JP2816432B2 - Tablet package inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet package inspection device.

[Prior Art] In a tablet manufacturing line, after packing a tablet in a package, it is necessary to inspect the tablet for the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed into the tablet enclosing space, the presence or absence of cracks in the tablet, and the like.

Conventionally, the inspection has been performed by the naked eye of a human being arranged in an inspection zone provided in a production line.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, a continuously mass-produced tablet package is
Inspection by human eyes is not preferable in terms of reliability and the like.

In addition, as an apparatus for automatically inspecting a tablet package, a supply unit that supplies a tablet package, an inspection unit that inspects the tablet package, an ejection unit that ejects the tablet package, And a transport unit for transporting the paper to the discharge unit via the inspection unit.

However, according to the study of the present inventor, as shown in FIG. 7, since the substrate 2 of the tablet package 1 is unwound from the raw roll and supplied to the packaging machine, it is provided at the raw roll stage. The warped substrate 2 remains in the shape of the package 1. Then, it was recognized that the conveyance of the package 1 by the conveyance unit or the automation of the inspection of the package 1 by the inspection unit was hindered by the warpage remaining in the package 1.

That is, for a warped tablet package, it is difficult to specify the transporting posture, which hinders stable automation of transporting. Also, warped tablet packages are
The visual field area captured by the camera provided in the inspection unit is narrow,
In addition, a relatively large dead space is involved (see FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B)), which hinders accurate inspection automation.

The present invention provides a tablet package that is free and warped,
The purpose is to stably transport and accurately inspect.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention according to claim 1, wherein a supply unit that supplies a tablet package, an inspection unit that inspects the tablet package, a discharge unit that discharges the tablet package, and the tablet A first transport unit that transports the package from the supply unit; and a second transport unit that transports the tablet package fed by the first transport unit to the discharge unit via the inspection unit. An apparatus for inspecting a tablet package, comprising: an upper and lower guide for holding the tablet package from above and below to flatten the warpage of the tablet package at least during conveyance by the first conveyor. And a feeding device for feeding the tablet package, which is sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails and flattened, along the guide rails to the side of the second transport section. The second transport section has a plurality of transport jigs that can be circulated on a circulation path from a sending end of the first transport section to a discharge section via an inspection section, and each transport jig has a plurality of transport jigs. A support surface for supporting the tablet package is provided, and a clip for holding the tablet package against the support surface is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper and lower guide rails of the first transport section extend further from the feed end of the first transport section toward the second transport section, and are fed into the second transport section. While the tablet package is sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails and flattened, the tablet package is held by the clip of the transport jig against the support surface of the transport jig. It is configured to perform

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the upper guide rail of the first transport section is further located at the second guide than the feed end of the first transport section.
In a state where the tablet package extended to the side of the transport unit and sent to the second transport unit is flattened between the upper guide rail and the support surface of the transport jig, The package is configured to be held by the clip of the transport jig against the support surface of the transport jig.

The present invention according to claim 4, wherein the conveying jig is provided with a positioning shoulder which abuts on a rear end portion in a feed direction of the tablet package located on a supporting surface thereof, and the supporting surface of the conveying jig is provided. A pressing device for pressing the tablet package in the state before being held by the clip after holding the tablet package against the positioning shoulder of the transport jig is provided at a position along the movement path of the transport jig. It is designed to be configured as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the first conveyance, the tablet package having a warp in a free state is flattened by being sandwiched between upper and lower guide rails, and the tablet package is supplied by the feeding device. To the second transport section. or,
The second transport section transports the tablet package in a flattened state by holding the tablet package on a support surface of the transport jig by a clip provided on the transport jig.

Therefore, a tablet package that is free and warped can be placed in the first position.
In both the transport section and the second transport section, the transport can be performed in a flat and stable state. In addition, the tablet package moving in the inspection section is inspected in a flattened state in the second transport section, and can be accurately inspected in a state in which the view area of the camera is not reduced and the dead field is small. Become.

