JP3205102B2 - Solid preparation transport device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid product transfer device for automatically supplying solid products such as tablets and capsules from a low position hopper of a pre-process device to a high position hopper of a next process device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in the process of manufacturing solid preparations such as tablets and capsules, for example, a step of printing a predetermined symbol or the like on the surface of a solid preparation is followed by a subsequent step of inspection or PTP packaging. In the case of transport, batch processing is performed for each fixed unit amount. That is, in a device in each process, for example, a solid product printing device, a PTP packaging device, or the like, the solid product that has completed the previous process is temporarily stored in a hopper provided at a high position, and is dropped on a conveyor by using a drop due to gravity. After being arranged and subjected to predetermined processing (printing, inspection, PTP packaging, etc.), it is collected by another hopper or the like provided at a low position (packed after PTP packaging is performed).

[0003] A conventional solid preparation used for conveying (transferring) a solid preparation from a low position hopper of a pre-process apparatus to a high position hopper of a next process apparatus, for example, a conventional solid preparation disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-16815. The drug delivery device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the solid preparation that has undergone a predetermined process by the pre-process device is collected and stored in the low-position hopper 101. The low-position hopper 101 is provided with a shirt 104 that moves up and down in the vertical direction and a first inclined guide 102. Further, a bucket 103 is arranged below the first guide 102. The bucket 103 is attached to the vertical moving member 105 so as to be rotatable around, for example, a point 103b (the detailed structure is not shown for clarity). The vertical moving member 105 is attached to a vertical drive device 106 composed of a pulley and a chain or a wire. for that reason,
When the motor 112 drives the vertical driving device 106,
The vertical moving member 105 is raised and lowered in the vertical direction. Along with this, the bucket 103 is also raised and lowered in the vertical direction. At the upper part of the frame 107, a groove 108 for engaging with the pin 103a of the bucket 103 and a second inclined guide 109 are provided. Below the second guide 109, a high position hopper 110 of the next process apparatus 111 is arranged.

[0004] Next, the operation of the conventional solid drug delivery device will be described. Initially, the shutter 104 has moved upward,
The opening of the low position hopper 101 is open. The solid preparation stored inside the low position hopper 101 slides on the first guide 102 by the action of gravity and falls into the bucket 103. When a certain amount of the solid preparation falls into the bucket 103, the shutter 104 moves down, and the low-position hopper 1
The opening of 01 is closed. Thereafter, the motor 112 is activated, and the vertical moving member 105 moves up via the vertical driving device 106. As a result, the bucket 103 is lifted vertically upward. When the bucket 103 is lifted to a predetermined height, the pins 103a of the bucket 103
Engage with. Thereafter, the vertical moving member 105 continues to rise, but the movement of the bucket 103 is restricted by the engagement of the pin 103a of the bucket 103 with the groove 108, and the bucket 103 rotates clockwise around the point 103b in the figure. As shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, when the vertical moving member 105 reaches the highest position,
The bucket 103 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, and the solid preparation contained therein slides on the second guide 109 and falls into the high position hopper 110 of the next process apparatus 111. Thus, the first transfer of the solid preparation from the low position hopper 101 to the high position hopper 110 is completed. When the first transfer is completed, the motor 112 starts to rotate in the reverse direction, and the vertical moving member 105
Falls, and accordingly, the bucket 103 also rotates counterclockwise in the figure and descends. When the bucket 103 stops at the lowest position shown by the solid line in the figure, the shutter 104 moves up,
The opening of the low-position hopper 101 is opened, and the drop of the solid preparation into the bucket 103 is restarted. In this way, the second
The second delivery of the solid preparation is started. Thereafter, the above series of operations is repeated until all the solid preparations stored in the low position hopper 101 are transferred to the high position hopper 110.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional solid preparation conveying apparatus, the amount of the solid preparation which falls from the low position hopper 101 to the bucket 103 is controlled by raising and lowering the shutter 104. It had been. Therefore, if the solid preparation is bitten during the lowering of the shutter 104, the opening of the low-position hopper 101 will not be closed, and the solid preparation will be low during the raising / lowering operation of the vertical moving member 105 and the bucket 103. It will continue to fall from the position hopper 101. As a result, there has been a problem that the solid preparation may be scattered around the conventional solid preparation transport device, or the solid preparation may be caught in the vertical drive device 106 and become inoperable.

