JP3609826B2 - Drug packaging apparatus and drug packaging method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medicine packaging device and a medicine packaging method .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a medicine packaging apparatus for packaging medicine, a hopper into which the medicine is put and a heat roller or a thermocompression bonding apparatus that draws and heat-seals a wrapping paper wound around a cylindrical body is provided, and the medicine is packaged. The one that wraps the medicine by putting it on paper and heat-sealing or thermocompression-bonding the wrapping paper containing the medicine with a heat roller is used.

  However, according to the conventional medicine packaging device, the material and thickness of the wrapping paper are manually determined, and when the wrapping paper is replaced, the material and thickness are the same as before the replacement. A person must confirm whether or not it is identical to the paper.

  Further, according to the conventional medicine packaging device, the temperature of heat welding varies depending on the material and thickness of the wrapping paper, but the temperature of the heat roller is not adapted to the material and thickness of the wrapping paper. There is a problem that the wrapping paper is not correctly welded.

  Furthermore, in order to change the temperature of the heat roller, it is necessary to change the voltage applied to the heat roller. However, since the change is made based on empirical knowledge depending on the use situation, it is difficult for the user to set this voltage change. Therefore, it must be set by a specialized worker such as a manufacturer of the medicine packaging apparatus, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. In the medicine packaging apparatus, the wrapping paper is identified to ensure the temperature of heat welding suitable for the material, thickness, etc. of the wrapping paper. And it makes it a subject to enable it to set easily.

In order to solve the above problems, a medicine packaging apparatus according to the present invention comprises a medicine feeding means for placing a medicine on a wrapping paper, and a heat welding means for thermally welding and sealing the wrapping paper loaded with the medicine. A medicine packaging apparatus comprising: an identifier indicating at least one of material, thickness, and width of a wrapping paper provided on a paper tube of the wrapping paper , and reading means for reading the identifier; and the reading means And a temperature control means for setting the temperature of the heat welding means in correspondence with the identifier paper information read in step (b).

Further, the medicine packaging method according to the present invention is a medicine packaging method in which a medicine is put into a wrapping paper, and the wrapping paper is thermally welded and sealed by a heat welding means, and the paper tube of the wrapping paper Is provided with an identifier indicating at least one piece of information on the material, thickness, and width of the wrapping paper, the identifier is read by the reading means, and the temperature of the heat welding means is set corresponding to the wrapping paper information of the read identifier It is characterized by doing.

  In particular, the identifier is preferably made of a permanent magnet.

  Further, it is preferable that a plurality of permanent magnets are attached at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the reading means reads the wrapping paper information according to the attachment angle of the permanent magnets.

  The permanent magnet is preferably on at least one end side of the paper tube.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the permanent magnet is embedded in the paper tube.

  According to the present invention, since the temperature of the heat welding can be appropriately controlled by reading the identifier in accordance with the type of the wrapping paper, the welding can be reliably performed without causing insufficient welding. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the medicine packaging apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing the vicinity of the paper tube drum of FIG.

  The medicine packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a substantially cylindrical hollow portion 10a provided at a substantially central portion of a wrapping paper 10 wound around a substantially cylindrical paper tube 9. A paper tube drum 7 that can be rotated to discharge 10, a brake plate 8 as a wrapping paper control means for controlling the speed at which the wrapping paper 10 is discharged, and a hopper 1 for leading the wrapping paper 10 to the hopper 1 There are provided a roller 6, a hopper 1 as a medicine feeding means for feeding the medicine into the wrapping paper 10, a heater 2 as a heat welding means (thermocompression bonding means), and an operation panel (not shown). Yes. As the wrapping paper, one in which a synthetic resin such as polyethylene is coated on one side such as glassine paper or cellophane is used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the heater 2 pulls the wrapping paper 10, whereby the paper tube drum 7 rotates to release the wrapping paper 10 from the wound state. That is, the paper tube drum 7 is not provided with a driving device for rotating the paper tube drum 7 itself.

  The paper tube drum 7 may be provided with a known paper breakage detection pin. The paper breakage detection pin can detect the breakage of the paper 10 when the paper 10 wound around the paper tube 9 is mounted on the paper drum 7.

  Also, on one side of the wrapping paper 10, that is, on the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wrapping paper information such as the material and thickness of the wrapping paper or the temperature to be set appropriately for welding is provided. A symbol 11 (represented by a combination of lowercase alphabets in FIG. 2) is printed as an example of an identifier to be displayed. The symbol 11 is printed by irradiating near ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 300 to 400 nm. For example, a fluorescent paint is used which emits light and is visible only when it is used.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the medicine packaging device according to the present invention emits near ultraviolet rays so as to irradiate the side surface of the wrapping paper 10 on which the symbol 11 is printed. 5 and an image sensor 4 as a reading means for receiving the symbol 11 emitted from the black light 5 by emitting near-ultraviolet rays and reading the symbol 11 are provided in the vicinity of the packaging paper 10. As a means for irradiating near ultraviolet rays, a xenon lamp with a filter or an ultraviolet LED can be used.

