JP2633186B2 - Tablet packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tablet packaging apparatus for producing a tablet sheet holding a plurality of solid substances such as tablets and capsules containing a drug, and more particularly, to a tablet packaging apparatus for forming tablets and capsules on a raw material film. The present invention relates to processing of scrap, which is a residual film obtained by punching out a tablet sheet after sealing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, medicines administered in hospitals and the like are often handled in the form of blister sheets holding a plurality of tablets or capsules containing the medicines. This is because, in the sheet form, a small number of tablets and the like can be administered without directly touching without using a heavy and bulky glass bottle or the like, and the remainder can be kept airtight when taking the tablet. Such a blister-shaped tablet sheet is formed by hot plastic forming a concave portion on a transparent or translucent film, inserting a tablet or capsule into the concave portion, welding an aluminum foil to this, and sealing the tablet or capsule. Manufactured by packaging equipment.

In such a tablet packaging apparatus, tablets or capsules are converted from a film encapsulating tablet capsules to 10 tablets or capsules.
Since a tablet sheet containing about an individual piece is punched into a product, a residual film (hereinafter, referred to as “scrap”) after the punching is generated. In recent tablet packaging devices, there has been a contrivance for minimizing scrap generation from the viewpoint of resource saving. Accordingly, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, no scrap is generated in the film flow direction,
The generated scrap 10 often has a long shape along the film flow direction. Such scrap 10
Although they are collected and recycled, they are difficult to handle if they are long, so they are usually cut into appropriate lengths and collected on scrap chutes.

Normally, a tablet packaging apparatus cuts scraps and the like in the following manner. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the long scrap 10 coming out of the punching device 23 is guided by the scrap roller 2 and the scrap collecting device 1
Moving blade 1 which is sent to the stationary blade 11 and moves at an appropriate cycle with the fixed blade 11
2 and is cut into a strip shape, dropped on the scrap chute 13 and accumulated.

[0005] Here, a pinch roller 7 is provided near the scrap roller 2. The pinch roller 7 presses the scrap 10 against the scrap roller 2 by an urging force of a spring or the like, and ensures the driving of the scrap 10 by the rotation of the scrap roller 2. The reason why the pinch roller 7 is provided is that the scrap 10 has no convex portion for accommodating tablets, and is flat and slippery. Further, between the punching device 23 and the scrap roller 2, there is provided a film out sensor for detecting the break of the scrap 10. If the scrap 10 coming out of the punching device 23 is cut for some reason, the subsequent scrap 10 strays without being guided by the scrap roller 2,
This is because an accident such as biting into another part may occur, so that it is necessary to take measures such as temporarily joining the cuts.

[0006]

However, the conventional tablet packaging apparatus has a problem with the scrap roller 2 and the film break sensor 35, respectively, which is a problem in scrap processing. First, problems of the scrap roller 2 will be described. In order to cut the scrap 10 performed downstream of the scrap roller 2, it is necessary to intermittently stop the scrap 10 once. Here, since the scrap roller 2 is conventionally driven by a constant-speed rotating motor that drives the entire tablet packaging apparatus, when the scrap 10 is stopped, the scrap roller 2 is slid between the scrap roller 2 and the scrap 10, and the constant-speed movement and the intermittent movement are performed. Absorbed the difference with the movement.

[0007] However, the scrap 10 is
Is pressed against the scrap roller 2 by
The friction force is quite large. Therefore, the scrap 10
Is warped due to frictional heat and the like generated during stoppage. This is because the scrap 10 is mainly made of a thermoplastic resin film such as PVC. If the cut scrap 10 is warped, it is scattered around the scrap chute 13 without falling straight. Therefore, the work of collecting the scattered and cut scraps 10 is required, which is complicated. In addition, if the scattered scrap 10 enters another part of the tablet packaging apparatus, it may cause a failure of the apparatus. Furthermore, if the degree of warpage is large, the scrap 10 sent from the scrap roller 2 may bite into the upper part of the moving blade 12 or the like, and may not be cut.

