JP2023127031A - blister packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a blister packaging machine suppressed in increase of various costs, and allowing inspection related to the front and rear faces of a tablet.SOLUTION: A PTP packaging machine as a blister packaging machine has a transportation drum 52 in which at least a part out of a holding part 521 is constituted of a transparent part 5213 allowing transmission of light, and which can transport tablets 5 by rotation while sucking and holding the tablets by the holding part 521. A first camera 53 images a face opposite to a face being one of a front face 5b and a rear face 5c of the tablet 5 and sucked and held by the holding part 521, and a second camera 54 images a face being the other surface of the front face 5b and the rear face 5c of the tablet 5 and sucked and held by the holding part 521 through the transparent part 5213. No provision of two transportation means for inverting a sucked face of the tablet 5 is needed, to thereby suppress increase of various costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

The present invention relates to a blister packaging machine for manufacturing blister sheets.

PTP (Press Through Pack) sheets are known as blister sheets that are generally used in the fields of pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, and the like. The PTP sheet includes a container film having a pocket portion in which a tablet is accommodated, and a cover film attached to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion.

Such PTP sheets are manufactured using a PTP packaging machine that is a type of blister packaging machine. A PTP packaging machine includes a means for forming a pocket on a container film, a means for filling the pocket with tablets, a means for attaching a cover film to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket, a container film and It is equipped with a means for punching out a band-shaped PTP film made of a cover film into PTP sheet units.

Furthermore, in PTP packaging machines, it is possible to inspect the appearance of the tablets (for example, the presence or absence of cracks, chips, foreign objects, etc. in the tablets, the quality of the printing part provided on the tablets, etc.) before filling the pockets. be. As a device that performs such an inspection, there is a known device that includes an upstream rotating drum, an upstream camera, a downstream rotating drum, and a downstream camera (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The upstream rotating drum conveys the tablet while holding one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet by suction. The upstream camera images the surface of the tablet, which is not held by suction, of the front and back surfaces of the tablet transported by the upstream rotating drum. The downstream rotary drum receives the tablet conveyed by the upstream rotary drum, and conveys the tablet while holding the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet by suction. As the tablet is transferred from the upstream rotating drum to the downstream rotating drum, the surface of the tablet that is suctioned and held (the suction surface) is reversed. The downstream camera takes an image of the surface of the tablet, which is not sucked and held, of the front and back surfaces of the tablet transported by the downstream rotating drum.

According to the device described in Patent Document 1, both the front and back surfaces of the tablet are imaged by both cameras. Therefore, it is possible to inspect both the front and back sides of the tablet.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-132490

However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide two conveyance means (an upstream rotating drum and a downstream rotating drum) in order to reverse the adsorbed surface of the tablet. Therefore, there is a risk that the device will become larger and more complex, and the costs associated with manufacturing and maintenance of the device will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a blister packaging machine capable of inspecting both the front and back sides of tablets, which can suppress increases in various costs.

In the following, each means suitable for solving the above object will be explained in terms of sections. Note that effects specific to the corresponding means will be added as necessary.

Means 1. A blister packaging machine for manufacturing a blister sheet in which tablets are accommodated in pockets formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
a filling means for filling the pocket with tablets;
Holding parts having transparent parts that can transmit light and capable of holding tablets by suction are arranged in the rotation direction, and the holding parts rotate while holding the tablets by suction, thereby conveying the tablets to the filling means side. Possible transportation means and
a first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is opposite to the surface held by the holding section;
a second imaging means for capturing an image of at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is held by the holding part through the transparent part;
A blister packaging machine comprising: a determining means for determining the quality of a tablet based on captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means.

According to the above-mentioned means 1, the holding portions capable of adsorbing and holding the tablets are arranged in the rotational direction of the conveying means, and the holding portions have a transparent portion through which light can pass. Then, the first imaging means images at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, and the second imaging means captures an image of at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet through the transparent part, which is suction-held by the holding part. The surface where the object is located is imaged.

In this way, since it is possible to image the surface of the tablet that is suctioned and held by the holding part through the transparent part, it is possible to image both the front and back sides of the tablet while the tablet is being transported by one transporting means. I can do it. Therefore, in order to image both the front and back sides of the tablet, two conveyance means (the conveyance means that conveys the tablet when the tablet is imaged) are provided for reversing the suction surface of the tablet as in the prior art. There's no need. This makes it possible to suppress increases in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the device.

Means 2. A defective product discharging means is provided that can individually discharge tablets determined to be defective by the determination means out of the system by releasing suction and holding by the holding portion before the filling means fills the pocket portion. ,
The conveying means is disposed around the tablet held by the holding section, and is capable of projecting a side surface of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means. Equipped with a side display section,
The blister packaging machine according to means 1, wherein at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging a side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display section.

In order to improve the accuracy of tablet inspection, it is preferable to inspect not only the front and back surfaces of the tablet, but also the side surfaces of the tablet. An apparatus capable of inspecting the side surface of a tablet is such that after filling a pocket of a band-shaped container film with tablets, the pocket is hooked into a hole in a rotating body while transporting the container film. It is known that the side surface of the tablet filled in the pocket can be imaged using a mirror or prism placed in the pocket (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-145522).

However, when a defective tablet is detected, it is necessary to eject the defective tablet. However, in the above device, since the tablets already stored in the pocket are subject to inspection, only the defective tablet is detected. It is not practical to discharge the blister sheet, and the entire blister sheet mixed with good products must be discharged after punching. Therefore, there is a risk that good quality tablets and sheet materials may be wasted, or that extra effort is required to recover good quality tablets from the discharged blister sheet.

In this regard, according to the above-mentioned means 2, it is possible to inspect not only the front and back surfaces of the tablet but also the side surface of the tablet using the side display section, and the tablet before being filled into the pocket section can be inspected. Therefore, tablets determined to be defective can be individually discharged by the defective product discharging means. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent inconveniences such as wastage of good tablets while further increasing the accuracy of tablet inspection.

Moreover, at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means can image the front or back surface of the tablet and the side surface of the tablet at the same time. Therefore, the front or back surface and side surface of the tablet can be simultaneously inspected using one captured image, and inspection efficiency can be further improved.

Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide an imaging means separate from the first imaging means and the second imaging means to take an image of the side surface of the tablet, it is possible to more reliably prevent the device from becoming larger and more complicated.

Means 3. The side display section is configured to be able to display a side surface of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
The blister packaging machine according to means 2, wherein both the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging the side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display section.