[0006] In the conventional solid preparation conveying apparatus, the vertical moving member 105 and the bucket 103 are moved up and down by the driving force of one motor 112 , and the pin 103 a is moved into the groove 108.
, The bucket 103 is configured to rotate. However, when rotating the bucket 103 by the engagement between the pin 103a and the groove 108, the pin 103a
Of the reaction force received from the slope of groove 108 by bucket 1
It cannot be used as a rotating force to rotate 03, resulting in a large loss of power. Therefore, this method is a motor
It is an overburden for the motor 112 and the motor 112
However, there is a problem that a large output is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a solid preparation transport apparatus capable of preventing troubles due to biting of a solid preparation and saving energy by a low output motor. The purpose is to get.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid preparation transport apparatus for storing a solid preparation therein.
A low-position hopper having an opening at a bottom portion, and a horizontal conveyance provided at a position lower than the opening of the low-position hopper, for receiving a solid preparation spilled from the opening, and conveying the solid preparation in a horizontal direction. Means, said horizontal transport means
Set the lower position of the downstream end to the lowest position in the vertical direction.
Movably provided, downstream of the horizontal conveying means.
A bucket for receiving the solid preparation falling from the end and temporarily storing the solid preparation therein; and driving the bucket vertically up and down between the lowest position and the highest position a vertical movement member for, the vertical moving member
A vertical drive device that drives vertically upward and downward, and a highest position for detecting that the bucket has reached the highest position.
The detection sensor and the highest position detection sensor are highest
Upon detecting the Baketsuto position, lead the Baketsuto
Rotating means for rotating in the face, and said rotating means
Receiving a solid preparation which has spilled from the Baketsuto by the rotation of the Baketsuto with a high position Hotsupa storing therein, when said Baketsuto is in the lowest position, provided near the upper end of the Baketsuto, the A storage capacity detection sensor for detecting whether or not the solid preparation stored in the bucket has reached a predetermined amount; and the storage capacity detection.
When solid preparation sensor is housed inside the Baketsuto detects that reaches a predetermined amount, by operating the vertical drive unit stops the operation of the horizontal direction transporting unit, before
The highest position detecting means detects the bucket at the highest position.
The operation of the vertical drive device is stopped when the
A control means for rotation, means, versus the vertical moving member
To be rotatable and fixed to the bucket at one end.
With a rotating shaft, and a roller at the leading end, which is the other end.
Rotating arm and the bucket contain and hold the solid formulation.
It said lead-out direction of the rotation arm is lead straight direction in the state
Temporarily fixing the rotating arm to the vertical moving member.
The bucket contains a solid preparation.
In the held state, the position of the center of gravity of the bucket is
On the same vertical line as the center of rotation of the rotating arm
And located above the center of rotation.
The rotating means moves the bucket in the vicinity of the highest position.
When raised, the roller of the rotating arm moves.
A rotating member having a vertically extending groove;
The rotating member is rotated when the
Release the rotating arm from the fixed state by the permanent magnet.
A rotation drive device for rotating the rotating member.
When the bucket reaches the highest position, the spindle rotates
Disposed substantially on the same axis as the rotation axis of the transfer arm,
By the rotation of the rotating member, the roller and the rotating member
The bucket engages with the groove via the rotating arm.
Is configured to rotate .

[0009]

