JP2022044090A - Blister sheet manufacturing and integrating device and blister sheet manufacturing and integrating method - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress deterioration of production speed accompanying cleaning of a print head.SOLUTION: A PTP sheet manufacturing and integrating device 10 comprises: a PTP packaging machine 11 for manufacturing a PTP sheet configured by having a tablet on which printing is performed by a print head; an integrating device 91 for integrating the PTP sheet; and a sheet buffer device 81 for storing the PTP sheet before throwing into the integrating device 91. At manufacturing of the PTP sheet, the number of the PTP sheets manufactured per unit time is set so as to be larger than the processing number of the PTP sheets per unit time by the integrating device 91, thereby the PTP sheets are stored at the sheet buffer device 81. Further, the whole or a part of a time zone where manufacturing of the PTP sheets is stopped accompanying cleaning of the print head and a time zone where the stored PTP sheets are thrown into the integrating device 91 are overlapped with each other. Thereby a part of or the whole of operation stopping of the integrating device 91 accompanying the cleaning is prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a blister sheet manufacturing / integrating device capable of manufacturing a blister sheet containing printed contents and accumulating the manufactured blister sheets, and a method for manufacturing / stacking the blister sheet. ..

A PTP (press-through pack) sheet is generally known as a blister sheet used in the fields of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs. The PTP sheet includes a container film having a pocket portion for accommodating contents such as tablets, and a cover film attached so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion with respect to the container film.

Such a PTP sheet is manufactured using a PTP packaging machine. The PTP packaging machine has a means for preheating the band-shaped container film to be conveyed, a means for forming a pocket portion for the preheated container film, a means for filling the pocket portion with contents, and a means for sealing the opening side of the pocket portion. It is provided with a means for attaching a cover film to the container film, a means for punching a strip-shaped PTP film composed of the container film and the cover film in units of PTP sheets, and the like.

Further, the manufactured PTP sheet is accumulated by a predetermined accumulation means. Then, a sheet package is obtained by subjecting the accumulated plurality of PTP sheets to, for example, band binding, pillow packaging, box packaging, and the like, and the sheet package is finally shipped. It should be noted that a buffer means for temporarily storing the manufactured PTP sheet is provided so that the production of the PTP sheet by the PTP packaging machine does not have to be stopped even when the collecting means is stopped. (For example, see Patent Document 1 and the like).

In addition, conventionally, identification information consisting of characters, symbols, etc., such as a product name and a product number, may be printed on the surface of the contents. As a printing means for printing the contents, an inkjet method including a print head is known. The print head is provided with a plurality of nozzles, and printing is performed by ejecting ink from these nozzles. It should be noted that the PTP packaging machine is known to be integrally provided with a printing means (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and the like).

By the way, in the inkjet printing means, it is necessary to periodically clean the print head in order to prevent the print quality from deteriorating. However, in a PTP wrapping machine integrally equipped with a printing means, if printing is stopped at the time of cleaning the print head, as a result, the printed contents are insufficient, and the PTP sheet is manufactured by the PTP wrapping machine. It may be necessary to temporarily stop it. When the production of the PTP sheet is stopped, the PTP sheet to be charged (supplied) to the collecting means becomes insufficient, and it becomes necessary to stop the collecting means. Such suspension of the collecting means leads to delaying the production of the finally obtained sheet package, which leads to a decrease in the production speed.

On the other hand, a printing means provided with a first print head and a second print head is used, and when the first print head is cleaned, printing is performed by the second print head to prevent the printing from stopping, and eventually, the printing is integrated. It is conceivable to avoid stopping the means (see, for example, Patent Document 3 and the like). The second print head can be said to be a spare print head used when cleaning the first print head.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-1326 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-143615 Japanese Patent No. 6405114

However, providing a spare print head in the printing means causes an increase in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the apparatus, and may cause an increase in the size of the apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent an increase in cost and an increase in size of an apparatus more reliably, and to suppress a decrease in production speed due to cleaning of a print head. The purpose is to provide blister sheet manufacturing and integration equipment.

Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above object will be described separately for each item. In addition, the action and effect peculiar to the corresponding means will be added as necessary.

Means 1. The contents are housed in the pocket portion formed in the container film, and the blister sheet is manufactured by attaching the cover film to the container film so as to close the pocket portion, and the manufactured blister sheet is accumulated. It is a blister sheet manufacturing and integration device that has the function of
An inkjet printing means that has a print head that prints on the contents and can perform cleaning of the print head after stopping printing on the contents.
The pocket portion formed in the strip-shaped container film is filled with the contents printed by the printing means, and the strip-shaped cover film is removed so as to close the pocket portion with respect to the container film. A blister sheet packaging means for producing a blister sheet by separating a strip-shaped blister film that is attached and the cover film is attached to the container film.
An collecting means for accumulating blister sheets manufactured by the blister sheet packaging means, and
A sheet buffer means for storing the blister sheet to be charged into the collecting means is provided between the blister sheet packaging means and the collecting means.
In a state where the printing means and the blister sheet packaging means are operated to manufacture the blister sheet, the number of blister sheets manufactured per unit time is larger than the number of blister sheets processed per unit time by the stacking means. It is set to be many,
A time zone in which the production of the blister sheet by the blister sheet packaging means is temporarily stopped and the sheet buffer means as a result of stopping printing on the contents by the printing means and performing cleaning of the print head. A blister sheet manufacturing / integration apparatus, characterized in that the time period for charging the blister sheets stored in the storage to the accumulation means overlaps in whole or in part.

According to the above means 1, in the state where the printing means and the blister sheet packaging means are operated to manufacture the blister sheet (during normal manufacturing), the number of blister sheets manufactured per unit time is the unit by the collecting means. It is set to be larger than the number of blister sheets processed per hour (the number of blister sheets to be integrated). Therefore, at the time of normal manufacturing, the blister sheet can be gradually stored in the sheet buffer means.

Then, according to the above-mentioned means 1, the time zone in which the production of the blister sheet is temporarily stopped due to the stop printing on the contents by the printing means and the cleaning of the print head, and the sheet buffer. It is configured so that the time zone in which the blister sheet stored in the means is charged into the collecting means overlaps in whole or in part. That is, when the production of the blister sheet is stopped, the blister sheet stored in advance is put into the collecting means. As a result, it is possible to prevent a part or all of the stoppage of the collecting means due to the cleaning of the print head, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the production speed.

Further, according to the above means 1, it is not necessary to provide a spare print head in order to prevent the stacking means from stopping. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent an increase in costs related to the manufacture and maintenance of the device and an increase in the size of the device.

Means 2. The printing means is
A content transporting means that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It is provided with an image pickup means for capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents transfer means at a position upstream of the print head.
The print head includes a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink.
Based on the data obtained by the imaging means, the selected one of the plurality of nozzles ejects ink, so that the printing position of the contents by the printing means can be adjusted.
In a state where the printing means is operated and the contents are filled in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging means, the number of contents to be printed is filled in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging means. The blister sheet manufacturing and integration apparatus according to means 1, wherein the number of contents is set to be larger than the number of contents.

According to the means 2, the conveyed contents are imaged by the image pickup means at a position upstream of the print head, and the print position with respect to the contents is adjusted based on the data obtained by the image pickup means. Therefore, printing can be performed at an appropriate position based on the state of the contents (for example, position and orientation), and printing quality can be improved.

Further, according to the above means 2, the printing means is operated and the pocket portion is filled with the contents by the blister sheet packaging means (in other words, the time zone when the printing means is operating and the pocket). In the time zone in which the contents are filled in the portion, the number of contents to be printed (the total number in the overlapping time zones) is the number of contents to be filled in the pocket portion (the above-mentioned). It is set to be larger than the total number in the overlapping time zone). Therefore, since the printing frequency by the print head (the number of contents to be printed per unit time) can be increased, each nozzle can be easily selected as the ink ejection target. This makes it easier to eject ink even with a nozzle that is generally difficult to be selected as an ink ejection target (for example, a nozzle that is in charge of the edge of a printable area by a printing means). Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the clogging defect of the nozzle due to the solidification of the ink, the thickening of the ink, and the like, and to more reliably prevent the occurrence of the printing defect. Further, since the nozzles are less likely to be clogged, the cleaning frequency and cleaning time of the print head can be reduced. As a result, the production speed can be improved.

Means 3. The printing means is
A content inspection means for inspecting the contents transported by the content transport means, and a content inspection means.
It is provided with a defective product discharging means for discharging the contents determined to be defective by the content inspection means to the outside of the system.
A content buffer means for storing the contents is provided between the printing means and the blister sheet packaging means.
The content buffer means is configured to store only the contents that have been judged to be good by the content inspection means.
The content buffer means has a time period in which the number of contents filled in the pocket portion per unit time by the blister sheet packaging means is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good per unit time by the content inspection means. The blister sheet manufacturing and integration device according to means 2, wherein the stored contents are configured to overlap with the time zone for filling the pocket portion.

Normally, the incidence of printing defects increases with time as printing is executed, and is lowest immediately after cleaning the print head and highest immediately before cleaning the print head. Therefore, by setting the number of contents to be printed to be larger than the number of filled contents as in the above means 2, the contents are in a time zone when the occurrence rate of printing defects is relatively low. The contents can be gradually stored in the buffer means.

In addition, according to the above means 3, a time zone in which the number of contents filled in the pocket portion per unit time is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good per unit time is stored in the content buffer means. It overlaps with the time when the contents are filled into the pocket. That is, even in a time zone in which the occurrence rate of printing defects is relatively high and the number of contents filled in the pocket portion is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good, the contents buffer means can be used. The contents stored in advance are stably filled in the pocket portion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the suspension of filling of the contents due to the shortage of the contents, and it is possible to suppress the suspension of production of the blister sheet due to the suspension of filling. As a result, it is possible to more reliably suppress the decrease in the production speed.

Means 4. The printing means is
A content transporting means that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It is provided with an image pickup means for capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents transfer means at a position upstream of the print head.
Based on the data obtained by the imaging means, the printing position with respect to the contents by the printing means can be adjusted.
After the transport of the contents by the transport means is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print head, the transport path located between the image pickup means and the print head has no contents. The blister sheet manufacturing / integration apparatus according to any one of means 1 to 3, wherein the transportation of the contents by the transportation means is restarted.

According to the above means 4, similarly to the above means 2, printing can be performed at an appropriate position based on the state (for example, position and orientation) of the contents, and the print quality can be improved.