According to the present invention, when the tablet package is transferred from the first transport section to the second transport section, the tablet package is flattened by being sandwiched between upper and lower guide rails. While being held, the support jig is clamped and held on the support surface by the clip of the transport jig, and then released from the guide by the upper and lower guide rails. Therefore, in the transition stage where the tablet package is transferred from the first transport unit to the second transport unit,
The transfer posture is restrained without interruption, and the stabilization of transfer is ensured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the tablet package is transferred from the first transport section to the second transport section, the tablet package is moved between the upper guide rail and the support surface of the transport jig. While holding the flattened state while being sandwiched between them, it is nipped and held on the support surface by the clip of the transport jig, and then released from the guide by the upper guide rail. Therefore, in the transition stage in which the tablet package is transferred from the first transport section to the second transport section, its transport attitude is restrained without interruption, and the transport is stabilized.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the tablet package, which is squeezed and held on the support surface thereof by the clip of the conveyance jig, is pressed by the pressing device before the squeezing and holding. As the positioning shoulder is pressed, positioning in the feed direction is ensured. For this reason, the tablet package can be positioned at a predetermined inspection position at a predetermined inspection timing by the inspection unit, and accurate inspection can be performed.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a process of transporting a tablet package, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a transport jig and a guide rail, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the conveying jig and the guide rail, FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the presence or absence of warpage and the field of view, and FIG. 7 shows a tablet package. It is a perspective view.

The inspection device 10 is, as shown in FIG.
Supply unit 11 for supplying the tablet package 1, an inspection unit 12 for inspecting the tablet package 1, an ejection unit 13 for ejecting the tablet package 1, and a first transport unit for transporting the tablet package 1 from the supply unit 11.
14 and the tablet package 1 sent by the first transport unit 14
And a second transport unit 15 that transports the same to the discharge unit 13 via the inspection unit 12.

The supply unit 11 is configured by installing a magazine 16 that houses a large number of tablet packages 1 in a stacked manner on the first transport unit 14.

The inspection unit 12 is configured by installing a plurality of cameras 17 along an oblique upper part of the second transport unit 15.

The discharge unit 13 includes a non-defective product receiving unit 18A and a defective product receiving unit 18B arranged on the exit side of the second transport unit 15, and includes a sorting chute 19. Sorting shoot
19 is driven by a controller (not shown) based on whether foreign matter is mixed in the tablet enclosing space of the tablet package 1 imaged by the camera 17 or whether the tablet has a crack,
The package 1 that falls from the exit side of the second transport unit 15 is sorted to either the non-defective product receiving unit 18A or the defective product receiving unit 18B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first transport section 14 includes an upper guide rail 21, a lower guide rail 22, and an upper sub guide rail 2.
3. It has a lower sub guide rail 100, a feed conveyor 24, and a feed wheel 25.

The upper guide rail 21 and the upper sub guide rail 23, and the lower guide rail 22 and the lower sub guide rail 100
The tablet package 1 dispensed from one magazine 16 is sandwiched from above and below, and the package 1 is warped at least to the first position.
During the transfer by the transfer unit 14, the flattening is performed. At this time, the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22 are opposed to each other with the tablet-to-tablet region in the center of the package 1 interposed therebetween, and the upper and lower sub guide rails 23 and
100 can press both side portions of the package 1 from its upper surface.

The feed conveyor 24 has a plurality of feed claws 27 at regular intervals by an endless orbiting chain 26 located below the guide rails 21 to 23, and feeds the package 1 at the lowest position of the magazine 16. The package 1 which is paid out by the claws 27 and is flattened by being sandwiched between the above-mentioned upper guide rail 21 and upper sub-guide rail 23 and the lower guide rail 22 and lower sub-guide rail 100 is transferred to the guide rails 21 to 23, 10
Transport along 0.

The feed wheel 25 is located above the guide rails 21 to 23 and 100, is driven in synchronization with the feed conveyor 24, and has a plurality of feed claws 28 at regular intervals on the outer periphery thereof. The package 1 that has reached the transport end of the conveyor 24 is further sent to the second transport unit 15 side. The feeding wheel 25 also applies the package 1 which is sandwiched and flattened between the upper guide rail 21 and the upper sub guide rail 23 and the lower guide rail 22 and the lower sub guide rail 100 along the guide rails 21 to 23 and 100. Transport.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second transport unit 15 has a circulation conveyor 31 extending from a feed end of the first transport unit 14 by the feed wheel 25 to the discharge unit 13 via the inspection unit 12. The endless chain 32 of the circulating conveyor 31 has a plurality of conveying jigs 33 at regular intervals.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, each of the transport jigs 33 has a support surface 34 for supporting the lower surface of both side portions of the tablet package 1 on the base 35, and supports the package 1 on the base 35. A clip 36 is provided to hold the surface 34 against the surface. The clip 36 opens and closes by pushing a cam follower 37 by a clip operation cam (not shown) provided along the second transport section 15 to perform the above-described clamping operation. Each transport jig
The jig tilting cam 33 provided along the second transport section 15 is tilted by driving a cam follower 38 provided on the base 35. In the moving process in the inspection section 12, the package 1 is It is maintained in an inclined position perpendicular to the 17 optical axes.

