the obtained image, the presence or absence of appearance defects such as cracks, chips, and stains existing on the outer surface of the tablet T, and the presence or absence of appearance defects. It is a unit for inspecting the quality of printing performed by the printing units 71 and 76.

The sorting and collecting unit 80 is a unit that sorts and collects non-defective tablets T and defective tablets T based on the inspection results of the 3D inspection units 70 and 75 and the visual inspection units 72 and 77. ..

The control device 80 is composed of a computer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and includes a first suction transfer device 10, a second suction transfer device 30, a 3D inspection unit 70, 75, a printing unit 71, 76, and an appearance inspection unit 72. , 76 and the sorting and collecting unit 78 are controlled, and the images captured by the 3D inspection units 70 and 75 and the visual inspection units 72 and 76 are processed, and the quality determination process based on the processing is executed.

According to the inspection / printing apparatus 1 of this example having the above configuration, when the tablets T are sequentially supplied from the upstream side of the first suction transport device 10 so as to straddle the transport belts 15 and 16, the tablets T are supplied. The tablet T is adsorbed on the transport belts 15 and 16 by the action of the negative pressure, and the tablet T adsorbed on the transport belts 15 and 16 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow D of the transport belts 15 and 16. Is conveyed toward the second suction transfer device 30.

Then, in the process of being conveyed by the first adsorption transfer device 10, the tablet T is determined by the 3D inspection unit 70 whether or not its three-dimensional shape is good or bad, and then the printing unit 71 determines the quality of the tablet T from above. The area) is appropriately printed, and then the appearance inspection unit 72 determines whether the appearance is good or bad and the quality of the printing is good, and after each of these processes, the suction transfer terminal is reached.

Next, the upper surface (one surface) of the tablet T is adsorbed so as to straddle the transport belts 35 and 36 by the action of the negative pressure at the suction transport start end of the outward path 60 of the second suction transport device 30, and the arrow In the direction shown in E, the tablet T is transferred from the outward path 60 to the return path 62 side via the first connection path 61, and in the transfer process, the top and bottom are reversed, and the tablet T is transferred to the one side on the return path 62. The other side, which is the opposite side, is the upper surface.

Then, in the process of transporting the tablet T on the return path 62, the 3D inspection unit 75 determines whether the three-dimensional shape is good or bad, and then the printing unit 76 appropriately prints the tablet T from above to other directions. After that, the appearance inspection unit 77 determines the quality of the appearance and the quality of printing, and after each of these processes, the sorting and recovery unit 78 performs the 3D inspection units 70 and 75 and the appearance inspection. Based on the inspection results of the units 72 and 77, the non-defective tablet T and the defective tablet T are collected in a sorted state.

As described above, according to the inspection / printing device 1 of this example, when it is necessary to print on both sides of the tablet T, the inkjet printing mechanism is used in the process of transporting the tablet T by the first suction transport device 10. Then, by ejecting ink droplets from above the ink droplets, printing can be performed on one side. Then, the tablet T printed on one side is sucked by the second suction transport device 30 and transferred to the return path 62 side, so that the top and bottom are reversed and the other side is turned upward. Printing can be performed on the other side of the return path 62 by ejecting ink droplets from above the ink jet printing mechanism using an inkjet printing mechanism.

Thus, according to the inspection / printing device 1 provided with the second adsorption / transfer device 30, when printing is performed on both sides of the tablet T, ink droplets are ejected from above each side. Since printing can be performed, better printing can be achieved as compared with the case where ink droplets are ejected from below to perform printing, and the sprayed ink droplets hang down to the periphery of the device. There is no problem that the ink is polluted.

Further, in the second suction transfer device 30 of this example, the rotary rollers 48, 49 and the rotary rollers 54, 55 are arranged along the first connection path 61 on both sides of the suction port 32. Further, since each of these is cantilevered and supported by the suction box 31, a good negative pressure can be applied to the suction port 32, and the tablets are applied to the transport belts 35 and 36 in the first connection path 61. T can be more reliably adsorbed and conveyed in a stable state.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific embodiments that the present invention can take are not limited thereto.

For example, if a sufficient negative pressure can be applied to the suction port 32, the rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55 are supported by nuts 50, 56 on the suction box 31. It can take a mode in which it is rotatably supported by a support shaft. In this case, the rotating roller units including the support shafts, the rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55 and the nuts 50, 56 are arranged at equal intervals along the first connecting path 61. Even in this way, from the gap between the rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55 and the rotating rollers 48, 49, 54, 55, which are adjacent to each other in the direction along the first connecting path 61, the conveyor belts 35, 36 Since the negative pressure in the suction box 31 acts, the first connection path 61 can be used as a suction transfer path.