Further, according to the above means 4, after the transport of the contents by the content transport means is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print head, the contents are placed in the transport path located between the image pickup means and the print head. The transport of the contents is resumed in the absence state. Therefore, even if the state of the contents (for example, the position or orientation) changes due to the impact caused by the resumption of transportation, the print position is determined based on the data obtained by imaging the contents after the state changes. Can be adjusted. As a result, printing can be performed at an appropriate position based on the state of the contents even immediately after the transportation and printing of the contents are restarted, and the effect of improving the print quality can be more reliably ensured.

Means 5. The printing means is provided with a content transporting means for transporting the contents along a predetermined transport path, and is configured to print the contents transported by the content transporting means.
When the predetermined first numerical value is m and the second numerical value, which is larger than the first numerical value, is n,
The content transporting means transports the contents in a row of m and at the same time.
The blister sheet packaging means has a filling means for filling the pocket portion with the contents arranged in n rows.
The blister sheet manufacturing / integration apparatus according to any one of means 1 to 4, further comprising a column number conversion means for converting the number of rows of contents from m to n between the content transporting means and the filling means. ..

According to the means 5, the number of rows of contents at the time of filling the pocket portion is larger than the number of rows of contents (m rows) at the time of transporting by the contents transporting means (that is, at the time of printing by the printing means). (N columns) can be increased. That is, according to the above means 5, it is possible to print the contents with a relatively small number of columns and fill the contents with a relatively large number of columns. Since the contents can be printed with a relatively small number of columns, the scale of the printing means can be reduced, and various costs related to equipment manufacturing and maintenance, printing means control processing, etc. can be suppressed. Can be planned. On the other hand, since the contents can be filled with a relatively large number of rows, the speed of filling the contents can be increased, and the manufacturing speed of the blister sheet can be improved.

Further, according to the above means 5, since the number of columns at the time of printing is relatively small, the scale of the apparatus for cleaning the print head can be reduced. Therefore, the cost can be suppressed more effectively.

Further, according to the above means 5, the printing frequency by the printing means can be further increased. Therefore, when the print head is provided with a plurality of nozzles and the selected one of these nozzles can adjust the printing position with respect to the contents by ejecting ink, each nozzle is ink. It becomes easier to select the ink as the ejection target, and it becomes easier to eject the ink even if the nozzle is generally difficult to be selected as the ink ejection target. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the clogging defect of the nozzle, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of the printing defect. Further, by suppressing the clogging defect of the nozzle, the cleaning frequency and the cleaning time of the print head can be reduced, and the production speed can be further improved.

Means 6. A step of manufacturing a blister sheet in which the contents are housed in a pocket portion formed in the container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pocket portion, and a manufactured blister sheet. It is a manufacturing and accumulation method of a blister sheet including a step of accumulating.
The printing process of printing on the contents by the print head provided in the inkjet printing means,
A cleaning process in which the printing head is cleaned after the execution of the printing process is stopped, and
The pocket portion formed in the strip-shaped container film is filled with the contents printed by the printing step, and the strip-shaped cover film is removed so as to close the pocket portion with respect to the container film. A blister sheet packaging process for producing a blister sheet by separating a strip-shaped blister film that is attached and the cover film is attached to the container film.
A sheet buffer step for storing the blister sheet produced by the blister sheet packaging step by a predetermined sheet buffer means, and a sheet buffer step.
A sheet charging step of charging the blister sheet stored in the sheet buffer means into a predetermined collecting means, and
A stacking process for stacking blister sheets by the stacking means is provided.
In the state where the blister sheet is manufactured by executing the printing step and the blister sheet packaging step, the number of blister sheets manufactured per unit time is larger than the number of blister sheets processed per unit time by the integration step. It is set to be many,
It is characterized in that the time zone in which the production of the blister sheet by the blister sheet packaging step is temporarily stopped and the time zone in which the sheet loading step is executed overlap in all or part with the execution of the cleaning step. A method for manufacturing and accumulating blister sheets.

According to the above-mentioned means 6, the same action and effect as the above-mentioned means 1 can be achieved.

Means 7. The printing process is
A content transfer process that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It includes an image pickup step of imaging the contents transported by the contents transfer step at a position upstream of the print head.
The print head includes a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink.
Based on the data obtained in the imaging step, the selected one of the plurality of nozzles ejects ink, so that the printing position with respect to the contents in the printing step can be adjusted.
In a state where the printing process is being executed and the contents are filled in the pocket portion according to the state of the blister sheet packaging process, the number of contents to be printed is the number of the contents to be printed in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging process. The method for manufacturing and accumulating blister sheets according to means 6, wherein the number of contents to be filled is larger than the number of contents to be filled.

According to the above-mentioned means 7, the same action and effect as the above-mentioned means 2 can be achieved.

Means 8. The printing process is
A content inspection process for inspecting the contents transported by the content transport process, and a content inspection process.
Includes a defective product discharge process that discharges the contents determined to be defective by the content inspection process to the outside of the system.
A content buffering step of storing the contents in a predetermined content buffering means before filling the pocket portion with the contents printed by the printing step is provided.
Only the contents that are judged to be good by the contents inspection step are stored in the contents buffer means.
The content buffering means has a time period in which the number of contents filled in the pocket portion per unit time by the blister sheet packaging process is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good per unit time by the content inspection process. The method for producing and accumulating blister sheets according to means 7, wherein the stored contents are configured to overlap with the time zone for filling the pocket portion.

According to the above-mentioned means 8, the same action and effect as the above-mentioned means 3 can be obtained.

Means 9. The printing process is
A content transfer process that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It includes an imaging step of capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents conveying step at a position upstream of the print head by a predetermined imaging means.
Based on the data obtained in the imaging step, the printing position with respect to the contents in the printing step can be adjusted.
After the content transfer process is temporarily stopped due to the execution of the cleaning step, the transfer step is performed in a state where there is no content in the transfer path located between the image pickup means and the print head. The method for producing and accumulating a blister sheet according to any one of means 6 to 8, wherein the process is restarted.

According to the above-mentioned means 9, the same action and effect as the above-mentioned means 4 can be obtained.

Means 10. The printing step includes a content transporting step of transporting the contents along a predetermined transport path, and prints the contents transported by the content transporting step.
When the predetermined first numerical value is m and the second numerical value, which is larger than the first numerical value, is n,
In the content transporting step, the contents are transported in a state of being lined up in m rows.
The blister sheet packaging step includes a filling step of filling the pocket portion with the contents arranged in n rows.
The production and integration of the blister sheet according to any one of means 6 to 9, further comprising a column number conversion step of converting the number of rows of the contents from m to n between the content transfer step and the filling step. Method.

According to the means 10, the same action and effect as those of the means 5 can be obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows the PTP sheet. It is a partially enlarged sectional view of a PTP sheet. It is a perspective view which shows the tablet. It is a perspective view which shows the PTP film. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the PTP sheet manufacturing integrated apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of a PTP packaging machine and the like. It is a front schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the printing apparatus, the tablet buffer apparatus, the filling apparatus and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the printing apparatus, the tablet buffer apparatus, the filling apparatus and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the supply device and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the defective product removal apparatus and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the column number conversion apparatus and the like. It is a front schematic diagram which shows the column number conversion apparatus and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the tablet buffer device, the receiving and transporting device, and the like. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the filling device and the like. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement of the nozzle array in a print head. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which stopped the supply of a tablet just before the start of cleaning with respect to the print head of the 1st printing machine. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of starting cleaning with respect to the print head of the 1st printing machine. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of starting cleaning with respect to the print head of the 2nd printing machine. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the supply of a tablet is restarted, and the cleaning with respect to the print head of the 1st printing machine is completed. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state when the cleaning with respect to the print head of the 2nd printing machine is completed. It is a schematic diagram which shows the printing apparatus which returned to the normal operation state after the completion of cleaning. It is a figure which shows roughly the timing of operation and suspension of an apparatus, transition of the buffer amount of a PTP sheet and the like. In another embodiment, the operation and suspension of the device when the time zone in which the production of the PTP sheet is temporarily stopped and the time zone in which the stored PTP sheet is input to the integrated device partially overlap. It is a figure which roughly shows the timing of. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the tablet buffer device and the like in another embodiment. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the suction hole and the like of the 1st transfer apparatus in another embodiment. It is a perspective schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the printing apparatus and the like in another embodiment. In another embodiment, it is a figure which roughly shows the transition of the buffer amount of a tablet and the like. In another embodiment, it is a figure which roughly shows the transition of the buffer amount of a tablet and the like.

Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the PTP sheet as a "blister sheet" will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 has a container film 3 provided with a plurality of pocket portions 2 and a cover film 4 attached to the container film 3 so as to close the pocket portions 2. ing.

The container film 3 in the present embodiment is formed of a transparent thermoplastic resin material such as PP (polypropylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and has translucency. On the other hand, the cover film 4 is made of an opaque material (for example, aluminum foil or the like) provided with a sealant made of polypropylene resin or the like on the surface thereof. Of course, the materials of the films 3 and 4 are not limited to these, and other materials may be adopted.

The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured by punching a strip-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 4) formed from a strip-shaped container film 3 and a strip-shaped cover film 4 into a sheet shape, and is substantially rectangular in a plan view. It is formed in a shape. In this embodiment, the PTP film 6 corresponds to a "blister film".

In the PTP sheet 1, two pocket rows consisting of five pocket portions 2 arranged along the longitudinal direction thereof are formed in the lateral direction thereof. That is, a total of 10 pocket portions 2 are formed. Each pocket portion 2 contains one tablet 5 as a "content".

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tablet 5 in the present embodiment is a disk-shaped uncoated tablet having a circular shape in a plan view, and has a side surface 5a and a front surface 5b and a back surface 5c sandwiching the side surface 5a. It is composed. Then, identification information (characters, symbols, numbers, figures, etc.) indicating product information regarding the tablet 5 is printed on both the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5.

Examples of the product information regarding the tablet 5 include "product name", "content", "dosage form", "manufacturer" and "lot number". In the example shown in FIG. 3, the characters "ABC" as the "product name" and the number "20" as the "content" are printed. Hereinafter, the portion on which the characters “ABC” and the number “20” are printed is referred to as “printing unit 5e”. In the present embodiment, the printed portions 5e having the same contents are formed on the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c. Of course, the contents of the printed portion 5e may be different on the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c.

Next, a schematic configuration of the PTP sheet manufacturing / integration device 10 having a function of manufacturing the PTP sheet 1 and accumulating the manufactured PTP sheet 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the PTP sheet manufacturing / integration device 10 includes a PTP packaging machine 11, a printing device 51, a tablet buffer device 61, a control device 71, a sheet buffer device 81, and an integration device 91. In the present embodiment, the PTP sheet manufacturing / integrating device 10 constitutes a “blister sheet manufacturing / integrating device”, similarly, the PTP packaging machine 11 “blister sheet packaging means”, the printing device 51 “printing means”, and tablets. The buffer device 61 constitutes the "content buffer means", the sheet buffer device 81 constitutes the "sheet buffer means", and the integration device 91 constitutes the "integration means".