Further, in the inspection apparatus 10, FIGS.
As shown in the drawing, guide rails 21 and 22 opposed to each other above and below the first transport unit 14 are provided by feed wheels of the first transport unit 14.
The package 1 which has been further extended from the sending end of the package 25 to the side of the second transport section 15 and has been fed into the second transport section 15.
Is held between the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22 and is flattened, and the package 1 is held by the clip 36 of the transport jig 33 against the support surface 34 of the transport jig 33. It is configured to be.

In addition, in the inspection apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the upper sub guide rail 23 of the first transport unit 14 is provided.
Also, the tablet package 1 sent from the feed end of the feeder 25 of the first feeder 14 toward the second feeder 15 further extends toward the second feeder 15, and the upper sub-guide rail 23 In a state where the package 1 is sandwiched between the support jig 33 and the support surface 34 and flattened, the package 1
The clip 36 is configured to hold the support jig 33 against the support surface 34 of the transfer jig 33.

Note that the pinching timing by the clip 36 is performed by controlling the timing of pushing the cam follower 37 by the clip operating cam.

In the inspection device 10, the transport jig 33 is
As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG.
A positioning shoulder 39 is provided which abuts on the rear end of the tablet package 1 in the feed direction positioned above, and after being transferred onto the support surface 34 of the transport jig 33 before being held by the clip 36 The tablet jig 1 in the state shown in FIG.
A pressing lever 41 for pressing against the positioning shoulder 39 is provided at a position along the movement path of the transfer jig 33. The pressing lever 41 is of a swing type, and is urged by a spring 42 in the pressing direction.

 Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

In the inspection device 10, the package 1 loaded in the magazine 16 of the supply unit 11 and warped in a free state is sandwiched between the guide rails 21 to 23 and 100, and is in a flattened state in which the warp is eliminated. , The infeed conveyor 24 of the first transport unit 14,
Then, the sheet is fed to the second transfer section 15 by the feed wheel 25.

The package 1 sent to the second transport unit 15 is held by the clips 36 of the transport jig 33 on its support surface 34 while being held flat by being sandwiched between the guide rails 21 to 23. Thereafter, the sheet is separated from the guide rails 21 to 23 and is conveyed to the discharge section 13 via the inspection section 12.

At this time, the package 1 is imaged and inspected by the camera 17 of the inspecting unit 12, and is discharged to either the non-defective receiving unit 18A or the defective receiving unit 18B of the discharging unit 13 based on the inspection result.

However, according to the above embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

The first transport unit 14 feeds the tablet package 1 in a free state in a state where the warped tablet package 1 is flattened between the upper and lower guide rails 21 to 23 and 100, and
4, and the feed wheel 25 feeds the paper from the supply unit 11 to the second transport unit 15 side. In addition, the second transfer section 15 is provided with a transfer jig 33.
The tablet package 1 is conveyed in a flattened state by holding the tablet package 1 on the support surface 34 of the conveying jig 33 by means of the clip 36 provided on the conveying jig 33.

Accordingly, the warped tablet package 1 in a free state can be conveyed in a flattened and stable state in either the first conveying section 14 or the second conveying section 15. Inspection unit 12
The tablet package 1 moving inside is inspected in a state where it is flattened by the second transport unit 15, the visual field area of the camera 17 is not narrowed, and the dead field can be inspected accurately in a small state. Become. In FIG. 6, Sa denotes a visual field area in a flattened state, and Sb denotes a visual field area in a warped state.

Also, the tablet package 1 is moved from the first transport section 14 to the second transport section.
When the tablet package 1 is transferred to the support 15, the tablet package 1 is sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22, and is kept flat by the clip 36 of the transfer jig 33. The nip is held and then released from the guide by the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22. Therefore, the tablet package 1 is the first
In the transition stage in which the sheet is transferred from the transfer unit 14 to the second transfer unit 15, the transfer posture is continuously restrained, and the stabilization of transfer is ensured.