Next, problems of the film out sensor will be described. FIG. 7 shows an outline of a film break sensor of a conventional tablet packaging apparatus. Conventional film out sensor 36
Comprises an arm member 38 rotatable around a fixed shaft 37,
It is composed of a roller 39 rotatably mounted on one end of the arm member 38 and mounted on the scrap 10, a light source 20, and an optical sensor 21. When the scrap 10 is cut, the arm member 38 is driven by the weight of the roller 39.
Rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the other end of the arm member 38 is connected to the light source 2.
Light rays from 0 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 7) are blocked at point X,
The optical sensor 21 detects this and detects the break of the scrap 10. When there are three rows of scraps 10 as shown in FIG. 6, each row is provided with an out-of-film sensor 36, and it is detected that any one row has a break.

Here, the width of the roller 39 is narrow, and is substantially equal to the width of the scrap 10. If a blank tablet sheet with an empty tablet is generated, the punching device 23 does not punch the blank sheet. Therefore, the blank sheet may enter the film break sensor 36 together with the scrap 10. This is because the empty convex portion of the sheet (which originally stores tablets) collides with the roller 39 and hinders the smooth running of the scrap 10. For this reason, the width of the roller 39 was narrow. However, when the type of tablet sheet is changed, the width and position of the scrap 10 also change, so that the position of the roller 39 must be adjusted accordingly, and the operation is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and eliminates a problem that scrap is bitten or scattered due to warpage of scrap as a residual film after sheet punching. An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet packaging apparatus that can reliably and easily cut and collect scrap without requiring complicated roller adjustment work when changing the type of tablet sheet.

[0011]

In order to achieve this object, a tablet packaging apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 of the present application punches a film in which a solid material is inserted into a concave portion and a cover film is adhered. What is claimed is: 1. A tablet packaging apparatus comprising: a sheet punching unit; and an intermittent feeding unit for intermittently feeding a film punched by the sheet punching unit, wherein the long residual film punched by the sheet punching unit is provided. Scrap scraper for cutting the scrap film, a scrap roller for conveying the remaining film to the scrap cutting means, a drive source for driving the scrap roller, a pinch roller for pressing the remaining film against the scrap roller, and the scrap roller. Torque limit that limits the torque transmitted from the drive source to the scrap roller when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the scrap roller. It is configured to have a means.

Further, the tablet packaging apparatus according to the invention of claim 2 of the present application comprises sheet punching means for punching a film in which a solid substance is inserted into a concave portion and a cover film is adhered, and sheet punching means. A tablet packaging device having intermittent feeding means for intermittently feeding a film to be punched, wherein said scrap cutting means cuts a long residual film punched by said sheet punching means, and said scrap cutting. An abutting member that abuts on the residual film conveyed to the means and is wider than the residual film, an urging means for urging the abutting member in a direction to press the residual film, and when the tension of the residual film is interrupted. Defect detecting means for detecting a defect of the remaining film by the movement of the contact member by the urging of the urging means.

[0013]

In the tablet packaging apparatus according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, a film in which a solid substance is inserted into a concave portion and a cover film is stuck is intermittently fed by an intermittent feeding means, and a sheet punching means is used to cut the tablet from the film. Punch the sheet. Then, the scrap, which is a long residual film after punching, is conveyed to scrap cutting means and cut into strips.

Here, in the tablet packaging apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the scrap roller driven by the driving source conveys the scrap to the scrap cutting means in cooperation with the pinch roller. When the scrap cutting means cuts the scrap, the scrap is temporarily stopped, so that the frictional resistance load of the scrap roller increases, and the driving torque of the scrap roller is limited by the torque limit means. In the tablet packaging device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the contact member wider than the scrap is in contact with the scrap conveyed to the scrap cutting means. When the scrap is cut, the contact member moves by the urging of the urging means, and the defect detecting means detects this.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The overall configuration of the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus in appearance is almost the same as the conventional one. First, the overall outline will be described with reference to FIG. In the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, two sets of transparent films 9 wound in a roll shape are rotatably attached to the left side of the main body. The material of the film 9 needs to be thermoplastic, and PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and the like are often used. The film 9 passes through a heating device 27 composed of a pair of upper and lower heating plates, a forming device 22 for hot plastic forming a recess for storing tablets, and a shutter 25 for storing tablets supplied from a feeder 26 in the recess. Then, it is sent to the sealing device 28 at the center of the device.