First, a schematic configuration of the PTP packaging machine 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, on the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 11, the raw fabric of the strip-shaped container film 3 is wound in a roll shape. The drawer end side of the container film 3 wound in a roll shape is guided by the guide roll 13. The container film 3 is hung on the intermittent feed roll 14 on the downstream side of the guide roll 13. The intermittent feed roll 14 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, and intermittently conveys the container film 3.

A heating device 15 and a pocket portion forming device 16 are sequentially arranged between the guide roll 13 and the intermittent feed roll 14 along the transport path of the container film 3. Then, in a state where the container film 3 is heated by the heating device 15 and the container film 3 becomes relatively flexible, the pocket portion forming device 16 forms a plurality of pocket portions 2 at predetermined positions of the container film 3. The formation of the pocket portion 2 is performed during the interval between the transport operations of the container film 3 by the intermittent feed roll 14.

The container film 3 fed from the intermittent feed roll 14 is hung in the order of the tension roll 18, the guide roll 19, and the film receiving roll 20. Since the film receiving roll 20 is connected to a motor that rotates at a constant speed, the container film 3 is continuously conveyed at a constant speed. The tension roll 18 is in a state of pulling the container film 3 toward the tension side by the elastic force, and prevents the container film 3 from loosening due to the difference in the transport operation between the intermittent feed roll 14 and the film receiving roll 20. The film 3 is always kept in a tense state.

A filling device 21 and an inspection device 22 are sequentially arranged between the guide roll 19 and the film receiving roll 20 along the transport path of the container film 3.

The filling device 21 fills the pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5 formed by the printing portion 5e by the printing device 51. In this embodiment, the filling device 21 constitutes a "filling means". The configuration of the filling device 21 will be described later.

The inspection device 22 inspects, for example, whether or not the tablet 5 is surely filled in each pocket portion 2, whether or not the tablet 5 is abnormal, and whether or not foreign matter is mixed in the pocket portion 2.

On the other hand, the original fabric of the cover film 4 formed in a strip shape is wound in a roll shape on the most upstream side. The drawer end of the cover film 4 wound in a roll shape is guided toward the heating roll 25 by the guide roll 24.

The heating roll 25 can be pressure-contacted with the film receiving roll 20, and the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are fed between the rolls 20 and 25. Then, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 pass between the rolls 20 and 25 in a heat-pressed state, so that the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 and the pocket portion 2 is closed by the cover film 4. .. As a result, a strip-shaped PTP film 6 in which the tablet 5 is housed in each pocket portion 2 is manufactured.

The PTP film 6 fed from the film receiving roll 20 is hung in the order of the tension roll 27 and the intermittent feed roll 28. Since the intermittent feed roll 28 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the PTP film 6 is intermittently conveyed. The tension roll 27 is in a state of pulling the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening due to the difference in the transport operation between the film receiving roll 20 and the intermittent feed roll 28. The PTP film 6 is always kept in a tense state.

The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 28 is hung in the order of the tension roll 31 and the intermittent feed roll 32. Since the intermittent feed roll 32 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the PTP film 6 is intermittently conveyed. The tension roll 31 is in a state of pulling the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by the elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening between the intermittent feed rolls 28 and 32.

A slit forming device 33 and a marking device 34 are sequentially arranged between the intermittent feed roll 28 and the tension roll 31 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The slit forming device 33 has a function of forming a slit for cutting at a predetermined position of the PTP film 6. Further, the marking device 34 has a function of marking a predetermined position (for example, a tag portion) of the PTP film 6. In addition, in FIG. 1 and the like, the illustration of the slit for cutting and the marking is omitted.

The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 32 is hooked on the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36 in this order on the downstream side thereof. A sheet punching device 37 is arranged between the intermittent feed roll 32 and the tension roll 35 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 37 has a function of punching the outer edge of the PTP film 6 in units of one PTP sheet.

The PTP sheet 1 manufactured by punching is conveyed to the sheet buffer device 81 by a conveyor 39. However, when the defect determination is made by the inspection device 22, the PTP sheet 1 related to the defect determination is not sent to the sheet buffer device 81, but is separately discharged by a defective sheet ejection mechanism (not shown). In the present embodiment, the process of manufacturing the PTP sheet 1 by the PTP packaging machine 11 corresponds to the “blister sheet packaging process”.

A cutting device 41 is arranged on the downstream side of the continuous feed roll 36. Then, the unnecessary film portion 42 constituting the residual material portion (scrap portion) remaining in a strip shape after punching by the sheet punching device 37 is guided to the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36, and then guided to the cutting device 41. .. The cutting device 41 cuts the unnecessary film portion 42 to a predetermined size. The cut unnecessary film portion 42 (scrap) is stored in the scrap hopper 43 and then separately disposed of.

Next, prior to the description of the filling device 21, the configurations of the printing device 51 and the tablet buffer device 61 installed upstream of the filling device 21 will be described.

The printing device 51 is a device that prints, inspects, or the like on the tablet 5 while transporting the tablet 5. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the printing device 51 includes a supply device 52, a first printing inspection device 53, a second printing inspection device 54, a defective product removing device 55, and a column number conversion device 56. In the present embodiment, the defective product removing device 55 constitutes the "defective product discharging means", and the column number conversion device 56 constitutes the "column number converting means". Further, the step of printing on the tablet 5 by the printing device 51 corresponds to the "printing step".

The supply device 52 supplies the tablets 5 from a storage unit (for example, a hopper or the like) in which a large number of tablets 5 are stored to the first print inspection device 53. The supply device 52 includes a supply chute 521 and a supply drum 522. It should be noted that the tablet 5 stored in the storage unit does not have the printing unit 5e formed.

The supply chute 521 delivers the tablets 5 supplied from the storage unit to the supply drum 522 one by one, and is provided in the same number as the number of rows of the tablets 5 conveyed by the supply drum 522. .. Each supply chute 521 has a cylindrical shape and is configured so that the tablets 5 can be loaded in a row in the vertical direction. Further, each supply chute 521 is installed in a state where its lower opening is directly above the rotation axis of the supply drum 522 and close to the supply drum 522.

A shutter (not shown) capable of opening and closing the opening is provided in the vicinity of the lower opening of each supply chute 521. By the opening / closing operation of the shutter, the tablets 5 are dropped from the supply chute 521 one by one and supplied to the supply drum 522.

The supply drum 522 receives the tablet 5 supplied from the supply chute 521, and then conveys the tablet 5 to the first printing inspection device 53 side while adsorbing and holding the tablet 5. The supply drum 522 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably configured by a driving means (not shown).

A large number of adsorption portions 522a for adsorbing and holding the tablet 5 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the supply drum 522 (see FIG. 9). Each suction portion 522a is configured to be in a state where a negative pressure is supplied by a predetermined suction means (not shown) while moving from directly above to near the bottom of the rotation axis of the supply drum 522. As a result, each suction unit 522a sucks and holds the tablet 5 while moving from directly above to near the bottom of the rotation axis of the supply drum 522. On the other hand, each suction portion 522a is configured to be open to the atmosphere while moving from directly below the rotation axis of the supply drum 522 to near directly above. As a result, the tablet 5 sucked and held by the suction portion 522a is released from suction just below the rotation shaft of the supply drum 522 and is delivered to the first printing inspection device 53.

Further, the suction portions 522a are regularly arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the supply drum 522. In the present embodiment, a large number of suction portions 522a are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the supply drum 522. A plurality of rows of suction portions 522a arranged in the circumferential direction are provided at equal intervals along the axial direction of the supply drum 522. The number of rows of the suction unit 522a is the same as the number of rows of the tablets 5 transported by the first transport device 531 and the second transport device 541, which will be described later, respectively.

The first print inspection device 53 prints and inspects the surface 5b side of the tablet 5 while transporting the tablet 5 supplied from the supply device 52, and receives the tablet 5 to the second print inspection device 54. It is something to pass. The first print inspection device 53 includes a first transfer device 531, a first tablet inspection device 532, a first printing machine 533, and a first print inspection device 534.

The first transfer device 531 transfers the tablet 5 delivered from the supply device 52 to the second print inspection device 54 side while adsorbing and holding the tablet 5. The first transport device 531 includes a pair of upstream pulleys 531a and 531b, and an upstream transport belt 531c spanned over the upstream pulleys 531a and 531b.

The pair of upstream pulleys 531a and 531b are arranged at predetermined intervals, and can rotate on a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the supply drum 522, respectively.

The upstream side transport belt 531c rotates and moves with the rotation of the upstream side pulleys 531a and 531b. The upstream transfer belt 531c is provided with a suction hole 531d for sucking and holding the tablet 5.

A large number of suction holes 531d are provided side by side at equal intervals along the moving direction of the upstream transport belt 531c, that is, the transport direction of the tablet 5. Then, when a predetermined first numerical value (however, a natural number) is set to m, a row of suction holes 531d arranged along the moving direction of the upstream transport belt 531c (the transport direction of the tablet 5) is formed in m rows. In this embodiment, the first numerical value (that is, m) is "4".

Further, the internal space of the upstream transport belt 531c surrounded by the upstream transport belt 531c and corresponding to the space between the predetermined first position P1 and the predetermined second position P2 is a suction mechanism (not shown). Negative pressure is supplied by, and the internal space is in a vacuum state. As a result, a negative pressure is supplied to the suction hole 531d communicating with the internal space. As a result, the tablet 5 is transported from the first position P1 to the second position P2 in a state of being lined up in the m row as the upstream pulleys 531a and 531b rotate while being sucked and held by the suction holes 531d. The first position P1 is a position where the tablet 5 is delivered from the supply device 52 to the first print inspection device 53, and the second position P2 is from the first print inspection device 53 to the second print inspection device 54. And the position where the tablet 5 is delivered. Further, FIG. 8 and the like show a state in which each internal space such as the upstream side transport belt 531c and the downstream side transport belt 541c described later is open to the outside, but in reality, these internal spaces are in a sealed state. It has become.

The first tablet inspection device 532 is provided along the transport path of the tablet 5 by the first transport device 531 and inspects the portion of the tablet 5 to be transported on the surface 5b side. The first tablet inspection device 532 is a tablet determination device (not) that determines the quality of the tablet 5 based on the camera 532a for photographing the transferred tablet 5 and the image pickup data (image data) obtained by the camera 532a. (Illustrated). The camera 532a takes an image of the tablet 5 at a position upstream of the print head 533a described later of the first printing machine 533. The imaging data of the tablet 5 obtained by the camera 532a and the quality determination result of the tablet 5 obtained by the tablet determination device are transmitted to the control device 71.