For example, when the first imaging means is configured to image the front and side surfaces of the tablet, the first imaging means can obtain a clear image of an edge portion of the side surface of the tablet located on the back side of the tablet. However, according to the above-mentioned means 3, it becomes possible to obtain a clear captured image of the edge portion by the second imaging means. That is, according to the above means 3, two different types of images (for example, two types of images that can complement each other) can be obtained as captured images of the side surface of the tablet. Thereby, the inspection accuracy regarding the side surface of the tablet can be further improved.

Means 4. The holding part is located between the side surface of the tablet suction-held by the holding part and the side display part, and is immovable relative to the side display part. The blister packaging machine according to means 2 or 3, characterized in that the blister packaging machine is provided with a protective part that prevents contact with the blister packaging machine.

According to the above means 4, the protection part provided on the holding part can more reliably prevent the side display part from being scratched due to contact with the tablet. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the side display section from being replaced due to scratches, etc., and to further suppress increases in costs related to maintenance and the like. In addition, since the protection part cannot be moved relative to the side display part, the side display part will not be damaged due to the protection part moving relative to the side display part.

Means 5. A suction hole for suctioning the tablet is formed in the transparent part,
When the tablet is suction-held by the holding portion, only the portion of the tablet located on the outer peripheral side is in point or line contact with the transparent portion, and the portion of the transparent portion where the suction hole and the tablet are in contact 5. A blister packaging machine according to any one of means 1 to 4, characterized in that the tablet is spaced apart from an annular region located between the blister packaging machine and the tablet.

According to the above means 5, when the tablet is held by suction by the holding part, only the part located on the outer peripheral side of the tablet comes into contact with the transparent part, and the part of the transparent part where the suction hole and the tablet come in contact with each other. The tablet is separated from the annular region located between the two. Therefore, in the annular region that necessarily faces the suction-held tablet, it is possible to suppress damage caused by contact with the tablet. Thereby, when the tablet is imaged through the transparent part, it is possible to more reliably image through the good part where damage is suppressed. As a result, better inspection accuracy can be obtained, and this good inspection accuracy can be maintained for a longer period of time.

Furthermore, when holding a tablet by suction, the annular region of the transparent part prevents foreign matter or powder adhering to the tablet from being caught between the transparent part and the tablet. In addition, when the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is in contact with the transparent portion, gas is more effectively drawn from the space located between the annular region and the tablet toward the suction hole. By acting synergistically, foreign matter adhering to the annular region and powder adhering to the tablet can be more reliably sucked and removed while the tablet is being held by suction. This makes it possible to further improve inspection accuracy.

Further, since only the portion of the suction-held tablet that is located on the outer circumferential side is in point or line contact with the transparent portion, the contact area between the tablet and the transparent portion is relatively small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of powder that adheres to the transparent portion upon contact with the tablet. As a result, it is possible to further improve inspection accuracy.

Means 6. The blister according to any one of means 1 to 5, wherein the first imaging means and the second imaging means are each configured to image a tablet placed at the same predetermined imaging position. packaging machine.

According to the above means 6, the tablet can be imaged simultaneously by the first imaging means and the second imaging means. Therefore, when taking an image of one tablet, it becomes easy to control the execution timing of imaging in both imaging means, and it is possible to more effectively suppress increases in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the device.

Means 7. The conveyance means is configured to include a plurality of rows of the holding parts arranged in the rotation direction of the conveying means, and is configured to convey the tablets in a plurality of rows by the holding parts,
Tablet supply means capable of individually supplying tablets to each row of the holding parts in the conveyance means;
supply number adjusting means capable of adjusting the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section;
a defective product discharging means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determining means out of the system by releasing suction and holding by the holding section before the filling means fills the pocket section;
A storage and transportation section that configures a tablet transportation path downstream of the defective product discharge means and that stores and transports only the tablets that have been transported using the holding section of a specific row corresponding to the storage section. , buffer means each having a plurality of buffer means for each row of the holding parts;
and storage number grasping means capable of grasping the number of tablets stored in each of the plurality of storage and conveyance sections,
The supply number adjustment means is configured to be able to adjust the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets ascertained by the storage number grasping means. The blister packaging machine according to any one of means 1 to 6.

Note that the "defective product discharging means" in the above means 2 and the "defective product discharging means" in the above means 7 refer to the same thing. Therefore, when the means 7 is subordinate to the means 2, it does not mean that there are a plurality of means for discharging defective products.

According to the above means 7, the supply number adjusting means adjusts the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supplying means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets ascertained by the storage number determining means. Therefore, even if defective tablets are discharged by the defective product discharging means, it is possible to more reliably prevent a shortage in the number of tablets stored in each storage and conveyance section. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems in filling the pocket portion with tablets due to the discharge of defective tablets, and it is possible to further improve productivity (production efficiency).

It is a perspective view showing a PTP sheet. It is a partially enlarged sectional view of a PTP sheet. It is a perspective view showing a PTP film. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a PTP packaging machine. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an inspection and filling device. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a schematic configuration of an inspection and filling device. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a supply device and the like. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic front view of a supply device, a conveyance drum, and the like. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a holding portion and the like. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view showing a first camera and a second camera. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the surface of a tablet imaged by a first camera and a second camera. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the schematic configurations of a first camera and a second camera. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a captured image obtained by a second camera. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view of a filling device and the like. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the spring chute. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device and the like. In another embodiment, it is explanatory drawing regarding the surface of the tablet imaged by the 1st camera and the 2nd camera, and the imaged image obtained. In another embodiment, it is explanatory drawing regarding the surface of the tablet imaged by the 1st camera and the 2nd camera, and the imaged image obtained.

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of a PTP sheet as a "blister sheet" will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 includes a container film 3 having a plurality of pockets 2, and a cover film 4 attached to the container film 3 so as to close the pockets 2. ing.

The container film 3 in this embodiment is made 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, etc.) on the surface of which a sealant made of, for example, polypropylene resin or the like is provided. Of course, the materials for each of the films 3 and 4 are not limited to these, and other materials may be used.

The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured by punching a belt-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 3) formed from a belt-shaped container film 3 and a belt-shaped cover film 4 into a sheet shape, and is approximately rectangular in plan view. formed into a shape.

In the PTP sheet 1, two rows of pockets are formed in the transverse direction, each consisting of five pockets 2 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet 1. That is, a total of ten pocket portions 2 are formed. Each pocket portion 2 accommodates one tablet 5.

The tablet 5 in this embodiment is a disc-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. Moreover, the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c each have a chamfered portion continuous to the side surface 5a.

Next, a schematic configuration of the PTP packaging machine 10 for manufacturing the above-mentioned PTP sheet 1 will be explained. In this embodiment, the PTP packaging machine 10 constitutes a "blister packaging machine".