When the tablet package 1 is transferred from the first transport unit 14 to the second transport unit 15, the tablet package 1 is moved to the upper sub guide rail.
While being flattened by being sandwiched between the support jig 23 and the support surface 34 of the transfer jig 33, the support jig is held by the clip 36 of the transfer jig 33 on the support surface 34. The guide rail 23 releases the guide. Therefore, in the transition stage in which the tablet package 1 is transferred from the first transport section 14 to the second transport section 15, the transport attitude is restrained without interruption, and the transport is stabilized.

The tablet package 1 squeezed and held on the support surface 34 by the clip 36 of the conveyance jig 33 is pressed by the pressing lever 41 at a stage before the squeezing and holding to position the shoulder 39 of the conveyance jig 33.
, Positioning in the feed direction is ensured. Therefore, the tablet package 1 can be positioned at a predetermined inspection position with respect to a predetermined inspection timing by the camera 17 of the inspection unit 12, and accurate inspection can be performed.

In the above embodiment, since the tablet package 1 at the time of imaging by the camera 17 of the inspection unit 12 is arranged obliquely with respect to the vertical line, the tablet 3 in the enclosed space of the package 1 is most affected by the action of gravity. Stabilizes without shaking in the lower position.
Therefore, the imaging state of the camera 17 can be improved, and the inspection accuracy can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a warped tablet package in a free state can be stably transported and inspected accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a process of transporting a tablet package, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a transport jig and a guide rail, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the presence or absence of warpage and the field of view, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing a tablet package. 10 ... inspection device, 11 ... supply unit, 12 ... inspection unit, 13 ... discharge unit, 14 ... first transport unit, 15 ... second transport unit, 21 ... upper guide rail, 22 ... Lower guide rail, 23 Upper guide rail, 24 Feed conveyor, 25 Feed wheel, 33 Transfer jig, 34 Support surface, Clip, 39 Positioning shoulder, 41 … Pressing lever, 100 …… Lower sub guide rail.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Kurosawa 66-2 Horikawa-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Engineering Corporation (56) References JP-A-63-163259 (JP, A) 61-38001 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 21/84-21/91

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A supply unit for supplying a tablet package; an inspection unit for inspecting the tablet package; a discharge unit for discharging the tablet package; a first transport unit for transporting the tablet package from the supply unit; A tablet package inspection device configured to include a second transport unit that transports the tablet package fed by the first transport unit to the discharge unit via the inspection unit; The one transport unit has upper and lower guide rails that flatten the warp of the tablet package at least during transport by the first transport unit, sandwiching the tablet package from above and below, and being sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails. A feeding device for feeding the tablet packages to be flattened to the side of the second transport section along the guide rails, wherein the second transport section is configured to feed the tablet package of the first transport section. It has a plurality of transport jigs that can be circulated on the circulation path from the end to the discharge unit via the inspection unit, and a support surface for supporting the tablet package is provided on each transport jig, and the tablet package is An inspection device for a tablet package which is provided with a clip for holding the holding surface against the support surface. 2. The upper and lower guide rails of the first transport section extend further from the feed end of the first transport section toward the second transport section, and the tablet package fed into the second transport section includes: The tablet package is configured to be squeezed and held against the support surface of the transport jig by the clip of the transport jig while being flattened by being sandwiched between upper and lower guide rails. The tablet package inspection device according to claim 1. 3. An upper guide rail of the first transport section, wherein
The tablet package, which extends further from the feeding end of the transport unit toward the second transport unit and is fed into the second transport unit, is sandwiched between an upper guide rail and the support surface of the transport jig. 3. The tablet package according to claim 1, wherein the tablet package is held by the clip of the transport jig against the support surface of the transport jig in a flattened state.
Inspection device for tablet package as described. 4. The transfer jig is provided with a positioning shoulder which abuts on a rear end portion of the tablet package in the feed direction located on the support surface thereof, and is transferred onto the support surface of the transfer jig. Then, a pressing device for pressing the tablet package in a state before holding by the clip against the positioning shoulder of the transport jig is provided at a position along a movement path of the transport jig. An inspection device for a tablet package according to claim 1.