The first printing machine 533 is arranged downstream of the first tablet inspection device 532 along the transport direction of the tablet 5 by the first transport device 531 and is transported by a predetermined inkjet method (for example, a piezo method or a thermal method). Printing is performed on the tablets 5 to be printed in a non-contact manner.

The first printing machine 533 corresponds to m suction holes 531d (tablets 5) arranged in the width direction of the upstream transfer belt 531c, and m printing heads 533a (see FIG. 15) arranged in the width direction. It is equipped with. Each print head 533a is in charge of printing a row of tablets 5 arranged in the moving direction of the upstream transfer belt 531c. Each print head 533a prints on the surface 5b of each tablet 5 by ejecting ink toward each tablet 5 passing through the first printing machine 533 to form the printing portion 5e.

Further, each print head 533a includes two rows of nozzle rows La and Lb in which a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink droplets are arranged at regular intervals (see FIG. 15). The nozzle row La includes x nozzles Na (Na1, Na2, Na3, Na4, Na5, ..., Nax) at regular intervals in the head width direction, and the nozzle row Lb has x nozzles Nb (Nb1, Nb2, Nb3, Nb4, Nb5, ..., Nbx) are provided at regular intervals in the head width direction. In the present embodiment, predetermined edible ink is supplied to each nozzle Na and Nb from an ink tank (not shown).

Further, each nozzle Nb of the nozzle row Lb is displaced in the head width direction with respect to each nozzle Na of the nozzle row La, and is located between the nozzles Na. That is, the nozzles Na and Nb of both nozzle rows La and Lb are arranged in a staggered pattern as a whole, and are arranged at regular intervals in the head width direction.

Further, each print head 533a is provided with a cleaning device (not shown) for cleaning the print head 533a. The cleaning device is provided with a purge mechanism that performs a pressure purge that discharges dust, thickened or solidified ink, etc. stuck inside the nozzles Na and Nb to the outside, and a wiping mechanism that wipes the print head 533a after purging. ing. The cleaning of the print head 533a is performed after the printing on the tablet 5 by the first printing machine 533 is stopped.

The first printing inspection apparatus 534 inspects the printing unit 5e formed by the first printing machine 533. The first printing inspection device 534 determines the quality of the printing unit 5e based on the camera for imaging the tablet 5 to be conveyed and the imaging data obtained by the camera, and by extension, prints for determining the quality of the tablet 5. It is equipped with a judgment device (not shown). The quality determination result of the tablet 5 by the print determination device is transmitted to the control device 71.

The second print inspection device 54 prints and inspects the back surface 5c side of the tablet 5 while transporting the tablet 5 supplied from the first print inspection device 53 to the row number conversion device 56 side. The second print inspection device 54 includes a second transfer device 541, a second tablet inspection device 542, a second printing machine 543, and a second print inspection device 544.

The second transfer device 541 basically has the same configuration as the first transfer device 531 and has a pair of downstream pulleys 541a and 541b corresponding to the upstream pulleys 531a and 531b and a downstream pulley 541a. , 541b is provided with a downstream transport belt 541c corresponding to the upstream transport belt 531c.

The downstream transfer belt 541c is provided with a suction hole 541d for sucking and holding the tablet 5 (in FIG. 8, the illustration of the tablet 5 corresponding to the suction hole 541d is omitted in order to show the suction hole 541d. is doing). The suction holes 541d are provided in the same manner as the suction holes 531d in the upstream transfer belt 531c, and the rows of the suction holes 541d arranged along the moving direction of the downstream transfer belt 541c (the transfer direction of the tablet 5) are m. It is in a state of being lined up.

A negative pressure is supplied to the internal space of the downstream transfer belt 541c surrounded by the downstream transfer belt 541c by a suction mechanism (not shown), and the internal space is in a vacuum state. As a result, a negative pressure is supplied to the suction hole 541d, and the tablet 5 delivered from the first printing inspection device 53 at the second position is sucked and held by the suction hole 541d while the downstream pulley 541a is sucked and held. , 541b is transported to the row number conversion device 56 side in a state of being lined up in m rows.

In the present embodiment, each of the first transfer device 531 and the second transfer device 541 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and the upstream pulleys 531a, 531b and the downstream pulley are provided from the encoder to the control device 71. Signals relating to the amount of rotation (movement amount) of 541a and 541b are transmitted at predetermined time intervals. As a result, the control device 71 can grasp the position of the tablet 5 transported by each transport device 531 and 541. In the present embodiment, the first transfer device 531 and the second transfer device 541 each constitute a "content transfer means". Further, the step of transporting the tablets 5 in a state of being lined up in m rows along a predetermined transport path by each transport device 531 and 541 corresponds to the "content transport step".

Like the first tablet inspection device 532, the second tablet inspection device 542 includes a camera 542a and a tablet determination device for imaging the tablet 5 to be conveyed, and is based on the image pickup data obtained by the camera 542a. , The site on the back surface 5c side of the tablet 5 is inspected. The camera 542a captures the tablet 5 at a position upstream of the print head 543a described later of the second printing machine 543. The imaging data of the tablet 5 obtained by the camera 542a and the quality determination result of the tablet 5 are transmitted to the control device 71. In the present embodiment, the cameras 532a and 542a of the tablet inspection devices 532 and 542 form the "imaging means", respectively. Further, the step of imaging the tablet 5 with the cameras 532a and 542a corresponds to the “imaging step”.

The second printing machine 543 is an inkjet printing machine similar to the first printing machine 533, and corresponds to m suction holes 541d (tablets 5) arranged in the width direction of the downstream transfer belt 541c. It is provided with m print heads 543a (see FIG. 15) arranged in the width direction. Each print head 543a includes nozzles Na and Nb similar to those of the print head 533a of the first printing machine 533, and the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles Na and Nb to transfer ink droplets to the tablet 5. Print in a non-contact manner.

Further, each print head 543a of the second printing machine 543 is provided with a purging mechanism, a wiping mechanism, and the like like the first printing machine 533, and is a cleaning device for cleaning the print head 543a (not shown). Is provided. The cleaning of the print head 543a is performed after the printing on the tablet 5 by the second printing machine 543 is stopped. In the present embodiment, the step of cleaning the print heads 533a and 543a by the cleaning device corresponds to the "cleaning step".

Further, in each printing machine 533, 543, the printing position is controlled by the control device 71 based on the image pickup data obtained by the cameras 532a and 542a. As a result, the printed portion 5e is formed at an appropriate position of each tablet 5 even if the state (position in the present embodiment) of each tablet 5 being conveyed is different.

The second print inspection device 544 inspects the printing unit 5e formed by the second printing machine 543. The second print inspection device 544 has the same configuration as the first print inspection device 534, and uses a camera and a print determination device to determine the quality of the printing unit 5e and thus the tablet 5, and controls the quality determination result. Send to 71. In the present embodiment, the tablet inspection device 532, 542 and the print inspection device 534, 544 each constitute a "content inspection means". Further, the step of inspecting the tablet 5 by these inspection devices 532, 534, 542, 544 corresponds to the "content inspection step".

The defective product removing device 55 removes the tablet 5 determined to be a defective product by at least one of the inspection devices 532, 534, 542, 544 to the outside of the system (that is, outside the transport path by the transport device 531 and 541). It is a device for. The defective product removing device 55 is provided downstream of the second print inspection device 544 along the transport direction of the tablet 5 by the second transport device 541. Further, the defective product removing device 55 is arranged in the internal space of the downstream side transport belt 541c.

As shown in FIG. 10, the defective product removing device 55 releases the suction holding of the tablet 5 by blowing the suction hole 541d, and the defective product removing blow nozzle capable of discharging the tablet 5 to the outside of the system. It has a plurality of 55a. Each defective blow nozzle 55a is provided side by side in m pieces along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the tablets 5, and is in charge of removing one row of tablets 5 lined up along the transport direction. As a result, only the defective tablet 5 can be selectively removed from the system. The tablet 5 removed by the blow operation of the defective blow nozzle 55a is put into a predetermined defective product accommodating portion 55b. In the present embodiment, the step of discharging the tablet 5 out of the system by the defective product removing device 55 corresponds to the “defective product discharging step”.

The column number conversion device 56 sets the number of rows of the tablets 5 at the time of filling the pocket portion 2 between the transport devices 531, 541 and the filling device 21 to be larger than the number of rows of the tablets 5 at the time of transport by the transport devices 531 and 541. It is for increasing. That is, when n is a second numerical value that is larger than the first numerical value (where n is a natural number), the column number conversion device 56 is a row of tablets 5 between the transfer device 531 and 541 and the filling device 21. It has a function of converting a number from m to n. In this embodiment, the second numerical value (that is, n) is "5".

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the column number conversion device 56 includes a discharge device 561 and a receive / transfer device 562. In the present embodiment, a part of the function of the control device 71 (particularly the function related to the discharge of the tablet 5 by the discharge device 561) also constitutes a part of the column number conversion device 56.

The discharging device 561 selectively discharges the tablets 5 transported by the second transporting device 541 to the receiving and transporting device 562 side. Since the defective product removing device 55 is provided upstream of the discharging device 561, only the tablets 5 that are judged to be good by the inspection device 532, 534, 542, 544 are discharged to the receiving / transporting device 562. .. The discharge device 561 includes a plurality of blow nozzles 561a arranged inside the downstream transfer belt 541c.

Each blow nozzle 561a releases the suction holding of the tablet 5 by blowing the suction hole 541d, and discharges the tablet 5. N of the blow nozzles 561a are lined up along the transport direction of the tablets 5 by the second transport device 541, and the rows of the blow nozzles 561a are the same as the number of rows of the suction holes 541d lined up along the transport direction. M rows are provided so as to correspond. Therefore, m × n (20 in this embodiment) blow nozzles 561a are provided.

Further, the distance between the blow nozzles 561a along the transport direction of the tablet 5 by the second transport device 541 is the same as the spacing between the suction holes 541d along the transport direction, and the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. The distance between the blow nozzles 561a along the line is the same as the distance between the suction holes 541d along the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. As a result, all of the blow ports [gas (for example, air) blow ports] in each blow nozzle 561a overlap with the suction holes 541d at regular timing intervals.

The receiving / transporting device 562 receives the tablet 5 discharged and dropped by the discharging device 561, and transports the tablet 5 to the tablet buffer device 61 side. The receiving and transporting device 562 has substantially the same configuration as the transporting device 531 and 541, and includes a pair of rotatable pulleys 562a and 562b and a transport belt 562c spanned over these pulleys 562a and 562b. .. With the rotation of the pulleys 562a and 562b, the transport belt 562c moves along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the tablet 5 by each transport device 531 and 541.