As shown in FIG. 4, on the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 10, the original fabric of the strip-shaped container film 3 is wound into a roll. The drawn-out end side of the container film 3 wound into a roll is guided by a guide roll 13. The container film 3 is hung on an 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 conveys the container film 3 intermittently.

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

The container film 3 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 14 is hung over a tension roll 18, a guide roll 19, and a film receiving roll 20 in this order. Since the film receiving roll 20 is connected to a motor that rotates at a constant rate, it conveys the container film 3 continuously at a constant speed. The tension roll 18 is in a state in which the container film 3 is pulled to the tension side by elastic force, and prevents the container film 3 from loosening due to the difference in conveying operation between the intermittent feed roll 14 and the film receiving roll 20, and tightens the container film 3. The film 3 is kept under tension at all times.

Between the guide roll 19 and the film receiving roll 20, an inspection and filling device 21 and a post-filling inspection device 22 are arranged in order along the conveyance path of the container film 3.

The inspection and filling device 21 has a function of inspecting the tablets 5 and a function of filling the pocket portion 2 with the tablets 5 after the inspection. Details of the inspection and filling device 21 will be described later.

The post-filling inspection device 22 inspects, for example, whether the tablet 5 is reliably filled into each pocket 2, whether there is any abnormality in the tablet 5, whether foreign matter has entered the pocket 2, and the like.

In this embodiment, the film receiving roll 20 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and the amount of rotation (movement) of the film receiving roll 20 is transmitted from the encoder to the inspection/filling device 21 (in particular, the control device 59 described later). A signal related to this is transmitted at predetermined intervals. Thereby, the inspection and filling device 21 can grasp the position of the pocket portion 2 in the container film 3 conveyed by the film receiving roll 20.

On the other hand, the original fabric of the cover film 4 formed into a band shape is wound into a roll shape on the most upstream side. The drawn-out end of the cover film 4 wound into a roll is guided toward a heating roll 25 by a guide roll 24 .

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

The PTP film 6 sent out from the film receiving roll 20 is hung on a tension roll 27 and an intermittent feed roll 28 in this order. 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 where the PTP film 6 is pulled to the tension side by elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening due to the difference in conveyance operation between the film receiving roll 20 and the intermittent feed roll 28. The PTP film 6 is kept under tension at all times.

The PTP film 6 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 28 is hung on a tension roll 31 and an intermittent feed roll 32 in this order. 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 where the PTP film 6 is pulled toward the tension side by elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening between the intermittent feed rolls 28 and 32.

Between the intermittent feed roll 28 and the tension roll 31, a slit forming device 33 and a marking device 34 are arranged in this order along the conveyance path of the PTP film 6. The slit forming device 33 has a function of forming a separation slit at a predetermined position of the PTP film 6. The marking device 34 has a function of marking a predetermined position (for example, a tag portion) of the PTP film 6. Note that in FIG. 1 and the like, illustrations of the separation slit and the markings are omitted.

The PTP film 6 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 32 is hung on a tension roll 35 and a continuous feed roll 36 in that order on the downstream side thereof. A sheet punching device 37 is disposed between the intermittent feed roll 32 and the tension roll 35 along the conveyance path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 37 has a function of punching out the outer edge of the PTP film 6 in units of PTP sheets.

The PTP sheet 1 obtained by punching the PTP film 6 by the sheet punching device 37 is conveyed by the conveyor 39 and stored in the finished product hopper 40. However, if the post-filling inspection device 22 determines that the PTP sheet 1 is defective, the PTP sheet 1 that has been determined to be defective is not sent to the finished product hopper 40, but is separately discharged by a defective sheet discharge mechanism (not shown).

A cutting device 41 is disposed downstream of the continuous feed roll 36. Then, the unnecessary film portion 42 constituting the band-shaped residual material portion (scrap portion) remaining after punching by the sheet punching device 37 is guided by 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 into predetermined dimensions. The cut unnecessary film portion 42 (scrap) is stored in a scrap hopper 43 and then disposed of separately.

Next, the inspection and filling device 21 will be explained in detail. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the inspection and filling device 21 includes a supply device 51, a conveyance drum 52, a first camera 53, a second camera 54, a defective product removal device 55, an intermediate conveyance device 56, a filling device 57, and a control device. 59 (however, the filling device 57 and the like are not shown in FIG. 7). In this embodiment, the supply device 51 constitutes a "tablet supply means", similarly, the conveyance drum 52 constitutes a "conveyance means", the first camera 53 constitutes a "first imaging means", and the second camera 54 constitutes a "tablet supply means". The filling device 57 constitutes the "second imaging means" and the filling device 57 constitutes the "filling means".

The supply device 51 supplies the tablets 5 from a storage section (not shown) (for example, a hopper) in which a large number of tablets 5 are stored to the conveyance drum 52. The supply device 51 includes a supply chute 511 and a checker 512, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The supply chute 511 delivers the tablets 5 supplied from the storage section one by one to the conveyance drum 52, and has the same number of rows as the number of rows of tablets 5 conveyed by the conveyance drum 52 (in this embodiment, the number of rows is 5). ) They are arranged side by side. Each supply chute 511 has a cylindrical shape and is configured to load tablets 5 in a line in the vertical direction. Further, each supply chute 511 is installed in a state in which the lower opening thereof is close to the conveyance drum 52 at a supply position P1 located slightly downstream from directly above the rotation axis of the conveyance drum 52.

Furthermore, a shutter (not shown) that can open and close the opening is provided near the lower opening of each supply chute 511. By opening and closing the opening by operating the shutter, the tablets 5 fall one by one from the supply chute 511 and are supplied to the conveyance drum 52, except when the checker 512 is operated.

The checker 512 is for temporarily stopping the supply of the tablets 5 from the supply chute 511 to the transport drum 52 by regulating the movement of the tablets 5 accommodated in the supply chute 511. The checker 512 is provided individually for each supply chute 511, and its operation is controlled by a control device 59 (particularly a supply number adjustment unit 595, which will be described later).

The checker 512 has a presser portion 512a whose tip end surface is retractable from the inner surface of the supply chute 511 (the surface forming the storage space for the tablets 5). When the checker 512 is in operation, the tip end surface of the holding portion 512a protrudes from the inner surface of the supply chute 511. As a result, the tablets 5 are sandwiched between the tip end surface of the holding portion 512a and the inner surface of the supply chute 511, and the supply of the tablets 5 from the supply chute 511 to the conveyance drum 52 is temporarily stopped. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the checker 512, it is possible to individually supply tablets 5 from the supply device 51 to each row of holding sections 521 on the conveyance drum 52, which will be described later.