Further, the rotary rollers 48 and 49 in the above example may be composed of one rotary roller, and similarly, the rotary rollers 54 and 55 may be composed of one rotary roller.

Further, in the above example, the outward path 60 and the return path 61 of the transport belts 35 and 36 are horizontal, but they do not necessarily have to be horizontal in a strict sense, and they may be slightly inclined as long as they do not interfere with printing. You may have. Further, although the first connecting path 61 is formed in an arc shape, the shape is not necessarily limited to such a shape.

Further, in the above example, the first suction transport device 10 uses the two transport belts 15 and 16 to form a transport path, and similarly, the second suction transport device 30 also uses the two transport belts 35 and 36. Although the transport path was formed by using, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, by forming one strip-shaped transport belt and forming a suction groove along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the transport belt, two transport support surfaces are formed and the bottom surface of the suction groove is formed. By forming a plurality of through holes along the circumferential direction, the negative pressure acting on the suction ports of the suction boxes 11 and 31 is applied to the inside of the groove, that is, between the two transport support surfaces through the through holes. It may be made to act on. Even in this way, the tablet T can be adsorbed on the two transport support surfaces.

In this case, it is preferable that the suction boxes 11 and 31 are provided with guide portions for guiding the traveling of the transfer belt on both sides of the suction ports 12 and 32.

Further, the object applicable to the inspection / printing apparatus 1 of this example is not limited to the tablet T of the above example, and in addition to the tablet T, medicines such as capsules, small confectioneries such as candy, and buttons. Small articles such as batteries can be applied.

1 Inspection / printing device 10 1st suction transfer device 11 Suction box 12 Slit 13, 14 Guide groove 15, 16 Transfer belt 17 Exhaust pump 18 Drive pulley 19, 20, 21 Driven pulley 22 Drive motor 30 2nd suction transfer device 31 Suction Box 32 Suction port 33,34 Guide groove 35,36 Transport belt 38 Drive pulley 39,40,41 Driven pulley 42 Drive motor 46,52 Support shaft 48,49,54,55 Rotating roller 60 Outward path 61 First connection path 62 Return path 63 Second connection path 70,75 3D inspection unit 71,76 Printing unit 72,77 Visual inspection unit 78 Sorting and recovery unit 80 Control device T tablet

Claims (7)

A linear outward and return paths formed in an endless ring and arranged side by side at intervals, a first connection path connecting the end of the outward path and the start end of the return path, and the start end of the outward path. A transport belt forming a second connecting path connecting the end of the return path and
It is arranged in the ring of the transport belt so as to be in sliding contact with the transport belt in the outward path, the return path and the first connection path, and is formed corresponding to and along the outbound path, the return path and the first connection path. A suction box having a suction port and applying a negative pressure to the outward path, the return path, and the first connection path through the suction port.
A drive pulley around which the transport belt is wound and a drive motor for rotating the drive pulley are provided in the second connection path, and the drive pulley is driven by the drive motor to drive the feed belt in the rotational direction. Drive mechanism and
It is configured to include a negative pressure mechanism that applies negative pressure to the suction box.
The transport belt has two transport support surfaces formed in parallel along the traveling direction, and a negative pressure from the suction box acts between the transport support surfaces, whereby the outward path, the return path, and the first path. 1 connection path forms a suction transfer path,
Further, a plurality of rotating rollers rotatably provided around the support shaft orthogonal to the traveling direction of the transport belt are provided along the first connecting path in the portion of the suction box corresponding to the first connecting path. A suction transport device that is arranged and the transport belt is wound around the plurality of rotating rollers so as to be in contact with the plurality of rotary rollers in the first connection path. The suction transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the outward path and the return path of the transfer belt are formed in parallel with each other, and the first connection path is formed in an arc shape. The suction box is characterized in that, in a portion corresponding to the outward path, the return path, and the first connection path, guide portions for guiding the traveling of the transfer belt are provided on both sides of the suction port. Item 2. The suction transfer device according to item 1 or 2. The transport belt is composed of two belts provided in parallel, and the outer surface of each belt forms the transport support surface.
The suction box is characterized in that, in a portion corresponding to the outward path, the return path, and the first connection path, guide grooves for guiding the traveling of the belts are provided on both sides of the suction port. The suction transfer device according to claim 1 or 2. The suction transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotary rollers are arranged along the first connection path on both sides of the suction port. The suction transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the rotating roller is cantilevered and supported by the suction box. The suction transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotary rollers are arranged at equal intervals along the first connection path.

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