Further, the transport belt 562c is provided with a suction hole 562d for sucking and holding the tablet 5. In the present embodiment, n rows of suction holes 562d are formed along the moving direction of the transport belt 562c (the transport direction of the tablet 5).

In addition, the internal space of the transport belt 562c surrounded by the transport belt 562c, which corresponds to the space between the predetermined third position P3 and the predetermined fourth position P4, is negatively pressured by a suction mechanism (not shown). Is supplied, and the internal space is in a vacuum state. As a result, a negative pressure is supplied to the suction hole 562d communicating with the internal space, and the tablet 5 discharged by the discharge device 561 is sucked and held by the suction hole 562d. Then, the tablets 5 adsorbed and held are conveyed from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4 in a state of being lined up in n rows as the pulleys 562a and 562b rotate. Then, at the fourth position P4, the adsorption and retention of the tablet 5 is released. The third position P3 is a position where the tablet 5 is discharged by the discharging device 561, and the fourth position P4 is a position where the tablet 5 is delivered from the receiving / transporting device 562 to the tablet buffer device 61.

As described above, according to the column number conversion device 56, the number of columns of the tablet 5 is converted from m to n. In the present embodiment, the step of converting the number of rows of the tablet 5 from m to n by the row number conversion device 56 corresponds to the “column number conversion step”.

Next, the tablet buffer device 61 will be described. The tablet buffer device 61 is provided between the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11, and is a device for temporarily storing the tablets 5 printed by the printing device 51. In the tablet buffer device 61, only the tablets 5 which are judged to be good by the inspection device 532,534,542,544 are stored. The tablet buffer device 61 includes a chute inlet 611 and n spring chute 612 (see FIG. 12).

The chute inlet portion 611 is a portion to which the tablet 5 transported by the receiving / transporting device 562 is loaded. The chute inlet portion 611 is installed in a state close to the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt 562c and corresponding to the fourth position P4. The chute inlet portion 611 includes n loading ports 611a arranged in the width direction of the transport belt 562c, and the n rows of tablets 5 transported by the receiving transport device 562 go to different loading ports 611a for each row. It is thrown in. For example, a row of tablets 5 located at the center of the transport belt 562c in the width direction is charged into the loading port 611a located at the center of the width direction. The tablet 5 is charged into the charging port 611a in a standing state (a state in which the radial direction of the tablet 5 is substantially vertical).

The spring chute 612 is formed by winding a predetermined wire in a spiral shape and has a cylindrical shape. Although the spring chute 612 is shown in a simplified manner in the drawing, the actual spring chute 612 has a coil spring shape and is flexible.

Each spring chute 612 is connected to a chute inlet portion 611, and the inner space of each spring chute 612 communicates with a different input port 611a. As a result, the tablet 5 charged into the charging port 611a of 1 enters the specific spring chute 612 corresponding to the charging port 611a.

The tablets 5 contained in the spring chute 612 are stored in a row in each spring chute 612 and transported to the filling device 21 side. Therefore, the tablets 5 are conveyed in an arrangement of n rows by n spring chutes 612. In the present embodiment, the step of storing the tablet 5 in the tablet buffer device 61 before filling the pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5 corresponds to the “content buffer step”.

Next, the filling device 21 will be described. The filling device 21 fills the pockets 2 formed in the strip-shaped container film 3 with the tablets 5 transported in a state of being lined up in n rows. As shown in FIG. 14, the filling device 21 includes a filling chute 211 and a filling drum 212.

The filling chute 211 delivers the tablets 5 supplied via the tablet buffer device 61 to the filling drum 212 one by one. The filling chutes 211 are provided in the same number as the number of pocket portions 2 along the width direction of the container film 3 (n in this embodiment), and are connected to the spring chutes 612, respectively. Each filling chute 211 basically has the same function as the supply chute 521, and by opening and closing a predetermined shutter, the tablets 5 are dropped one by one to the filling drum 212. Supply.

The filling drum 212 fills the pocket portion 2 of the container film 3 to be conveyed with the tablet 5 while adsorbing and holding the tablet 5 supplied from the filling chute 211. The filling drum 212 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably configured by a driving means (not shown).

A large number of adsorption portions 212a for adsorbing and holding the tablet 5 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the filling drum 212. Each suction portion 212a basically has the same function as the suction portion 522a of the supply drum 522, and holds the tablet 5 by suction while moving from directly above to near the bottom of the rotation axis of the filling drum 212. On the other hand, the adsorption of the tablet 5 is released just below the rotation axis of the filling drum 212. By releasing the adsorption, the tablet 5 is filled into the pocket portion 2.

Further, the suction portions 212a are regularly arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the filling drum 212. In the present embodiment, a large number of suction portions 212a are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the filling drum 212. Then, the rows of the suction portions 212a arranged in the circumferential direction correspond to the number of rows of the pocket portions 2 along the width direction of the container film 3, and n rows at equal intervals along the axial direction of the filling drum 212. It is provided. As a result, the filling device 21 sequentially fills the tablets 5 adsorbed and held by the adsorption portion 212a into the pocket portions 2 arranged in n rows in the width direction of the container film 3. In the present embodiment, the step of filling the pocket portion 2 with the printed tablets 5 arranged in n rows by the filling device 21 corresponds to the “filling step”.

Next, the control device 71 will be described. The control device 71 includes a CPU as a calculation means, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing various data, a storage medium for long-term storage of information (for example, a hard disk, etc.) and the like. The control device 71 executes control processing for the PTP packaging machine 11 and the printing device 51 by executing a predetermined program by the CPU.

Further, the control device 71 stores print data related to the printing unit 5e in advance. Then, when forming the printing portion 5e on the tablet 5, the control device 71 operates as follows. That is, the control device 71 grasps the state (position in the present embodiment) of the tablet 5 based on the image pickup data (image data) obtained by the cameras 532a and 542a of the tablet inspection device 532 and 542. Then, the control device 71 selects appropriate nozzles Na and Nb as ink ejection targets based on the grasped state of the tablet 5, and causes the printing press 533 and 543 to eject ink from the selected nozzles Na and Nb. Control. Further, at this time, the control device 71 controls the printing timing (ink ejection timing) by the printing press 533, 543 based on the signal from the encoder of each transport device 531 and 541. As a result, the printed portion 5e is formed at an appropriate position according to the state of the tablet 5.

Further, the control device 71 can identify the defective tablet 5 based on the determination result by the inspection device 532,534,542,544. Then, the control device 71 calculates the timing at which the defective tablet 5 reaches the defective product removing device 55 based on the signal from the encoder of the second transport device 541, and at the calculated timing, the tablet 5 The blow nozzle 55a for defective products is controlled so as to perform a blow for releasing the adsorption of the defective product. As a result, the defective tablet 5 is discharged to the outside of the system and put into the defective storage unit 55b.

In addition, the control device 71 controls the discharge position of the tablet 5 by the discharge device 561 by selectively blowing each blow nozzle 561a of the discharge device 561. By changing the discharge position, the row of the suction holes 562d to be delivered to the tablet 5 changes. In the following, the row of suction holes 562d may be simply referred to as a “suction row”.

Further, the control device 71 controls the operation of each blow nozzle 561a so that the tablets 5 are evenly distributed to each suction row. In the present embodiment, the control device 71 basically reaches the timing (discharge timing) at which the m tablets 5 arranged in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction reach the arrangement position of the blow nozzle 561a located at the uppermost stream. ), One tablet 5 is discharged to each of the m adsorption rows, and finally, the operation of each blow nozzle 561a is performed so that the same number of tablets 5 are delivered to each adsorption row. Control.

For example, when a plurality of suction rows are numbered (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) along the width direction of the transport belt 562c, the control device 71 has a certain discharge. At the timing, the next discharge is to the adsorption row of (2), (3), (4), (5), and at the next discharge timing, to the suction row of (1), (2), (3), (4). At the timing, the next discharge is to the adsorption row of (1), (2), (3), (5), and at the next discharge timing, to the suction row of (1), (2), (4), (5). At the timing, the operation of each blow nozzle 561a is controlled so that the tablets 5 are delivered one by one to the adsorption rows of (1), (3), (4), and (5).

However, when the defective tablet 5 is removed by the defective product removing device 55, the control device 71 minimizes the influence of the defective tablet 5 as much as possible, and the tablets 5 delivered to each adsorption row become equal. As described above, the blow nozzle 561a to be operated is selected. Here, the control device 71 is configured to store the number of tablets 5 delivered to each suction row, and the blow nozzle 561a to be operated is selected by using the stored number. The above "equal" is not only when the number of tablets 5 is strictly equal, that is, when the number of tablets 5 distributed to each adsorption row is exactly the same, but also when the number of tablets 5 distributed to each adsorption row is different. It also includes the case where there is almost no (for example, the difference in the number can be suppressed to several or less).

Further, when the control device 71 reaches a preset predetermined cleaning timing (for example, once every 30 minutes), the control device 71 cleans the print heads 533a and 543a in the printing press 533 and 543 as follows. Operation control. That is, when the cleaning timing is reached, the control device 71 closes the shutter of the supply chute 521 to stop the supply of the tablet 5 to the first transport device 531. It also stops the rotation of the supply drum 522. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, when the timing immediately after the tablet 5 located at the uppermost stream (supplied immediately before the shutter of the supply chute 521 is closed) passes through the first printing machine 533, the control device 71 is set. After stopping the printing operation of the first printing machine 533, the cleaning device of the first printing machine 533 is operated to start cleaning of the print head 533a. That is, the cleaning process related to the print head 533a is started. After the tablet 5 located at the uppermost stream is delivered to the second transport device 541, the control device 71 temporarily stops the rotational operation of the upstream pulleys 531a and 531b to temporarily move the first transport device 531. Stop it.

Then, as shown in FIG. 18, when the timing immediately after the tablet 5 located at the uppermost stream passes through the second printing machine 543, the control device 71 stops the operation of the second printing machine 543 and then stops the operation of the second printing machine 543. The cleaning device of the second printing machine 543 is operated to start cleaning of the print head 543a. That is, the cleaning process related to the print head 543a is started.

Further, the control device 71 continues the operation of the second transport device 541 even during the cleaning of the print head 543a in the second printing machine 543, and receives and transports the tablet 5 reaching the third position P3 by the discharging device 561. Discharge to device 562. In the present embodiment, the second transport device 541 does not pause due to the execution of cleaning and continues to operate, but the tablet 5 located at the most upstream is sent to the receiving transport device 562. It may be paused after being discharged.