Incidentally, one of the shutter and the checker 512 may also have the function of the other of the shutter and the checker 512. In this case, the shutter or checker 512 becomes unnecessary.

Returning to FIGS. 5 to 7, the conveyance drum 52 receives the tablets 5 supplied from the supply chute 511 at the supply position P1, and then transfers the tablets 5 to the downstream side (filling device 57 side) while adsorbing and holding the tablets 5. transport. The transport drum 52 has a cylindrical shape and is arranged around the outer periphery of a cylindrical support tube 72 fixed to a predetermined wall portion 71 . The support tube 72 is formed with a cable hole 72a (see FIG. 9) that penetrates in its longitudinal direction, and the cable hole 72a is provided with a device (second camera 54 and A cable (not shown) is arranged for transmitting and receiving signals between the defective product blow nozzle 55a) and the control device 59. Although FIG. 5 and the like show the internal space of the transport drum 52 being open to the outside in order to show the second camera 54 and the defective product removing device 55, in reality, the internal space is sealed. The situation is as follows.

The conveyance drum 52 is rotatable relative to the support tube 72, and rotates with the operation of a predetermined drive device 73 (for example, a variable speed motor). The operation of the drive device 73 is controlled by the control device 59 (particularly the supply number adjustment section 595, which will be described later). In this embodiment, the conveyance drum 52 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and a signal regarding the rotation amount (travel amount) of the conveyance drum 52 is transmitted from the encoder to the control device 59 at predetermined intervals. It has become. Thereby, the control device 59 can grasp the position of the tablet 5 being conveyed by the conveyance drum 52.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the conveyance drum 52 includes a holding portion 521 for holding the tablet 5 by suction. A large number of holding parts 521 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals along the rotational direction of the transport drum 52, that is, the transport direction of the tablets 5. A plurality of rows (five rows in this embodiment) of holding portions 521 are formed along the rotation direction of the transport drum 52 (the transport direction of the tablets 5).

As shown in FIG. 10, each holding portion 521 has a truncated cone shape with a recessed portion 5211 for accommodating the tablet 5 formed on the top surface. The recessed portion 5211 is formed by a bottom surface 5211a and a side wall surface 5211b.

The bottom surface 5211a is a surface that faces the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 held by the holding part 521 by suction. The bottom surface 5211a has a shape (for example, an arc shape or a tapered shape) that gradually descends toward the center side (suction hole 5212 described below) in a cross section including the central axis CL of the holding portion 521. A suction hole 5212 that extends in the direction of the central axis CL of the holding part 521 and passes through the holding part 521 is opened at the center of the bottom surface 5211a. The suction hole 5212 communicates the internal space of the conveyance drum 52 and the recessed part 5211.

In this embodiment, a predetermined suction mechanism (not shown) supplies negative pressure to the internal space of the transport drum 52, and the internal space is brought into a substantially vacuum state, so that the suction holes 5212 communicating with the internal space are Negative pressure is supplied. As a result, it is possible to suction and hold the tablet 5 by the holding portion 521 using the suction force generated by the suction hole 5212. Then, by rotating the conveyance drum 52 while holding the tablets 5 by suction by the holding part 521, the tablets 5 are conveyed to the downstream filling device 57 side in a state where they are lined up in a plurality of rows (5 rows).

However, in this embodiment, negative pressure is supplied to the suction hole 5212 located between the supply position P1 and just before the delivery position P3 (see FIG. 9) located directly below the rotation axis of the conveyance drum 52. It is configured to Therefore, after the tablet 5 is transported from the supply position P1 to just before the delivery position P3, the adsorption and holding of the tablet 5 is released at the delivery position P3.

Incidentally, instead of adjusting the suction hole 5212 to which negative pressure is supplied as described above, a blowing device similar to the blow nozzle 55a for defective products described later (for example, a blowing device 525 shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 9) may be used. ) is provided at a position corresponding to the delivery position P3 in the transport drum 52, and by blowing the suction hole 5212 from the blowing device 525, the suction holding of the tablet 5 is released at the delivery position P3. It's okay.

Returning to the explanation of the holding part 521, the side wall surface 5211b is for positioning the tablet 5 that is suction-held by the holding part 521 and arranging the tablet 5 within a certain range. In this embodiment, the side wall surface 5211b has a constant inner diameter along the central axis CL direction, and the inner diameter is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. .

In addition, the holding portion 521 includes a transparent portion 5213 that can transmit predetermined light (for example, white light). In this embodiment, the entire holding portion 521 is made of a transparent material (for example, transparent resin, glass, etc.), and the entire holding portion 521 is a transparent portion 5213. The suction hole 5212 is formed in this transparent portion 5213. Note that the entire holding portion 521 does not necessarily have to be the transparent portion 5213, and a portion of the holding portion 521 may be opaque.

In addition, in this embodiment, the entire holding part 521 is a transparent part 5213, and the bottom surface 5211a is configured as described above, so that when the holding part 521 holds the tablet 5 by suction, the tablet 5 is Only the portion located on the outer peripheral side of the transparent portion 5213 is in line contact with the transparent portion 5213. Then, the tablet 5 is separated from the annular region 5213a located between (the opening of) the suction hole 5212 in the transparent portion 5213 and the contact portion with the tablet 5. That is, when the tablet 5 is suction-held by the holding portion 521, the tablet 5 is prevented from coming into contact with the annular region 5213a, which necessarily faces the suction-held tablet 5.

Further, the holding part 521 includes a protection part 5214 for preventing the tablet 5 held by suction from coming into contact with a side display part 522, which will be described below. The protection part 5214 is a part that is located between the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 held by the holding part 521 and the side display part 522, and is installed in a state where it cannot move relative to the side display part 522. ing.

Furthermore, a side display section 522 is provided on the outer circumferential side of the holding section 521 to be arranged around the tablet 5 held by the holding section 521 by suction. In this embodiment, the side display section 522 includes a truncated cone-shaped mirror on an inner circumferential surface 522a that is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the holding section 521. By the side display section 522, light from the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 is reflected by the mirror toward the second camera 54, and as a result, the side surface 5a can be displayed toward the second camera 54.

The first camera 53 and the second camera 54 each take an image of the tablet 5 being transported by the transport drum 52. As shown in FIG. 11, both cameras 53 and 54 are provided in the same number as the number of rows of holding sections 521 (in this embodiment, five), and are lined up in the width direction of the transport drum 52. There is. One camera 53, 54 corresponds to one column among the plurality of holding sections 521.