The shutter is not provided at the opening at the bottom of the low-position hopper, and the solid preparation stored inside forms a bridge on a horizontal conveying means such as a belt conveyor by the action of gravity. ,Stabilize. The solid preparation which initially formed the bridge by driving the horizontal transport means is spread on the horizontal transport means and transported in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, a new solid preparation is supplied from the low position hopper to form a new bridge. The solid preparation transported by the horizontal transport means falls into the bucket from its end. The storage amount detecting means provided near the upper end of the bucket, for example, a set of photocouplers, etc., detects that a predetermined amount of the solid preparation has been stored inside the bucket by, for example, blocking the accumulated solid preparation from the light beam. To detect. The control means, such as a microcomputer, stops the power supply to the motor, for example, based on the output of the storage amount detection means, and stops the operation of the horizontal conveyance means. Thereby, no new solid formulation is supplied to the bucket. Further, the solid preparation conveyed on the horizontal conveying means remains on the horizontal conveying means as it is.
The bucket is rotatably held by the vertical moving member, and is raised and lowered in the vertical direction together with the vertical moving member. It is necessary to keep the bucket in a predetermined state with respect to the vertical moving member, that is, the opening is upward and horizontal so that the solid preparation does not fall out. For this purpose, the bucket and the rotating lever are integrated, and the rotating lever is temporarily fixed to the vertical moving member by holding means, for example, a permanent magnet. In order to transfer the solid preparation contained in the bucket to the high position hopper, the rotating means is engaged with the rotating lever at the highest position, and the bucket is rotated by rotating the rotating means. Here, the center of gravity of the bucket in a state in which the solid preparation is fully loaded is on or near the same vertical line as the rotation center of the rotating arm and above the rotation center. In other words, by setting the rotation center to a position lower than the center of gravity of the bucket, after releasing the holding force by the holding means,
The bucket rotates by itself under the action of gravity. Since the rotating means is rotated by another rotating driving means different from the vertical driving means, the rotating driving means has a torque which causes the holding force of the holding means to hold the rotating arm to the vertical moving member. Is enough.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a solid preparation transport apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. FIG. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a solid preparation transport device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part thereof,
3 and 4 are perspective views showing the operation state. FIG.
In the above, no shutter is provided in the low position hopper 1 of the pre-process apparatus, and a conveyor 2 is provided horizontally below the opening. The conveyor 2 is driven by a motor 22, a pulley 23, a belt 24 and the like. Conveyor 2
Is driven, for example, from left to right in the figure. A first guide 3 inclined at the lower right side of the conveyor 2 is provided. Further, a bucket 4 is disposed below the right side of the first guide 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The bucket 4 is held by a vertical moving member 5 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 5a. A rotating arm 7 is fixed to the shaft 5a. The bucket 4 and the rotary arm 7 are integrally fixed via a shaft 5a. A roller 8 is provided on the rotating arm 7. On the other hand, a permanent magnet 6 is fixed to the vertical moving member 5, and in the state shown in the drawing, a rotating arm 7 is provided.
Is fixed to the permanent magnet 6 by suction. Below the vertical moving member 5, a vertical driving device 10 is provided. The vertical drive device 10 includes a motor 11, a gear device 12, a vertical rail 9, and the like. The two vertical rails 9 are each geared
Rotated in the same direction synchronously by 12. Vertical moving member 5
A feed mechanism such as a ball screw (not shown in the drawings) is provided between the vertical rail 9 and the vertical rail 9. The vertical moving member 5 is vertically moved by the rotation of the vertical rail 9. You.

At the highest position of the vertical moving member 5, a rotating shaft
A rotating member 15 rotatable around 15b is provided. The rotating member 15 includes a roller 8 provided on the rotating arm 7.
It has a groove 15a and a rotating shaft 15b for engaging with the motor, and is rotated by a motor 17 via a belt 16 or the like, for example.
As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined second guide 19 and a high position hopper 20 of the next process device (not shown) are provided on the right side of the rotating member 15 in the drawing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, above the vertical driving device 10, a sensor 14 for detecting the lowest movement of the vertical moving member 5 or the bucket 4 is provided, and above the rotating member 15, the vertical moving member 5 or Sensors 18 for detecting the maximum rise of the bucket 4 are provided. As the sensors 14 and 18, for example, magnetic, electrical or optical proximity switches or the like can be used. Further, a sensor for detecting that a predetermined amount of the solid preparation is stored in the bucket 4 is provided near the upper end of the bucket 4.
13 are provided. The sensor 13 includes, for example, a pair of photocouplers 13a and 13b. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, each of a pair of opposed wall surfaces of the bucket 4 has a hole 4a.
And 4b are provided, and a pair of photocouplers 13a and 13b are provided so that the light beam passes through these holes 4a and 4b. The solid preparation that has fallen into the bucket 4 and accumulated therein closes the holes 4a and 4b, thereby forming the photocouplers 13a and 13a.
Since the output of 13b decreases (or becomes zero), it is detected that the bucket 4 contains a predetermined amount of the solid preparation. Each of the sensors 13, 14, and 18 and each of the motors 11, 17, and 22 are connected to a control device 21, respectively.