Further, the control device 71 continues the operation of the filling device 21 until there is a shortage of the tablets 5 supplied to the filling device 21. Then, when the tablet 5 is in short supply, the operation of the PTP packaging machine 11 including the filling device 21 and the like is temporarily stopped. That is, the production of the PTP sheet 1 is temporarily stopped. While the production of the PTP sheet 1 is stopped, the PTP sheet 1 is not delivered to the sheet buffer device 81. Whether or not there is a shortage of tablets 5 can be determined based on the number of tablets 5 discharged by the discharging device 561 and the number of tablets 5 filled by the filling device 21.

Then, when a certain time has elapsed from the start of cleaning the print head 533a of the first printing machine 533 and the timing immediately before the cleaning of the print head 533a is completed, the control device 71 supplies the print head 71 as shown in FIG. The shutter of the chute 521 is released, the operation of the supply drum 522 is restarted, and the transfer operation of the first transfer device 531 is also restarted. At this time, the transfer of the tablet 5 by the first transfer device 531 is resumed in a state where the tablet 5 is not in the transfer path located between the camera 532a of the first tablet inspection device 532 and the print head 533a of the first printing machine 533. Will be done.

When the second transfer device 541 is temporarily stopped due to the execution of cleaning, the control device 71 is at the same timing as the operation restart timing of the first transfer device 531 or after the operation of the first transfer device 531 is restarted. Therefore, the operation of the second transfer device 541 is restarted at a predetermined timing before the tablet 5 reaches the second transfer device 541. As a result, the transfer of the tablet 5 by the second transfer device 541 is resumed in a state where the tablet 5 is not in the transfer path located between the camera 542a of the second tablet inspection device 542 and the print head 543a of the second printing machine 543. Will be done.

When the cleaning of the print head 533a of the first printing machine 533 is completed and the tablet 5 reaches the first printing machine 533, the control device 71 restarts the printing operation by the first printing machine 533. At this time, the adjustment of the printing position with respect to the tablet 5 is performed based on the imaging data obtained after the resumption of transportation of the tablet 5.

Further, when a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed from the start of cleaning the print head 543a of the second printing machine 543, the cleaning of the print head 543a is completed as shown in FIG. Then, when the timing at which the tablet 5 reaches the second printing machine 543 is reached, the control device 71 restarts the printing operation of the second printing machine 543. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, the printing unit 5e is formed on both the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 by each printing machine 533, 543 (that is, the normal operating state in the printing apparatus 51). Return. Further, when the supply of the tablet 5 to the filling device 21 is resumed, the control device 71 restarts the operation of the PTP packaging machine 11. As a result, the production of the PTP sheet 1 is restarted.

Next, the sheet buffer device 81 and the integration device 91 will be described with reference to FIG.

The sheet buffer device 81 is a device for temporarily storing the PTP sheet 1 charged into the stacking device 91 between the PTP packaging machine 11 and the stacking device 91. In the present embodiment, the step of storing the PTP sheet 1 by the sheet buffer device 81 corresponds to the “sheet buffer step”. The sheet buffer device 81 includes a distribution conveyor 82, an inspection conveyor 83, and a stacking hopper 84.

The distribution conveyor 82 distributes the PTP sheets 1 supplied from the PTP packaging machine 11 and arranges them in a plurality of rows (for example, two rows), and gradually conveys the PTP sheets 1 to the inspection conveyor 83 side.

The inspection conveyor 83 inspects the PTP sheet 1 sent from the distribution conveyor 82 by using a sheet inspection device (not shown). Further, the PTP sheets 1 are stored in the inspection conveyor 83 in a state of being lined up in a plurality of rows (for example, two rows), and the stored PTP sheets 1 are conveyed to the integration device 91 side and finally. It is charged into the integration device 91. In the present embodiment, the step of charging the stored PTP sheet 1 into the integrating device 91 corresponds to the “sheet charging step”.

The stacking hopper 84 is provided in the middle of the transport path of the PTP sheet 1 in the inspection conveyor 83, and has a function of temporarily storing the PTP sheet 1 in a stacked state. As the stacking hopper 84, for example, the integrated transfer device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-1326 can be used.

The integration device 91 integrates the PTP sheet 1 input from the sheet buffer device 81, and then delivers the integrated PTP sheet 1 to a post-process device such as a pillow wrapping machine, a band wrapping machine, or a boxing device. The PTP sheet 1 is processed by the post-process device to obtain a sheet package, and the sheet package is finally shipped. In the present embodiment, the step of accumulating the PTP sheet 1 by the integration device 91 corresponds to the “integration step”.

Next, in the above-mentioned PTP sheet manufacturing / integrating device 10, (1) the setting regarding the manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 by the PTP packaging machine 11 and the like and the stacking speed of the PTP sheet 1 by the stacking device 91, and (2) the sheet buffer device 81. Fluctuations in the number of PTP sheets 1 to be stored, (3) operation of the integration device 91 when the PTP packaging machine 11 (filling device 21) is temporarily stopped, (4) printing speed by the printing device 51 and tablets 5 by the filling device 21. The setting regarding the filling speed of the tablet 5 and (5) the variation in the number of tablets 5 stored in the tablet buffer device 61 will be described.

First, (1) settings related to the manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 and the integration speed of the PTP sheet 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, the manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 is set to be faster than the integration speed of the PTP sheet 1. That is, in a state where the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11 are operated (the printing process and the blister sheet packaging process are executed) to produce the PTP sheet 1, the PTP sheet 1 produced per unit time. The number (corresponding to the manufacturing speed) is set to be larger than the number of processes (corresponding to the stacking speed) of the PTP sheet 1 per unit time by the stacking device 91.

In the present embodiment, at the stage immediately before the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print heads 533a and 534a, the number of PTP sheets 1 processed by the integration device 91 per unit time (pieces) with respect to the sheet buffer device 81. The manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 is set so that substantially the same number of PTP sheets 1 as the number obtained by multiplying / s) by the time (s) required for cleaning is stored. For example, the manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 is set so that the number of PTP sheets 1 manufactured per unit time is about 1 to 2% higher than the number of processed PTP sheets 1 per unit time by the integrating device 91. Has been done. The manufacturing speed may be appropriately adjusted in consideration of various factors such as the ratio of the PTP sheet 1 which is finally a non-defective product.

Next, (2) fluctuations in the number of PTP sheets 1 stored in the sheet buffer device 81 will be described. By setting the manufacturing speed to be faster than the integration speed as described above, in a state where the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11 (filling device 21) are operated to manufacture the PTP sheet 1. In the sheet buffer device 81, the buffer amount of the PTP sheet 1 gradually increases (see FIG. 22).

Then, by setting the manufacturing speed of the PTP sheet 1 as described above, the operation of the integrating device 91 does not have to be stopped at the stage immediately before the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily stopped due to the execution of cleaning. The number of PTP sheets 1 will be stored in the sheet buffer device 81.

Next, (3) the operation of the integration device 91 when the PTP packaging machine 11 (filling device 21) is temporarily stopped will be described. As described above, at the stage immediately before the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily stopped, the sheet buffer device 81 is in a state in which a sufficient number of PTP sheets 1 are stored so as not to stop the operation of the integrating device 91. Therefore, when the production of the PTP sheet 1 by the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily suspended due to the cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a (that is, the execution of the cleaning step), the production of the PTP sheet 1 by the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily suspended, and the production of the PTP sheet 1 is temporarily suspended during the entire period of the suspension. The PTP sheet 1 stored in the sheet buffer device 81 is charged into the integration device 91 (that is, the sheet charging step is executed), and the integration device 91 continues to operate. That is, when printing on the tablet 5 by the printing device 51 is stopped and the print heads 533a and 543a are cleaned, the production of the PTP sheet 1 by the PTP packaging machine 11 is temporarily stopped at t1. , The PTP sheet 1 is not supplied from the PTP packaging machine 11 to the sheet buffer device 81, and the time zone t2 in which the PTP sheet 1 previously stored in the sheet buffer device 81 is charged into the integration device 91 overlaps at all ( (See FIG. 22), and as a result, the integration device 91 will continue to operate.

Next, (4) the setting regarding the printing speed by the printing device 51 and the filling speed of the tablet 5 by the filling device 21 will be described. In the present embodiment, the printing speed is set to be faster than the filling speed. That is, in a state where the printing device 51 is operating (the printing process is being executed) and the pocket portion 2 is filled with the tablets 5, the number of tablets 5 to be printed per unit time. Is set to be larger than the number of tablets 5 filled in the pocket portion 2 per unit time by the PTP packaging machine 11. As a result, in the present embodiment, the printing device 51 is operating and the pocket portion 2 is filled with the tablet 5 (in other words, the time zone during which the printing device 51 is operating and the filling device). In the time zone in which 21 is operating, the number of tablets 5 to be printed (the total number in the overlapping time zone) is the number of tablets 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 (the time zone in which the pocket portion 2 is operated). It is more than the total number in the overlapping time zone).

However, the printing speed is set so as not to be excessively high. Therefore, when the incidence of printing defects becomes relatively high, such as immediately before the start of cleaning, the number of tablets 5 filled per unit time by the PTP packaging machine 11 is united by the inspection device 532,534,542,544. It may be larger than the number of tablets 5 that are judged to be good per hour.

Next, (5) fluctuations in the number of tablets 5 stored in the tablet buffer device 61 will be described. By setting the printing speed to be faster than the filling speed as described above, when the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11 are in operation and the occurrence rate of printing defects is relatively low ( For example, from immediately after the end of cleaning until a certain period of time elapses), the buffer amount of the tablet 5 (good tablet 5) is gradually increased in the tablet buffer device 61 while the pocket portion 2 is filled with the tablet 5. (See FIG. 22). On the other hand, since the printing speed is not excessively high, when the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11 are in operation and the occurrence rate of printing defects is relatively high, the tablet 5 with respect to the pocket portion 2 is used. The buffer amount of the tablet 5 in the tablet buffer device 61 gradually decreases due to the filling of the tablet 5.

However, since the tablet 5 is stored to some extent when the incidence of printing defects is relatively low, the stored tablet 5 is stored in the pocket portion 2 even when the buffer amount of the tablet 5 decreases as described above. Will be filled. In other words, in the present embodiment, the number of tablets 5 filled in the pocket portion 2 per unit time by the PTP packaging machine 11 (by the blister sheet packaging process) is determined by the inspection device 532,534,542,544 (contents). The tablet 5 stored in the tablet buffer device 61 has a time zone t3 (that is, a time zone in which the incidence of printing defects is relatively high) that is larger than the number of tablets 5 that are judged to be good per unit time (by the inspection process). Is overlapped with the time zone t4 for filling the pocket portion 2. The transition of the buffer amount of the tablet 5 and the length of the time zone t3 in FIG. 22 are examples, and the transition of the buffer amount and the length of the time zone t3 are set according to the transition of the occurrence rate of printing defects and the like. fluctuate. Further, in FIG. 22, there is a period in which the buffer amount of the tablet 5 or the PTP sheet 1 becomes 0, but the buffer amount may not become 0. Further, in FIG. 22, the operation duration of the PTP packaging machine 11 (the time during which the printing machine 533, 543, the filling device 21, etc. are turned on) is displayed as being extremely shorter than the actual time.