Both cameras 53, 54 include camera lenses 53a, 54a, an image sensor (not shown) for converting light passing through the camera lenses 53a, 54a into electrical signals (such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor), and a camera lens. It is integrally provided with a plurality of LED lights 53b and 54b arranged in an annular shape around 53a and 54a (see FIG. 13). The LED lights 53b and 54b irradiate the tablet 5 with predetermined light (for example, white light).

The first camera 53 is disposed outside the conveyance drum 52 and corresponds to an imaging position P2 downstream of the supply position P1 (see FIG. 9, etc.). As shown in FIG. 12, the first camera 53 irradiates a predetermined light (from the LED illumination 53b) onto the tablet 5 that has been transported by the transport drum 52 and has reached the imaging position P2, and also 5b or the back surface 5c, which is not held by suction by the holding section 521, is imaged. The first camera 53 obtains a captured image (an image input from the image sensor) including one of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c (for example, the front surface 5b) of the tablet 5.

On the other hand, the second camera 54 is disposed inside the transport drum 52, corresponding to the imaging position P2 (see FIG. 9, etc.). The second camera 54 irradiates a predetermined light (from the LED lighting 54b) onto the tablet 5 that has been transported by the transport drum 52 and has reached the imaging position P2, and also illuminates the surface 5b or An image is taken of the back surface 5c, which is the side that is suctioned and held by the holding section 521. Further, the second camera 54 images the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 displayed on the side display section 522 as well as the front surface 5b or the back surface 5c. A captured image (see FIG. 14) including the other of the front surface 5b and back surface 5c of the tablet 5 (for example, the back surface 5c) and the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 is obtained by the second camera 54.

Note that each of the cameras 53 and 54 performs imaging by receiving an imaging signal from an imaging control unit 591, which will be described later. The captured images obtained by each camera 53 and 54 are output to the control device 59.

The defective product removing device 55 removes the tablets 5 determined to be defective by the later-described determining section 593 of the control device 59 from outside the system (in other words, by transport drum 52 This is a device for removing the material (outside the conveyance route). As shown in FIG. 9, the defective product removal device 55 is provided downstream of each camera 53, 54 along the direction in which the tablet 5 is transported by the transport drum 52. The defective product removal device 55 includes a defective product blow nozzle 55a and a defective product storage section 55b. In this embodiment, the defective product blow nozzle 55a constitutes a "defective product discharge means."

The defective product blow nozzle 55a blows against the suction hole 5212 to release the suction and holding of the tablets 5, thereby ejecting the tablets 5 individually from the system. The number of defective product blow nozzles 55a is the same as the number of rows of the holding parts 521 (in this embodiment, five), and the blow nozzles 55a are arranged in the width direction of the transport drum 52 (in the direction of transport of the tablets 5) in the internal space of the transport drum 52. (see FIGS. 7 and 11). Each defective product blow nozzle 55a is responsible for removing one row of tablets 5 lined up along the transport direction by the transport drum 52. Thereby, only defective tablets 5 can be selectively removed from the system.

The defective product storage section 55b is a box for accommodating defective tablets 5. The defective product storage section 55b includes an input port located near the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 52. The tablets 5 discharged by the blowing operation of the defective product blow nozzle 55a pass through the input port and are accommodated in the defective product storage section 55b.

The intermediate conveyance device 56 conveys the tablets 5 received from the conveyance drum 52 to the filling device 57. The intermediate conveyance device 56 includes an intermediate drum 561 and an intermediate chute 562, as shown in FIG.

The intermediate drum 561 receives the tablet 5 released from adsorption at the delivery position P3, and conveys the tablet 5 to the intermediate chute 562 side. The intermediate drum 561 has a cylindrical shape and is configured to be rotatable by a driving means (not shown). Note that the intermediate drum 561 is not as large as the transport drum 52.

Further, the intermediate drum 561 includes a suction portion 561a for suctioning and holding the tablet 5. A large number of suction parts 561a are arranged at equal intervals along the rotational direction of the intermediate drum 561, that is, the conveyance direction of the tablets 5. A plurality of rows (five rows in this embodiment) of suction portions 561a are formed along the rotational direction of the intermediate drum 561 (the conveyance direction of the tablets 5).

In addition, the intermediate drum 561 is configured such that the moving direction of the suction portion 561a is the same as the moving direction of the tablet 5 transported by the transport drum 52 at the delivery position P3. Further, at the delivery position P3, the moving speed of the suction portion 561a and the moving speed of the tablet 5 conveyed by the conveying drum 52 are configured to be the same.

Furthermore, negative pressure is supplied to the internal space of the intermediate drum 561 by a suction mechanism (not shown), from vertically above the rotating shaft of the intermediate drum 561 to a position immediately in front of the intermediate chute 562 (inlet port 5621 described later). Negative pressure is supplied to the suction section 561a located between the two. As a result, the intermediate drum 561 receives the tablet 5 discharged from the transport drum 52 at the delivery position P3, holds the tablet 5 by suction with the suction portion 561a, and also moves the tablet 5 toward the intermediate chute 562 by its own rotation. transport to. Note that the suction portions 561a in each row can receive only the tablets 5 in a specific row among the plurality of rows of tablets 5 conveyed by the transport drum 52, respectively.

The intermediate chute 562 includes an input port 5621 through which the tablets 5 conveyed by the intermediate drum 561 are guided, and a spring chute 5622 through which the tablets 5 loaded into the input opening 5621 are conveyed to the filling device 57 side. There is.

The input port section 5621 is provided with parallel conveyance spaces 5621a, each independent of the other, the same number as the number of rows of suction sections 561a. These conveyance spaces 5621a are provided with an inlet portion into which the tablets 5, which have been released from the adsorption by the intermediate drum 561, are introduced. Among the tablets 5, only the tablets 5 in a specific row are input. The tablets 5 introduced into the entrance portion of the conveyance space 5621a flow down into the spring chute 5622 through the conveyance space 5621a.

The spring chute 5622 is a flexible tubular component formed by spirally winding a predetermined wire rod, and whose internal space constitutes a conveyance path for the tablet 5. Spring chute 5622 can be expanded, contracted and bent relatively easily.

A plurality of spring chutes 5622 are provided, and each spring chute 5622 is independent. One spring chute 5622 is provided for each conveyance space 5621a. Therefore, the tablet 5 that has passed through one transport space 5621a enters the inner space of one spring chute 5622 corresponding to the transport space 5621a, and is transported to the filling device 57 side through this inner space.