  The medicine packaging apparatus is provided with a microcomputer (not shown in FIG. 1), and stores the packaging paper information of the packaging paper that is preferably used in the medicine packaging apparatus. Then, the data related to the symbol 11 read by the image sensor 4 is transmitted to the microcomputer. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship of the microcomputer 12. Hereinafter, the microcomputer 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a heater 2 is connected to the microcomputer 12 as shown in FIG. 3, and an appropriate temperature of the heater 2 is set in advance for each symbol 11, that is, for each piece of wrapping paper 10. The temperature of the heater 2 is set corresponding to the symbol 11 stored and read by the image sensor 4.

  Second, as shown in FIG. 3, the microcomputer 12 is connected to the brake plate 8 so that the paper feeding speed when the wrapping paper 10 is discharged from the paper tube drum 7 and drawn into the heater 2 is adjusted. It is preset and stored as a predetermined speed. Therefore, the pull-in speed of the wrapping paper 10 by the heater is substantially equal to the paper feed speed.

  The microcomputer 12 detects the reading speed (described later) of the symbol 11 input from the image sensor 4 with the microcomputer 12, the paper feeding speed becomes the predetermined speed, and the tension of the wrapping paper 10 is kept constant. Thus, the strength of the pressing force of the brake plate 8 against the wrapping paper 10 is controlled.

  That is, in the present medicine packaging apparatus, since the packaging paper 10 is fed by the heater 2 pulling in the packaging paper 10, the remaining amount of the packaging paper 10 is reduced and the weight applied to the paper tube drum 7 is reduced. Since the tension tends to decrease and the paper feed tends to be accelerated when the weight becomes light, the control of the paper feed speed can be achieved by controlling the strength of the pressing force of the brake plate 8.

A method of packaging a medicine by the medicine packaging apparatus configured as described above will be described below.
First, the paper tube drum 7 around which the wrapping paper 10 is wound is attached to a predetermined position, and the wrapping paper 10 is attached to the position of the roller 6. Then, the switches of the black light 5 and the image sensor 4 are turned on by a switch or the like attached to an operation panel or the like that can be operated by the user.

  The image sensor 4 is set so as to always receive images, and the image sensor 4 reads the symbol 11 of the packaging paper 10 and transmits the data to the microcomputer 12. The microcomputer 12 identifies the wrapping paper information represented by the symbol 11 read by the image sensor 4, and if it differs from the wrapping paper information stored in the microcomputer 12 in advance, the microcomputer 12 After a display signal is issued so as to display an error on a display device (not shown) as alarm means attached to the device, the operation of the medicine packaging device is stopped.

  As described above, when the symbol 11 read by the image sensor 4 matches the one stored in the microcomputer 12, the paper feed speed is detected next. That is, the microcomputer 12 detects the reading speed at which the symbol 11 is read, in other words, the interval (timing) at which the data of the symbol 11 is transmitted to the microcomputer 12, and the detected reading speed. Is detected within a predetermined speed range.

  That is, the symbol 11 is a character or barcode printed on one side of the wrapping paper 10 in the diametrical direction as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Or it is the arrangement | positioning which the space | interval of barcodes has spread. Here, each set of barcodes is printed in a format that can be read by a normal barcode reader, with each of the thick line segment, the thin line segment, and the blank portion constituting the set being parallel to each other. Has been. Therefore, the length of the space between characters or barcodes differs depending on whether the position where characters or the like are printed is closer to the outer periphery or closer to the inner periphery.

  Therefore, by detecting the length of the interval portion, the speed of the wrapping paper 10 can be indirectly detected. That is, the microcomputer 12 serves as a speed detecting means for detecting the reading speed at which the image sensor 4 reads the symbol 11.

  Here, the control of the medicine packaging apparatus by the microcomputer 12 after detecting whether the reading speed is changed and the reading speed is a predetermined speed will be described.

  First, when the reading speed at which the symbol 11 is read exceeds a predetermined speed range, for example, when the speed is high, the brake plate 8 is pressed against the wrapping paper 10 so that the reading speed is within the predetermined speed range. If the pressure is adjusted to be increased and the predetermined speed range is not exceeded, the wrapping paper 10 is discharged at the same speed.

  When the reading speed is slower than the predetermined speed, adjustment is performed to weaken the pressing force of the brake plate 8 and the wrapping paper 10 is discharged.

  Further, when the reading speed exceeds the predetermined speed range, the microcomputer 12 calculates the remaining amount of the wrapper paper from the reading speed and the time required from the start of the discharge of the wrapper paper. When the reading speed exceeds the predetermined speed range and the predetermined time is exceeded, the remaining amount of the wrapping paper is divided into several stages and displayed, and the remaining amount continues the wrapping welding. When it becomes insufficient, an error is displayed on the display device (not shown).