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, in the state where the printing device 51 and the PTP packaging machine 11 are operated to manufacture the PTP sheet 1 (during normal manufacturing), the PTP sheet 1 is manufactured per unit time. The number of PTP sheets 1 is set to be larger than the number of PTP sheets 1 processed by the integration device 91 per unit time (the number of PTP sheets 1 to be integrated). Therefore, at the time of normal manufacturing, the PTP sheet 1 can be gradually stored in the sheet buffer device 81.

Then, the time zone t1 in which the production of the PTP sheet 1 is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a, and the time for charging the PTP sheet 1 stored in the sheet buffer device 81 into the integration device 91. The band t2 and the band t2 are all overlapped. That is, when the production of the PTP sheet 1 is stopped, the PTP sheet 1 stored in advance is put into the integration device 91. As a result, it is possible to prevent the integration device 91 from stopping due to cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in production speed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a spare print head in order to prevent the integration device 91 from stopping. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent an increase in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the PTP sheet manufacturing / integration device 10 (particularly the printing device 51) and an increase in the size of the device.

In addition, the transferred tablet 5 is imaged by the cameras 532a and 542a at a position upstream of the print heads 533a and 543a, and the printing position with respect to the tablet 5 is adjusted based on the image pickup data obtained by the cameras 532a and 542a. Will be done. Therefore, printing can be performed at an appropriate position based on the state of the tablet 5, and printing quality can be improved.

Further, in a state where the printing device 51 is in operation and the tablet 5 is filled in the pocket portion 2 by the filling device 21, the number of tablets 5 to be printed (the total number in the overlapping time zone). Is set to be larger than the number of tablets 5 (total number in the overlapping time zone) filled in the pocket portion 2. Therefore, since the printing frequency (the number of tablets 5 to be printed per unit time) by the print heads 533a and 543a can be increased, each nozzle Na and Nb can be easily selected as the ink ejection target. This makes it easier to eject ink even with nozzles Na and Nb that are generally difficult to be selected as ink ejection targets (for example, nozzles Na and Nb in charge of the edge of the printable area by the printing apparatus 51). Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the clogging defect of the nozzles Na and Nb due to the solidification of the ink and the thickening of the ink, and to more reliably prevent the occurrence of the printing defect. Further, since the nozzles Na and Nb are less likely to be clogged, the cleaning frequency and cleaning time of the print heads 533a and 543a can be reduced. As a result, the production speed can be improved.

Further, as described above, the number of tablets 5 to be printed is larger than the number of tablets 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 (particularly in the present embodiment, printing is performed per unit time. Since the number of tablets 5 to be printed is set to be larger than the number of tablets 5 to be filled per unit time), the tablet buffer device is used during a time period when the incidence of printing defects is relatively low. The tablet 5 can be gradually stored with respect to 61. In addition, the tablet buffer device has a time zone t3 in which the number of tablets 5 to be filled per unit time is larger than the number of tablets 5 goodly determined by the inspection device 532,534,542,544 per unit time. It overlaps with the time zone t4 in which the tablet 5 stored in 61 is filled into the pocket portion 2. That is, even in a time zone in which the incidence of printing defects is relatively high and the number of tablets 5 filled in the pocket portion 2 is larger than the number of tablets 5 which are judged to be good. The tablets 5 previously stored in the tablet buffer device 61 are stably filled in the pocket portion 2. As a result, it is possible to suppress the suspension of filling of the tablet 5 due to the shortage of the tablet 5, and it is possible to suppress the suspension of production of the PTP sheet 1 due to the suspension of filling. As a result, it is possible to more reliably suppress the decrease in the production speed.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the transport of the tablet 5 by the first transport device 531 is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a, the transport path located between the camera 532a and the print head 533a is set. In the absence of the tablet 5, the transfer of the tablet 5 by the first transfer device 531 is restarted. Therefore, even if the state of the tablet 5 is changed due to the impact caused by the resumption of transportation, the printing position can be adjusted based on the data obtained by imaging the tablet 5 after the state is changed. As a result, printing can be performed at an appropriate position based on the state of the tablet 5 even immediately after the transportation and printing of the tablet 5 are restarted, and the effect of improving the print quality can be more reliably ensured.

In addition, when the number of rows of the tablets 5 is filled in the pocket portion 2 (that is, when the tablets 5 are filled in the pocket portion 2), the number of rows (m rows) of the tablets 5 in the time of transportation by the transfer devices 531 and 541 (that is, when printing by the printing device 51) is increased by the column number conversion device 56. The number of rows (n rows) of the tablets 5 in the tablet 5 can be increased. That is, the tablet 5 can be filled with a relatively large number of rows while the tablet 5 can be printed with a relatively small number of rows. Since the tablet 5 can be printed with a relatively small number of rows, the scale of the printing device 51 can be reduced, and the PTP sheet manufacturing / integrating device 10 (particularly the printing device 51) can be manufactured, maintained, and printed. Various costs related to the control process of the device 51 can be suppressed. On the other hand, since the tablets 5 can be filled with a relatively large number of rows, the speed of filling the tablets 5 can be increased, and the production speed of the PTP sheet 1 can be improved.

Further, since the number of columns at the time of printing is relatively small, the scale of the cleaning device for the print heads 533a and 543a can be reduced. Therefore, the cost can be suppressed more effectively.

Further, since the number of columns at the time of printing is relatively small, the printing frequency by the printing device 51 can be further increased. Therefore, it becomes easier to select each nozzle Na, Nb as an ink ejection target, and it becomes easier to eject ink even if the nozzles Na, Nb are generally difficult to be selected as an ink ejection target. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the clogging defect of the nozzle, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of the printing defect. Further, by suppressing the clogging defect of the nozzles, the cleaning frequency and the cleaning time of the print heads 533a and 543a can be reduced, and the production speed can be further improved.

The content is not limited to the description of the above embodiment, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Of course, other application examples and modification examples not illustrated below are also possible.

(A) In the above embodiment, the time zone t1 in which the production of the PTP sheet 1 is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a, and the PTP sheet 1 previously stored in the sheet buffer device 81 are integrated into the integration device 91. It is set so that the time zone t2 to be input to is overlapped in all. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 23, a time zone t1 in which the production of the PTP sheet 1 is temporarily stopped and a time zone in which the PTP sheet 1 previously stored in the sheet buffer device 81 is charged into the integration device 91. It may be set so that it partially overlaps with t2. That is, although the integration device 91 is temporarily stopped, the stop time may be set to be shorter than the stop time of the PTP packaging machine 11. When set in this way, it is possible to prevent a part of the integration device 91 from stopping due to cleaning of the print heads 533a and 543a, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the production speed.

(B) In the above embodiment, the tablet buffer device 61 is provided with a plurality of spring chute 612 and the like, but the tablet buffer device may be any as long as it has a function of storing tablets 5. However, the present invention is not limited to those listed in the above embodiments. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 24, a tablet buffer device 61 including a straight-ahead feeder 613 capable of transporting tablets 5 while storing them in a plurality of rows may be used. The straight feeder 613 gradually conveys the tablet 5 to the filling device 21 side by applying a predetermined vibration. The tablet 5 conveyed by the straight feeder 613 is charged into the filling chute 211.

In FIG. 24, instead of the receiving / transporting device 562, the receiving unit 563 is provided between the receiving unit 563, the receiving unit 563, and the straight-ahead feeder 613, where n tablets 5 discharged by the discharging device 56 fall. An example is shown in which n intermediate transport units 564 for transporting the tablets 5 that have fallen to the straight-ahead feeder 613 are provided.

(C) In the above embodiment, the suction holes 531d of the first transport device 531 are configured to be provided at intervals along the moving direction of the upstream transport belt 531c. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 25, the suction holes 531e may be continuous along the moving direction. That is, the first transfer device 531 may have a slit-shaped suction hole 531e. In this case, the distance between the tablets 5 along the transport direction may not be constant, but by grasping the position of the tablets 5 based on a signal from the encoder or the like, printing processing, inspection processing, etc. for the tablets 5 can be performed. Can be done properly. The second transfer device 541 and the receiving transfer device 562 may also be provided with a slit-shaped suction hole.

(D) In the above embodiment, the column number conversion device 56 gives an example in which the number of columns of the tablet 5 is changed from "4" to "5", but the number of columns of the tablet 5 after conversion is before conversion. As long as the number of rows of the tablets 5 is larger than the number of rows of the tablets 5, the number of rows of the tablets 5 before and after the conversion may be appropriately changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, the number of rows of the tablet 5 may be changed from "3" to "5" by the row number conversion device 56.

(E) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the printing speed (the number of tablets 5 to be printed per unit time) by the printing device 51 is maintained to be substantially constant, but the buffer amount of the tablets 5 or the like is used. Depending on the situation, the printing speed may be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the buffer amount of the tablet 5 is relatively small so that the buffer amount of the tablet 5 in the tablet buffer device 61 is maintained as much as possible at a predetermined target amount (indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 27). Occasionally, the print speed may be set high to increase the buffer amount, while when the buffer amount is relatively large, the print speed may be set low to prevent the buffer amount from being excessive.

Further, in the above embodiment, the operation of the PTP packaging machine 11 including the filling device 21 and the like is temporarily stopped when the tablet 5 supplied to the filling device 21 becomes insufficient. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 28, the print heads 533a and 543a are at a stage where the tablet 5 is sufficiently buffered in the tablet buffer device 61 and the tablet 5 supplied to the filling device 21 is not insufficient. The operation of the PTP packaging machine 11 may be suspended in accordance with the execution of cleaning. That is, the operation of the PTP packaging machine 11 may be temporarily stopped not by the amount of the printed tablets 5, but simply by cleaning the print heads 533a and 543a.

(F) In the above embodiment, the discharge device 561 is configured to discharge the tablet 5 by blowing the blow nozzle 561a, but the tablet 5 may be discharged to the outside of the transport path as long as it can be discharged. The configuration of the device may be changed as appropriate.

Further, as the transfer device 531, 541, 562, an device not provided with the transfer belts 531c, 541c, 562c may be used. For example, a suction drum or the like may be used as the transport device.