Next, the operation of the solid preparation transport device according to the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 are at the lowest position first. The solid preparation 50 stored inside the low position hopper 1 forms a bridge 51 on the conveyor 2 by the action of gravity near the opening. By the rotation of the motor 22, the solid preparation 50 on the conveyor 2 is transported rightward in the figure. Further, the solid preparation 50 falls into the bucket 4 from the right end of the conveyor 2 via the first guide 3. When the solid preparation that has fallen into the bucket 4 and deposited blocks the light beams of the photocouplers 13a and 13b of the sensor 13, the output of the sensor 13 drops rapidly. The control device 21 detects a change in the output of the sensor 13 and stops energizing the motor 22. Thereby, the conveyor 2 stops and the solid preparation in the bucket 4
50 new drops will not occur.

Next, the control device 21 starts energizing the motor 11 of the vertical drive device 10, and the motor 11 starts rotating in a predetermined direction (a direction for raising the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5). Along with this, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 start to rise in the vertical direction. When the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 rise to the vicinity of the highest position, the sensor
18 detects this and outputs a predetermined signal. When detecting a predetermined signal from the sensor 18, the control device 21 stops energizing the motor 11. Thereby, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 stop at the highest position. This state is shown in FIG. At this time, the roller 8 provided on the rotating arm 7 and the groove 15a provided on the rotating member 15 are engaged. Further, the control device 21 starts energizing the motor 17. Thereby, the motor 17 starts to rotate in a direction for rotating the rotating member 15 clockwise in FIG. 1, for example. By setting the torque of the motor 17 to be larger than the force by which the permanent magnet 6 attracts the rotating arm 7, the rotating member 15 starts rotating. The rotation of the rotating member 15 causes the roller 8 to rotate.
The rotating arm 7 and the bucket 4 engaged with the rotating member 15 via the groove 15a also start rotating. Due to the rotation of the bucket 4, the solid preparation contained in the bucket 4 is moved via the second guide 19 to the high position hopper 20 of the next process device.
Falling inside.

Thereafter, the control device 21 reverses the polarity of the power supply to the motor 17. As a result, the rotating member 15, the rotating arm 7, and the emptied bucket 4 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the rotation of the rotating arm 7 is stopped by being attracted to and abutted by the permanent magnet 6. And the control device 21
Stops the power supply to the motor 17, reverses the polarity to the motor 11 of the vertical drive device 10, and starts power supply. Motor 11
The vertical rail 9 also rotates in the reverse direction due to the reverse rotation, and the vertical moving member 5 and the bucket 4 start to descend. When the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 are lowered to the vicinity of the lowest position, the sensor 14 detects this and outputs a predetermined signal. When detecting the output from the sensor 14, the control device 21 stops energizing the motor 11. Thereby, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 stop at the lowest position.
Thus, the first transfer of the solid preparation from the low position hopper 1 to the high position hopper 20 is completed. When the first transfer of the solid preparation is completed, the control device 21 restarts the power supply to the motor 22 to start the second transfer of the solid preparation, and repeats the above operations.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the center of gravity 4c of the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation is on or near a vertical line substantially the same as the axis 5a of the bucket 4, and at a position higher than that. is there. Therefore, once the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation starts rotating, it continues to rotate in the same direction by the action of gravity. Therefore, even when the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, the torque of the motor 17 only needs to exceed the attraction force of the permanent magnet 6. Even when the empty bucket 4 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the torque of the motor 17 does not need to be very large. The permanent magnet 6 is for holding the rotating arm 7 in the vertical direction on the vertical moving member 5, but the center of gravity 4c of the bucket 4 and the axis 5a are substantially on the same vertical line, and the balance is maintained. Because it is easy to take, it is enough even if the suction force is not so strong.
Further, since the vertical driving device 10 is used only for raising and lowering the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 in the vertical direction, a device having a small driving torque as compared with the conventional device is sufficient. In the above embodiment, the permanent magnet 6 is used to hold the rotating arm 7 in the vertical direction on the vertical moving member 5, but a spring is provided between the vertical moving member 5 and the rotating arm 7, The same function can be obtained even if a stopper for restricting the rotation of the rotary arm 7 is provided on the moving member 5.