At the upper right of the main body, two sets of cover films 19 wound in a roll shape are rotatably mounted.
As a material of the cover film 19, an aluminum foil is often used. The film 9 and the cover film 19 are overlaid and welded by the sealing device 28 to seal the tablet. The film 9 that has exited the sealing device 28 is perforated 31 (see FIG. 6) by the slitter 24 on the right side of the sealing device 28, and is punched as a tablet sheet 30 (see FIG. 6) by the sheet punching machine 23. The punched tablet sheet 30 is stored in the product chute 14 below the sheet punching machine 23. Note that there is an unlock sensor (not shown) between the shutter 25 and the seal device 28, and when the occurrence of an unlock sheet is detected, the sheet punching machine 2
3 does not punch the sheet.

In the sheet punching machine 23, the tablet sheet 3
A scrap 10 which is a residual film which is not punched as 0 is generated. Usually, as shown in FIG. 6, two rows of tablet sheets 30 are taken for the entire width of the film 9,
A long strip of scrap 10 is generated. However, the total width of the film 9 differs depending on the type of the tablet sheet 30, and accordingly, the position where the scrap 10 is generated also differs. The generated elongate scrap 10 is sent to the scrap collecting device 1 on the left side of the product chute 14 and cut and collected into a strip shape that is easy to handle. The tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus has a drive motor M that rotates at a constant speed. Each of the moving parts of the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus uses the constant-speed rotation transmitted from the drive motor M by appropriately changing the speed by a gear, and converting the rotation into intermittent movement as necessary.

In the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus having the above-described overall configuration, the gist of the present invention lies in the portion of the scrap collecting device 1 which is the final step and its peripheral portion. Therefore, the sheet punching machine 2 mainly with the scrap collecting device 1
The part after 3 will be described. 2, the scrap 10 after the sheet punching machine 23 is shown.
Will be described. The scrap 10 generated by the sheet punching machine 23 is guided by the scrap roller 2 via the film out sensor 6 and sent to the scrap collecting device 1. The scrap roller 2 is driven by a passive pulley 4 driven by a constant speed rotating drive motor M via a timing belt 5, and guides the scrap 10 from the sheet punching machine 23 to the scrap collecting device 1. A slip means 3 having a torque limiting function is fitted on a shaft connecting the passive pulley 4 and the scrap roller 2.

A pinch roller 7 is provided near the scrap roller 2. The pinch roller 7 presses the scrap 10 against the scrap roller 2 by urging of the spring 8 to ensure the guide of the scrap 10. The rotation of the pinch roller 7 itself is indirectly driven by friction between the scrap 10 and the scrap roller 2. By pressing the pinch roller 7, the flat and slippery scrap 10 having no convex portion can be reliably driven. The scrap collecting device 1 includes a fixed blade 11 and a movable blade 12.
And a cutting machine comprising: The scrap 10 sent from the scrap roller 2 to the front surface of the fixed blade 11 is cut by the moving blade 12 at an appropriate cycle into a strip shape, and is accumulated on a scrap chute 13 below.

Next, the driving of the scrap roller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The scrap roller 2 is driven by the passive pulley 4 as described above. Between the passive pulley 4 and the scrap roller 2, there is provided a slip means 3 for limiting torque transmission. The slip means 3 has a function of restricting transmission of torque from the passive pulley 4 when the frictional resistance of the scrap roller 2 becomes equal to or more than a certain value. The movement of the scrap 10 in the cutting machine must be an intermittent movement for the cutting work, whereas the rotation of the passive pulley 4 driven by the drive motor M is a constant speed rotation, so that this difference is adjusted. . The slip means 3 may be any known one having a torque limiting function, such as an electromagnetic clutch, a magnet clutch, a hysteresis clutch, a torque brake, a powder clutch, and a fluid clutch.