(G) In the above embodiment, the tablet 5 is mentioned as the content, but the content is not limited to the tablet.

Further, in the above embodiment, as the tablet 5, a disk-shaped uncoated tablet (disk-shaped flat tablet) having a circular shape in a plan view is exemplified, but the type and shape of the tablet are limited to the above embodiment. It is not something that is done. For example, tablets include not only pharmaceuticals but also tablets used for eating and drinking. In addition, tablets include not only uncoated tablets but also sugar-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, enteric-coated tablets, gelatin-encapsulated tablets, and various capsules such as hard capsules and soft capsules. Also includes tablets.

Further, the shape of the content may be not only a circular shape in a plan view but also a polygonal shape in a plan view, an elliptical shape in a plan view, an oval shape in a plan view, or the like.

(H) In the above embodiment, the printing unit 5e is provided on both the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5, but the printing unit 5e may be provided on only one of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c.

(I) The structure of the manufactured PTP sheet is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the arrangement and number of pocket portions 2 of one PTP sheet unit are not limited to the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the PTP film 6 has a configuration in which a number of pocket portions 2 corresponding to one sheet is arranged along the width direction thereof, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example. , The number of pocket portions 2 corresponding to a plurality of sheets may be arranged along the width direction. In this case, the second numerical value (n) is the same as the number of the pocket portions 2 [For example, in the above example, if there are two sheets, the second numerical value (n) is set to "10". ].

Further, in the above embodiment, the PTP sheet 1 is mentioned as the blister sheet, but the technical idea of the present invention may be applied to the blister sheet other than the PTP sheet 1.

(J) In the above embodiment, the printing press 533, 543 includes a plurality of printing heads arranged in the width direction of the transport belts 531c and 541c, but has a configuration in which only one printing head is provided, and this one printing head. A plurality of tablets 5 arranged in the width direction may be printed at one time. Further, when forming the printing unit 5e of a plurality of colors, a plurality of printing machines in charge of each color may be provided.

In addition, the configuration of the print head is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be a configuration including one row or three or more rows of nozzles.

Further, each cleaning device according to the print heads 533a and 543a of the above embodiment is configured to remove dust and ink by pressure purging, but the present invention is not limited to this, and dust and the like may be removed by suction purging. good.

(K) In the above embodiment, the inspection device 532, 534, 542, 544 has a judgment device that makes a pass / fail judgment based on the image pickup data obtained by the camera, but does not include the judgment device. You may. In this case, the control device 71 may be configured to have a function as the determination device.

1 ... PTP sheet (blister sheet), 2 ... pocket part, 3 ... container film, 4 ... cover film, 5 ... tablet (contents), 6 ... PTP film (blister film), 10 ... PTP sheet manufacturing and integration device (blister) Sheet manufacturing and integration device), 11 ... PTP packaging machine (blister sheet packaging means), 21 ... filling device (filling means), 51 ... printing device (printing means), 55 ... defective product removing device (defective product discharging means), 56 ... Column number conversion device (column number conversion means), 61 ... Tablet buffer device (tablet buffer means), 81 ... Sheet buffer device (sheet buffer means), 91 ... Accumulation device (integration means), 531 ... First transfer device ( Content transporting means) 532 ... First tablet inspection device (content inspection means) 532a, 542a ... Camera (imaging means) 533a, 543a ... Print head 534 ... First printing inspection device (content inspection means) , 541 ... Second transport device (content transport means), 542 ... Second tablet inspection device (content inspection means), 544 ... Second printing inspection device (content inspection means), Na, Nb ... Nozzle.

Claims (10)

The contents are housed in the pocket portion formed in the container film, and the blister sheet is manufactured by attaching the cover film to the container film so as to close the pocket portion, and the manufactured blister sheet is accumulated. It is a blister sheet manufacturing and integration device that has the function of
An inkjet printing means that has a print head that prints on the contents and can perform cleaning of the print head after stopping printing on the contents.
The pocket portion formed in the strip-shaped container film is filled with the contents printed by the printing means, and the strip-shaped cover film is removed so as to close the pocket portion with respect to the container film. A blister sheet packaging means for producing a blister sheet by separating a strip-shaped blister film that is attached and the cover film is attached to the container film.
An collecting means for accumulating blister sheets manufactured by the blister sheet packaging means, and
A sheet buffer means for storing the blister sheet to be charged into the collecting means is provided between the blister sheet packaging means and the collecting means.
In a state where the printing means and the blister sheet packaging means are operated to manufacture the blister sheet, the number of blister sheets manufactured per unit time is larger than the number of blister sheets processed per unit time by the stacking means. It is set to be many,
A time zone in which the production of the blister sheet by the blister sheet packaging means is temporarily stopped and the sheet buffer means as a result of stopping printing on the contents by the printing means and performing cleaning of the print head. A blister sheet manufacturing / integration apparatus, characterized in that the time period for charging the blister sheets stored in the storage to the accumulation means overlaps in whole or in part. The printing means is
A content transporting means that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It is provided with an image pickup means for capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents transfer means at a position upstream of the print head.
The print head includes a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink.
Based on the data obtained by the imaging means, the selected one of the plurality of nozzles ejects ink, so that the printing position of the contents by the printing means can be adjusted.
In a state where the printing means is operated and the contents are filled in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging means, the number of contents to be printed is filled in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging means. The blister sheet manufacturing and integration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of contents is set to be larger than the number of contents. The printing means is
A content inspection means for inspecting the contents transported by the content transport means, and a content inspection means.
It is provided with a defective product discharging means for discharging the contents determined to be defective by the content inspection means to the outside of the system.
A content buffer means for storing the contents is provided between the printing means and the blister sheet packaging means.
The content buffer means is configured to store only the contents that have been judged to be good by the content inspection means.
The content buffer means has a time period in which the number of contents filled in the pocket portion per unit time by the blister sheet packaging means is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good per unit time by the content inspection means. The blister sheet manufacturing and integration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the stored contents are configured to overlap with the time zone for filling the pocket portion. The printing means is
A content transporting means that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It is provided with an image pickup means for capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents transfer means at a position upstream of the print head.
Based on the data obtained by the imaging means, the printing position with respect to the contents by the printing means can be adjusted.
After the transport of the contents by the transport means is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning of the print head, the transport path located between the image pickup means and the print head has no contents. The blister sheet manufacturing and integration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blister sheet manufacturing and integration apparatus is configured to restart the transportation of the contents by the transportation means. The printing means is provided with a content transporting means for transporting the contents along a predetermined transport path, and is configured to print the contents transported by the content transporting means.
When the predetermined first numerical value is m and the second numerical value, which is larger than the first numerical value, is n,
The content transporting means transports the contents in a row of m and at the same time.
The blister sheet packaging means has a filling means for filling the pocket portion with the contents arranged in n rows.
The blister sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a column number conversion means for converting the number of rows of contents from m to n between the content transporting means and the filling means. Manufacturing integrated equipment. A step of manufacturing a blister sheet in which the contents are housed in a pocket portion formed in the container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pocket portion, and a manufactured blister sheet. It is a manufacturing and accumulation method of a blister sheet including a step of accumulating.
The printing process of printing on the contents by the print head provided in the inkjet printing means,
A cleaning process in which the printing head is cleaned after the execution of the printing process is stopped, and
The pocket portion formed in the strip-shaped container film is filled with the contents printed by the printing step, and the strip-shaped cover film is removed so as to close the pocket portion with respect to the container film. A blister sheet packaging process for producing a blister sheet by separating a strip-shaped blister film that is attached and the cover film is attached to the container film.
A sheet buffer step for storing the blister sheet produced by the blister sheet packaging step by a predetermined sheet buffer means, and a sheet buffer step.
A sheet charging step of charging the blister sheet stored in the sheet buffer means into a predetermined collecting means, and
A stacking process for stacking blister sheets by the stacking means is provided.
In the state where the blister sheet is manufactured by executing the printing step and the blister sheet packaging step, the number of blister sheets manufactured per unit time is larger than the number of blister sheets processed per unit time by the integration step. It is set to be many,
It is characterized in that the time zone in which the production of the blister sheet by the blister sheet packaging step is temporarily stopped and the time zone in which the sheet loading step is executed overlap in all or part with the execution of the cleaning step. A method for manufacturing and accumulating blister sheets. The printing process is
A content transfer process that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It includes an image pickup step of imaging the contents transported by the contents transfer step at a position upstream of the print head.
The print head includes a plurality of nozzles capable of ejecting ink.
Based on the data obtained in the imaging step, the selected one of the plurality of nozzles ejects ink, so that the printing position with respect to the contents in the printing step can be adjusted.
In a state where the printing process is being executed and the contents are filled in the pocket portion according to the state of the blister sheet packaging process, the number of contents to be printed is the number of the contents to be printed in the pocket portion by the blister sheet packaging process. The method for manufacturing and accumulating blister sheets according to claim 6, wherein the number of contents is set to be larger than the number of contents to be filled. The printing process is
A content inspection process for inspecting the contents transported by the content transport process, and a content inspection process.
Includes a defective product discharge process that discharges the contents determined to be defective by the content inspection process to the outside of the system.
A content buffering step of storing the contents in a predetermined content buffering means before filling the pocket portion with the contents printed by the printing step is provided.
Only the contents that are judged to be good by the contents inspection step are stored in the contents buffer means.
The content buffering means has a time period in which the number of contents filled in the pocket portion per unit time by the blister sheet packaging process is larger than the number of contents that are judged to be good per unit time by the content inspection process. The blister sheet manufacturing and accumulation method according to claim 7, wherein the stored contents are configured to overlap with the time zone for filling the pocket portion. The printing process is
A content transfer process that transports the contents along a predetermined transport path, and
It includes an imaging step of capturing an image of the contents conveyed by the contents conveying step at a position upstream of the print head by a predetermined imaging means.
Based on the data obtained in the imaging step, the printing position with respect to the contents in the printing step can be adjusted.
After the content transfer process is temporarily stopped due to the execution of the cleaning step, the transfer step is performed in a state where there is no content in the transfer path located between the image pickup means and the print head. The method for manufacturing and accumulating a blister sheet according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the process is restarted. The printing step includes a content transporting step of transporting the contents along a predetermined transport path, and prints the contents transported by the content transporting step.
When the predetermined first numerical value is m and the second numerical value, which is larger than the first numerical value, is n,
In the content transporting step, the contents are transported in a state of being lined up in m rows.
The blister sheet packaging step includes a filling step of filling the pocket portion with the contents arranged in n rows.
The blister sheet according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a column number conversion step of converting the number of rows of contents from m to n between the content transfer step and the filling step. Manufacturing and integration method.

Images