Note that the spring chute 5622 in this embodiment has an oval cylindrical shape. Then, the plurality of tablets 5 are conveyed by the spring chute 5622 in a state where the tablets 5 are lined up in a line with their respective side surfaces 5a adjacent to each other (see FIG. 16).

The filling device 57 fills the pockets 2 formed in the strip-shaped container film 3 with the tablets 5 that are conveyed in a plurality of rows. The filling device 57 includes a filling chute 571.

The filling chute 571 is provided with accommodation spaces 571a in parallel, the same number as the number of rows of tablets 5 conveyed by the intermediate conveyance device 56. The filling chute 571 is installed such that the most downstream part of each accommodation space 571a (the lower opening of the filling chute 571) is close to the container film 3. Each of the storage spaces 571a is independent, and each storage space 571a contains only one specific row of tablets 5 among the plurality of rows of tablets 5 transported by the intermediate transport device 56 (spring chute 5622). is accommodated.

Furthermore, a shutter (not shown) that can open and close the opening is provided near the lower opening of the filling chute 571. The operation of the shutter is controlled by a control device 59 (particularly a filling control section 597, which will be described later). By opening and closing the opening by operating the shutter, the tablets 5 fall one by one from the filling chute 571 and are filled into the pocket portion 2.

In this embodiment, the storage conveyance section 581 is configured. The storage conveyance section 581 constitutes a conveyance path for the tablets 5 downstream of the defective product blow nozzle 55a, and stores only the tablets 5 conveyed by using the holding section 521 in a specific row corresponding to itself. It is transported while being stored. The buffer device 58 is constituted by the intermediate conveyance device 56 and the filling device 57, each of which has a plurality of storage conveyance portions 581 for each row of the holding portions 521. In this embodiment, the buffer device 58 constitutes "buffer means".

The control device 59 is a computer system equipped with 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. It is configured. As shown in FIG. 17, the control device 59 includes an imaging control section 591, an image memory 592, a determination section 593, an inspection result storage section 594, a supply quantity adjustment section 595, a discharge control section 596, a filling control section 597, and a storage number grasping section. 598. In this embodiment, the determination unit 593 constitutes a “judgment means”, similarly, the supply quantity adjustment unit 595 constitutes a “supply quantity adjustment means”, and the storage quantity grasping unit 598 constitutes a “storage quantity grasping means”, respectively. do. Note that various operations to be described later in the imaging control section 591, the determination section 593, etc. are executed by the CPU executing a predetermined program.

The imaging control unit 591 controls imaging operations by the cameras 53 and 54. More specifically, the imaging control unit 591 outputs an imaging signal to each camera 53, 54 at the timing when the tablet 5 is placed at the imaging position P2, based on a signal from the encoder provided on the conveyance drum 52. . As a result, the tablets 5 placed at the same imaging position P2 are simultaneously imaged by the cameras 53 and 54, respectively. Note that since the imaging signals for each camera 53 and 54 are output at the same time, there is no need to adjust the output timing of the imaging signal for each camera 53 and 54.

Image memory 592 stores captured images obtained by each camera 53, 54. The tablet 5 is inspected based on the captured image stored in the image memory 592. Of course, processing processing (processing such as masking processing and shading correction) may be performed on the captured image when performing the inspection.

The determining unit 593 determines the quality of the tablet 5 based on the captured images obtained by both cameras 53 and 54, respectively. The determination unit 593 performs, for example, binarization processing on the captured image and block processing on the binarized image, and also determines whether the tablet 5 Determine the quality of the product. The determination unit 593 uses the two types of captured images obtained by both cameras 53 and 54 to perform a quality determination on the entire surface of the tablet 5 (side surface 5a, front surface 5b, and back surface 5c). Items (inspection items) to be determined by the determining unit 593 include, for example, the shape of the tablet 5, the color of the tablet 5, the presence or absence of scratches or chips in the tablet 5, and the like. Of course, if the tablet 5 is provided with a printed section for indicating various information such as characters and symbols, the determination section 593 may determine the quality of the printed section.

The test result storage unit 594 stores data related to the quality determination result of the tablet 5 by the determination unit 593.

The supply number adjustment unit 595 adjusts the number of tablets 5 supplied from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding unit 521. More specifically, the supply number adjustment section 595 controls the operation of the checker 512 (holding section 512a) and stops the supply of tablets 5 to the row corresponding to the checker 512 among the rows of the holding section 521. , the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding section 521 is adjusted individually. For example, as the tablets 5 are discharged by the defective blow nozzle 55a, the number of tablets 5 being transported in one storage and transportation section 581 is greater than the number of tablets 5 being transported in the other storage and transportation section 581. Suppose that the number is one less than the number. In this case, the supply number adjusting section 595 supplies tablets 5 to the row of holding sections 521 corresponding to the storage and transportation section 581 having one fewer number of tablets 5, while supplying the tablets 5 to the row of holding sections 521 corresponding to the other storage and transportation sections 581. The operation of checker 512 is controlled so as not to supply tablets 5 to column 521. Thereby, the number of tablets 5 stored (transported) in each storage/transport section 581 can be made the same.

On the other hand, for example, if the number of tablets 5 stored (transported) in each storage/transport unit 581 becomes smaller than the preset target number due to the operation control of the checker 512 as described above, do. In this case, the supply number adjustment unit 595 controls the drive device 73 and the like to slightly increase the rotation speed of the conveyance drum 52 compared to the speed during normal operation. As a result, the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding section 521 (the number of tablets 5 supplied per unit time) increases, and as a result, the number of tablets 5 being conveyed in each storage conveyance section 581 is reduced to the target number. You can go back to more than that number. Note that when the number of tablets 5 being transported in each storage transport section 581 exceeds the target number, the supply number adjustment section 595 controls the drive device 73 etc. so that the transport drum 52 etc. perform normal operation. do.

Further, the supply number adjustment unit 595 counts and stores the number of tablets 5 supplied for each row of the holding unit 521.

The discharge control unit 596 individually controls the operation of each defective product blow nozzle 55a in order to individually discharge defective tablets 5 from the system. More specifically, the discharge control unit 596 can identify defective tablets 5 based on the quality determination results of the tablets 5 stored in the test result storage unit 594. Then, the discharge control unit 596 calculates the timing at which the defective tablet 5 reaches the defect removal device 55 based on the signal from the encoder of the conveyance drum 52, and at the calculated timing, the The defective product blow nozzle 55a is controlled to perform blowing to release the adsorption. As a result, the defective tablets 5 are discharged from the system and placed in the defective product storage section 55b.

Further, the discharge control unit 596 counts and stores the number of times defective tablets 5 are discharged (the number of times blowing is performed) for each row of the holding unit 521.