[0016]

As described above, in the solid preparation conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the start and stop of the supply of the solid preparation to the bucket are controlled by the drive of the horizontal conveying means (conveyor). After the device has been deactivated, the solid product on the horizontal transport means will not move any more undesirably, so that the solid product will not scatter around during the vertical raising and lowering of the bucket. Further, another rotation driving means different from the vertical driving means is provided, and the bucket is rotated by this rotation driving means. Therefore, the output of the vertical driving means is small enough as compared with the conventional example. Further, since the center of gravity of the bucket in a state where the solid preparation is fully loaded is located on the same vertical line as the rotation center of the rotating arm and in a direction opposite to the direction in which gravity acts, the holding means (such as a permanent magnet) is used. After releasing the holding force according to (1), the bucket rotates by itself due to the action of gravity. As a result, it suffices that the rotation driving means has a torque that can handle the holding force of the holding means. As a result, the solid preparation holding device according to the present invention can save energy as a whole device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a solid preparation transport device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the solid preparation transport device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a main part of the solid preparation transport device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a main part of the solid preparation transport device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional solid preparation transport device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Low position hopper 2 Conveyor 3 First guide 4 Bucket 5 Vertical moving member 6 Permanent magnet 7 Rotating arm 9 Vertical rail 10 Vertical driving device 13 Sensor 15 Rotating member 19 Second guide 20 High position hopper 21 Control device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 65/30-65/48 B65G 47/52 B65G 47/56-47/62

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A low-position hopper having an opening at the bottom for storing a solid preparation therein, and a solid preparation provided at a position lower than the opening of the low-position hopper and receiving the solid preparation spilling from the opening. , The solid
A horizontal conveying means for conveying the agent in the horizontal direction, and a lower position of a lower end of the downstream side end of the horizontal conveying means.
The lower position is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction,
A bucket for receiving the solid preparation falling from the downstream end of the directional conveying means and temporarily storing the solid preparation therein; and a vertical direction between the lowermost position and the uppermost position for the bucket. A vertical moving member for vertically driving the vertical moving member, and a vertical moving member for vertically driving the vertical moving member in the vertical direction.
A driving device, and a top for detecting that the bucket has reached the highest position.
An ascending position detecting sensor, and the bucket in which the ascending position detecting sensor is the ascending position.
Rotating means for rotating the bucket in a vertical plane when detecting the bucket, a high position hopper for receiving and storing the solid preparation spilled from the bucket by the rotation of the bucket by the rotating means , and An accommodation amount detection sensor provided near the upper end of the bucket when the bucket is at the lowermost position, for detecting whether or not the solid preparation accommodated in the bucket has reached a predetermined amount; When the storage amount detection sensor detects that the solid preparation stored in the bucket has reached a predetermined amount, the operation of the horizontal conveying means is stopped and the vertical driving device is operated to detect the highest position. Means before the highest position
When the bucket is detected, the operation of the vertical driving device is stopped.
Control means for stopping and rotating the rotating means , provided rotatably with respect to the vertical moving member,
Having a rotating shaft fixed to the bucket, and being the other end
A rotating arm having a roller at an end thereof; and the rotating arm in a state where the bucket holds and holds a solid preparation.
The rotating arm so that the extending direction of the arm is vertical.
The ingredients and permanent magnet for temporarily secured to the vertical movement member
In the state where the bucket contains and holds the solid preparation,
The position of the center of gravity of the bucket is during rotation of the rotating arm.
Substantially on the same vertical line as the center, and
And the rotating means moves the bucket up near the highest position.
When the roller of the rotating arm moves
A rotating member having a groove extending in a vertical direction, and the bucket
When the rotating member comes to the highest position, it rotates
The rotation arm is released from the fixed state by the permanent magnet and turned.
A rotating drive device for rotating the rotating member , wherein the rotating shaft of the rotating member is configured such that the bucket is at the highest position.
When it reaches substantially the same axis as the rotation axis of the rotation arm
And the roller is moved forward by the rotation of the rotating member.
The rotating member is engaged with the groove through the rotating arm.
A solid preparation transport device configured to rotate the bucket .