Specifically, when the scrap 10 is cut by the fixed blade 11 and the movable blade 12, it is necessary to stop the scrap 10. Therefore, in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus, a scrap stopper (not shown) is provided to stop the scrap 10 at the time of cutting. Since such a stop does not directly act on the scrap roller 2, when the scrap 10 is stopped, the load of the frictional resistance on the scrap roller 2 increases. At this time, the transmission of torque from the passive pulley 4 is limited by the function of the slip means 3, and the friction between the scrap 10 and the scrap roller 2 is greatly reduced.

Thus, due to the frictional heat with the scrap roller 2, the scrap 10 mainly composed of a thermoplastic material is warped, causing troubles such as biting in the scrap collecting device 1 and overflow from the scrap chute 13. This is prevented from occurring. In particular, as in the present embodiment, the pinch roller 7 for bringing the scrap 10 into close contact with the scrap roller 2.
This effect is significant when is equipped.

Next, the out-of-film sensor 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. The film break sensor 6 is provided between the sheet punching machine 23 and the scrap roller 2 to detect a break in the scrap 10. If there is a cut in the scrap 10 coming out of the sheet punching machine 23, the subsequent scrap 10 will stray and bite into other parts, etc., so that it is necessary to take measures such as joining the cut once. is there.

As shown in the side view of FIG. 4, the film out sensor 6 has a sensor shaft 18 and a contact member 15 rotatable about the sensor shaft 18 and abutting against the scrap 10 from below.
, A weight 16 attached to the contact member 15, a stop member 17 for regulating excessive rotation of the contact member 15, and the like. Here, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5, the width of the contact surface of the contact member 15 with the scrap 10 is wider than the width of the scrap 10. The light source 20 and its light (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 4) are located below the scrap 10.
An optical sensor 21 for detecting the
Light is blocked only when 5 rotates.

In the film exhaustion sensor 6, the contact member 15 is urged by the gravity of the weight 16 and the scrap 10
Is pushed up from below. Then, at normal times, the tension of the scrap 10 and the urging force are balanced, and the stable running of the scrap 10 in the state of FIG. In this state, the light reaches the optical sensor 21 from the light source 20 without being blocked by the contact member 15, and the output signal of the optical sensor 21 is turned on. That is, the ON signal of the optical sensor 21 indicates that the cut of the scrap 10 is not detected.

For some reason, the sheet punching machine 23
If the scrap 10 sent out from the cutter has a cut, the tension of the scrap 10 is interrupted, so that the contact member 15
4 rotates clockwise in FIG. 4 by the force of gravity, and the state shown in FIG. 4B is obtained. At this time, the light from the light source 20 is blocked at the Y point and does not reach the optical sensor 21. Thus, when the output signal of the optical sensor 21 is turned off, the cut of the scrap 10 is detected. In FIG. 4B,
Although the light is blocked by the weight 16, the light may be blocked by the contact member 15 itself. As shown in FIG. 5, the contact members 15 are provided for the three rows of scraps 10, respectively, so that any one of the scraps 10 is detected by the optical sensor 21. When the cut of the scrap 10 is detected, a measure such as temporarily joining the cut is performed to prevent the occurrence of troubles such as the later scrap 10 straying and biting into another part.

Here, since the width of the contact surface of the contact member 15 with the scrap 10 is wider than the width of the scrap 10, even if the width or position of the scrap 10 is changed by changing the type of tablet sheet, the contact member 15 is not affected. The operation can be continued without performing the work of adjusting the position of the contact member 15.
In general, in this type of tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus, it is necessary to separately produce many kinds of tablet sheets.
Since the position adjustment work of No. 5 is unnecessary, the operation rate of the apparatus can be greatly improved.

In the present embodiment, since the contact member 15 contacts the scrap 10 from below, a wide contact member 15 can be used. That is, in the present embodiment, when the missing sheet is generated and is not punched by the sheet punching machine 23 and enters the film out sensor 6 together with the scrap 10, the empty convex portion is located on the upper side. This is because the protrusion does not collide with the contact member 15. It is needless to say that in the case where the protruding portion is a routing that is located on the lower side, the contact member 15 should be arranged to contact from above.