The filling control section 597 controls the operation of the filling device 57 in order to fill the pocket section 2 with the tablets 5 . More specifically, the filling control section 597 calculates the timing at which the pocket section 2 reaches the filling device 57 (vertically below the filling chute 571) based on the signal from the encoder of the film receiving roll 20, and also performs this calculation. At this timing, the shutter of the filling device 57 is controlled so that the lower opening of the filling chute 571 is opened. As a result, the tablet 5 is filled into the pocket portion 2.

Further, the filling control unit 597 counts and stores the number of times the tablet 5 is filled into the pocket portion 2 for each filling chute 571 (accommodating space 571a).

The storage number grasping section 598 grasps the number of tablets 5 stored in the plurality of storage and conveyance sections 581. More specifically, the storage number grasping unit 598 calculates the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding unit 521 stored in the supply number adjusting unit 595 and the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding unit 521 stored in the discharge control unit 596. Based on the number of times defective tablets 5 are discharged for each column and the number of times tablets 5 are filled for each filling chute 571 (accommodating space 571a), which is stored in the filling control section 597, the tablets 5 in each storage and conveyance section 581 are Understand the number of stored items.

Then, based on the number of tablets 5 stored in each storage and conveyance section 581 ascertained by the storage number grasping section 598, the supply number adjustment section 595 adjusts the supply number adjustment section 595 from the supply device 51 to the holding section 521 as necessary. Adjust the number of tablets 5 supplied for each row.

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to image the surface of the tablet 5 that is sucked and held by the holding part 521 through the transparent part 5213, so that the tablet 5 is transported by one transport drum 52. During this process, both the front and back sides of the tablet 5 can be imaged. Therefore, in order to image both the front and back sides of the tablet 5, it is not necessary to provide two conveyance means (the conveyance means that conveys the tablet when the tablet is imaged) for reversing the adsorbed surface of the tablet 5. . This makes it possible to suppress increases in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the device.

In addition, by using the side display section 522, it is possible to inspect not only the front surface 5b and back surface 5c of the tablet 5 but also the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. Therefore, the accuracy of testing the tablets 5 can be further improved.

Moreover, since the tablets 5 before being filled into the pocket portion 2 are to be inspected, the tablets 5 determined to be defective can be individually discharged by the blow nozzle 55a for defective products, and the tablets 5 determined to be defective can be discharged individually. There is no need to eject the entire PTP sheet 1 for ejection. Therefore, inconveniences such as waste of good quality tablets 5 can be more reliably prevented.

Furthermore, the second camera 54 can image the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 and the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 at the same time. Therefore, the front surface 5b or back surface 5c and side surface 5a of the tablet 5 can be simultaneously inspected using one captured image, and the inspection efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, since there is no need to provide an imaging means separate from the first camera 53 and second camera 54 in order to image the side surface 5a of the tablet 5, the PTP packaging machine 10 (especially the inspection and filling device 21) can be made larger. It is possible to more reliably prevent problems and complications.

Moreover, the protection part 5214 provided on the holding part 521 can more reliably prevent damage to the side display part 522 due to contact with the tablet 5. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent replacement of the side display section 522 due to scratches, etc., and to further suppress increases in costs related to maintenance and the like. Note that since the protection part 5214 is immovable relative to the side display part 522, the side display part 522 will not be damaged due to the protection part 5214 moving relative to the side display part 522.

Furthermore, in the annular region 5213a of the transparent portion 5213, which always faces the suction-held tablet 5, it is possible to suppress damage caused by contact with the tablet 5. Thereby, when taking an image of the tablet 5 through the transparent part 5213, it is possible to more reliably take an image through a good part where damage is suppressed. As a result, better inspection accuracy can be obtained, and this good inspection accuracy can be maintained for a longer period of time.

Moreover, when the tablet 5 is being held by suction, the annular region 5213a of the transparent portion 5213 prevents foreign matter or powder adhering to the tablet 5 from being caught between the annular region 5213a and the tablet 5. Furthermore, when the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 5 is in contact with the transparent portion 5213, gas is more effectively drawn from the space located between the annular region 5213a and the tablet 5 toward the suction hole 5212. It turns out. By acting synergistically, powder and the like adhering to the annular region 5213a can be more reliably sucked and removed when the tablet 5 is being held by suction. This makes it possible to further improve inspection accuracy.

Furthermore, since only the portion of the suction-held tablet 5 located on the outer circumferential side comes into line contact with the transparent portion 5213, the contact area between the tablet 5 and the transparent portion 5213 becomes relatively small. Therefore, the amount of powder and the like that adheres to the transparent portion 5213 upon contact with the tablet 5 can be relatively reduced. As a result, it is possible to further improve inspection accuracy.

In addition, since both cameras 53 and 54 image the tablet 5 placed at the same imaging position P2, the tablets 5 can be imaged simultaneously by each camera 53 and 54. Therefore, when taking an image of one tablet 5, it becomes easy to control the timing of image taking by both cameras 53 and 54, and it is possible to more effectively suppress increases in costs related to manufacturing and maintenance of the device.

Further, the number of tablets 5 supplied from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding section 521 is adjusted by the supply number adjusting section 595 based on the number of stored tablets 5 ascertained by the stored number grasping section 598. Therefore, even if defective tablets 5 are discharged by the defective blow nozzle 55a, it is possible to more reliably prevent the number of tablets 5 stored in each storage/transfer section 581 from becoming insufficient. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems in filling the pocket portion 2 with tablets 5 due to the discharge of defective tablets 5, and it is possible to further improve productivity (production efficiency).

Note that the present invention is not limited to the content described in the above embodiment, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Of course, other applications and modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

(a) In the embodiment described above, the side display section 522 is configured to be able to display the side surface of the tablet 5 toward the second camera 54. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, the side display section 523 is configured with a prism so that the light from the side surface 5a can reach the first camera 53 while being refracted by the side display section 523. The configuration may be such that the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 can be projected toward the camera 53. In this case, as shown in FIG. A captured image including the other of the back surface 5b and the back surface 5c is obtained.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, the side display section 524 is configured so that the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 can be displayed toward both the first camera 53 and the second camera 54, and both cameras 53, 54 It may also be possible to image the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 displayed on the side display section 524. In this case, as shown in FIG. A captured image including the other of the front surface 5b and back surface 5c and the side surface 5a is obtained.

By enabling both cameras 53 and 54 to image the side surface 5a as described above, two different types of images (for example, two types of images that can complement each other) are obtained as captured images of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. be able to. Thereby, the inspection accuracy regarding the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 can be further improved.

Note that the side display section 524 that allows the cameras 53 and 54 to image the side surface 5a can be configured, for example, by a prism in which a half mirror is provided on the inner circumferential surface 524a that is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the holding section 521. . In the half mirror, a portion of the light from the side surface 5a is reflected, and a portion of the light from the side surface 5a is transmitted.

In addition, when using a side display section having a prism as described above, the refraction mode of the light changes depending on the wavelength of the light irradiated to the tablet 5, and this change causes an effect on the captured image (for example, There is a possibility that the size of the portion corresponding to the side surface 5a in the captured image may change. Therefore, the captured image may be corrected to remove this influence.

(b) The configurations of the holding portion 521 and the transparent portion 5213 may be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, by providing a plurality of protrusions on the bottom surface 5211a of the holding part 521 that extend radially from (the opening of) the suction hole 5212 and gradually become narrower toward the top, the tablet 5 can be held by the holding part 521. It may be configured such that only the portion of the tablet 5 located on the outer circumferential side makes point contact with the transparent portion 5213 in the suction-held state.

Further, by forming at least a portion of the holding portion 521 that can come into contact with the tablet 5 from, for example, a transparent soft resin, it may be possible to more reliably prevent damage to the tablet 5 due to contact with the holding portion 521.

Further, for example, by making the bottom surface 5211a flat, the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 comes into surface contact with the holding section 521 (transparent section 5213) when the tablet 5 is held by the holding section 521. You can do it like this.

(c) In the above embodiment, the intermediate drum 561 for receiving the tablets 5 from the transport drum 52 is provided, but the intermediate drum 561 may not be provided. For example, the intermediate drum 561 may be omitted and the tablets 5 may be directly fed into the intermediate chute 562. Further, instead of the intermediate drum 562, a device (for example, a linear feeder, etc.) for conveying the tablets 5 that have fallen from the conveying drum 52 to the intermediate chute 562 side may be provided.

(d) In the above embodiment, the number of rows of holding sections 521 and the number of storage and transportation sections 581 are five, and the tablets 5 are conveyed in five rows in the inspection and filling device 21. Depending on the number of rows of pocket portions 2 in container film 3, etc., the number of rows of tablets 5 during transport by inspection and filling device 21 may be changed as appropriate.

(e) In the above embodiment, a disk-shaped uncoated tablet (disc-shaped flat tablet) having a circular shape in plan view is exemplified as the tablet 5, but the type and shape of the tablet are not the same as in the above embodiment. It is not limited. For example, tablets include not only medicines but also tablets used for consumption. In addition, tablets include not only plain tablets, but also sugar-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, enteric-coated tablets, gelatin-coated tablets, and various other capsules such as hard capsules and soft capsules. This also includes tablets.

Furthermore, regarding the shape of the tablet, it may be, for example, not only circular in plan view, but also polygonal, elliptical, oval, etc. in plan view.

(f) The configuration of the manufactured PTP sheet is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the arrangement and number of pocket portions 2 per PTP sheet may be changed as appropriate.

(g) In the above embodiment, the PTP sheet 1 is used as the blister sheet, but the technical idea of the present invention may be applied to blister sheets other than the PTP sheet 1.

1... PTP sheet (blister sheet), 2... pocket part, 3... container film, 4... cover film, 5... tablet, 5a... (tablet) side, 5b... (tablet) surface, 5c... (tablet) Rear surface, 10...PTP packaging machine (blister packaging machine), 51...supply device (tablet supply means), 52...conveyance drum (conveyance means), 53...first camera (first imaging means), 54...second camera ( second imaging means), 55a...blow nozzle for defective products (defective product discharge means), 57...filling device (filling means), 58...buffer device (buffer means), 521...holding section, 522, 523, 524...side surface Display unit, 581... Storage conveyance unit, 593... Judgment unit (judgment means), 595... Supply number adjustment unit (supply number adjustment unit), 598... Storage number grasping unit (storage number grasping means), 5212... Suction hole, 5213 ...Transparent part, 5214...Protection part, P2...Imaging position.

Claims (7)

A blister packaging machine for manufacturing a blister sheet in which tablets are accommodated in pockets formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
a filling means for filling the pocket with tablets;
Holding parts having transparent parts that can transmit light and capable of holding tablets by suction are arranged in the rotation direction, and the holding parts rotate while holding the tablets by suction, thereby conveying the tablets to the filling means side. Possible transportation means and
a first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is opposite to the surface held by the holding section;
a second imaging means for capturing an image of at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is held by the holding part through the transparent part;
A blister packaging machine comprising: a determining means for determining the quality of a tablet based on captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means. A defective product discharging means is provided that can individually discharge tablets determined to be defective by the determination means out of the system by releasing suction and holding by the holding portion before the filling means fills the pocket portion. ,
The conveying means is disposed around the tablet held by the holding section, and is capable of projecting a side surface of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means. Equipped with a side display section,
The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging a side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display section. The side display section is configured to be able to display a side surface of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
3. The blister packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein both the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging the side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display section. The holding part is located between the side surface of the tablet suction-held by the holding part and the side display part, and is immovable relative to the side display part. 4. The blister packaging machine according to claim 2, further comprising a protection part for preventing contact with the blister packaging machine. A suction hole for suctioning the tablet is formed in the transparent part,
When the tablet is suction-held by the holding portion, only the portion of the tablet located on the outer peripheral side is in point or line contact with the transparent portion, and the portion of the transparent portion where the suction hole and the tablet are in contact 5. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the tablet is spaced apart from an annular region located between the blister packaging machine and the annular region. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first imaging means and the second imaging means are each configured to image a tablet placed at the same predetermined imaging position. Blister packaging machine as described. The conveyance means is configured to include a plurality of rows of the holding parts arranged in the rotation direction of the conveying means, and is configured to convey the tablets in a plurality of rows by the holding parts,
Tablet supply means capable of individually supplying tablets to each row of the holding parts in the conveyance means;
supply number adjusting means capable of adjusting the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section;
a defective product discharging means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determining means out of the system by releasing suction and holding by the holding section before the filling means fills the pocket section;
A storage and transportation section that configures a tablet transportation path downstream of the defective product discharge means and that stores and transports only the tablets that have been transported using the holding section of a specific row corresponding to the storage section. , buffer means each having a plurality of buffer means for each row of the holding parts;
and storage number grasping means capable of grasping the number of tablets stored in each of the plurality of storage and conveyance sections,
The supply number adjustment means is configured to be able to adjust the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets ascertained by the storage number grasping means. A blister packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images