As described in detail above, in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, the pinch roller 7
0 is pressed against the scrap roller 2, so that the flat scrap 10 can be reliably driven, and when the conveyance of the scrap 10 is stopped for scrap cutting, the slip means 3 limits the transmission of torque to the scrap roller 2. In addition, the occurrence of warpage of the scrap 10 due to frictional heat with the scrap roller 2 is prevented. Further, in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, since the width of the contact surface of the contact member 15 to the scrap 10 is wider than the width of the scrap 10,
Even if the position of the scrap 10 is changed due to the type change, the operation can be continued without adjusting the position of the contact member 15.

The above embodiment does not limit the present invention in any way, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a weight is used as the urging means for pressing the contact member against the scrap, but an elastic body such as a spring may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the one having both features of the invention according to claim 1 and claim 2 of the present application has been described.
It may have only one of the features.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, in the tablet packaging apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a concave portion is formed in a film, a solid material is inserted into the concave portion, and a cover film is attached. In a tablet packaging apparatus for punching as a tablet sheet, a scrap cutting means for cutting scrap as a long residual film after punching, a scrap roller for conveying the scrap to the scrap cutting means, and a scrap roller are driven. Drive source and a pinch roller for pressing the scrap against the scrap roller,
The scrap roller can reliably drive the scrap, and is transmitted from the driving source to the scrap roller when a certain load or more is applied to the scrap roller, such as when stopping conveyance of the scrap for scrap cutting. Because of the provision of the slip means for limiting the torque, the warpage of the scrap due to the frictional heat with the scrap roller does not occur, and there is no inability to cut due to biting in the scrap cutting means or scattering of the cut scrap.

In the tablet packaging apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the tablet packaging apparatus comprises a scrap cutting means for cutting the scrap, a contact member wider than the scrap contacting the scrap, and a contact member. An urging means for urging in the direction of pressing against the scrap, and a defect detecting means for detecting a defect of the scrap by the movement of the contact member by the urging of the urging means when the tension of the scrap is interrupted. Therefore, even if the position of the scrap is changed due to the type change, the operation can be continued without adjusting the position of the contact member, and the operation rate of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a scrap collecting portion in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing driving of a configuration of a scrap roller in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a scrap break detection device in the tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of the scrap and the scrap-break detection device as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement relationship between a tablet sheet and scraps in the entire film.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a scrap scrap detecting device in a conventional tablet sheet manufacturing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scrap collection apparatus 2 Scrap roller 3 Slip means 6 Film out sensor 7 Pinch roller 9 Film 10 Scrap 11 Fixed blade 12 Moving blade 15 Contact member 16 Weight 19 Cover film 20 Light source 21 Optical sensor 22 Forming device 23 Sheet punching machine 28 Seal Device M Drive motor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet punching means for punching a film in which a solid material is inserted into a concave portion and a cover film is adhered, and an intermittent feeding means for intermittently feeding a film punched by the sheet punching means. In the tablet packaging apparatus having: a scrap cutting means for cutting a long residual film punched by the sheet punching means; a scrap roller for conveying the remaining film to the scrap cutting means; and driving the scrap roller. A driving source, a pinch roller for pressing the remaining film against the scrap roller, and torque limiting means for limiting a torque transmitted from the driving source to the scrap roller when a load equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to the scrap roller. And a tablet packaging device comprising: 2. A sheet punching means for punching a film in which a solid material is inserted into a recess and a cover film is adhered, and intermittent feeding means for intermittently feeding a film punched by the sheet punching means. In the tablet packaging apparatus having: a scrap cutting means for cutting a long residual film punched by the sheet punching means; and a contact abutting on the residual film conveyed to the scrap cutting means and wider than the residual film. A member, urging means for urging the contact member against the remaining film, and a residual film by the movement of the contact member by urging of the urging means when the tension of the residual film is interrupted. And a defect detecting means for detecting a defect of the tablet.