  In order to detect the remaining amount, an identifier is not provided at the position corresponding to the predetermined number of turns from the start of winding of the wrapped wrapper, and the predetermined number of turns is determined. It is possible to confirm that there is no remaining amount when the predetermined number of turns is reached (when no identifier is detected). As another means, a specific identifier can be set at a predetermined number of turns, and the remaining amount can be displayed step by step when the specific identifier is detected.

  By adjusting the pressing force of the brake plate 8 in this way, it is possible to prevent the wrapping paper 10 from being loosened or tensioned, and the tension of the wrapping paper 10 is kept substantially constant. Therefore, it is unlikely to cause a defect such as a shift in the welding position, which has conventionally occurred due to unstable tension of the wrapping paper 10 wound around the paper tube drum 7, and improves the packaging accuracy. be able to.

  Next, if the reading speed at which the image sensor 4 reads the symbol 11 is within a predetermined speed range, the medicine is fed from the hopper 1 to the wrapping paper, and the wrapping paper 10 is conveyed to the heater 2 side.

  The temperature of the heater 2 is set by the microcomputer 12 by the symbol 11 read by the image sensor 4 and is controlled to a temperature suitable for the material of the wrapping paper 10, and the temperature of the heater 2 thus controlled is controlled. The wrapping paper 10 is conveyed, and the medicine is sealed in the wrapping paper 10. As described above, since the heater is controlled by the microcomputer 12 at a temperature corresponding to the material and thickness of the wrapping paper, the welding can be performed correctly without causing insufficient welding.

  The microcomputer 12 also serves as temperature control means for setting and controlling the temperature of the heater 2 in this way.

  In this way, the medicine is packaged by the medicine packaging device.

  In this embodiment, the material of a plurality of wrapping papers is stored in advance in the microcomputer 12 as predetermined wrapping paper information. However, depending on the type of medicine, the material of the wrapping paper to be packaged is determined in advance. In this case, an identifier indicating the determined material is stored in the microcomputer 12, and an error different from the stored identifier is read by the image sensor. Can also be displayed. At this time, the operation of the medicine packaging device may be stopped.

  In this way, by controlling the operation of the medicine packaging device according to the material of the wrapping paper, the medicine can be surely packaged on the correct wrapping paper according to the kind of medicine.

  In addition, the medicine packaging device of the above embodiment is provided with a printing device that prints the dosing time and the like on the wrapping paper, and the microcomputer 12 stores the print settings such as the print position for each symbol 11 in advance. The microcomputer 12 can automatically set the print setting corresponding to the type of paper wrapper. That is, the microcomputer 12 can also serve as a print control means.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the microcomputer 12 performs all the setting of the heater temperature, the adjustment of the discharge amount of the packing paper, the setting of the printing position, etc. by reading the identifier of the packing paper. Setting is not necessarily performed, and the microcomputer 12 may be set so that at least one of the above settings is performed.

  In FIG. 1, the image sensor 4 is installed on the front side of FIG. 1, and the black light 5 is installed on the back side. However, the positional relationship between the image sensor and the black light may be the reverse of FIG. , May be arranged one above the other.

  In the embodiment, the reading unit is formed of an image sensor. However, the reading unit can be appropriately changed, for example, a light receiving element such as a photodiode.

  When using photodiodes in this way, for example, by using two photodiodes and indicating the identifier by a combination of a line segment and a blank like a barcode, the presence or absence of a line segment in the two photodiodes If the interval is detected, the reading unit can be configured at a lower cost than the reading unit configured by an image sensor.

  The number of photodiodes is not limited to the above two, and can be changed as appropriate. The method of reading the identifier can also be changed as appropriate.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the black light that irradiates ultraviolet rays is provided in the medicine packaging device, and the identifier emitted by irradiating the black light to the wrapping paper is read by the image sensor as the reading unit. The reading means is not limited to this. The reading means can be changed according to the form of the identifier. For example, if the identifier is formed by a barcode, the reading means can be a barcode reading device, and it is not necessary to provide a black light.

  Further, as the reading means, for example, an image processing apparatus can be applied as an apparatus that takes in an identifier, compares it with an identifier stored in advance, and detects the meaning of the symbol when they match.

  Further, the identifier is not provided on the wrapper paper by printing. For example, when the synthetic resin for heat welding is applied to glassine paper to form the wrapper paper, the edge portion of the wrapper paper is used. For example, the fluorescent paint may be selectively provided, or the fluorescent paint may be formed in the shape of an identifier and attached to the edge of the wrapping paper body 10a.

  Further, the identifier is not limited to the combination of alphabets as shown in FIG. 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the identifier may be formed by a geometric symbol 11a such as a circle or a triangle. As shown in Fig. 5, it can be changed as appropriate, for example, it can be formed with a barcode 11b, or it can be formed with a logo 11c such as a company name as shown in FIG. If it is.

  Note that the same symbol arrangement such as the logo 11c shown in FIG. 5 can be used as an identifier in common for all different types of wrapping paper. In this case, the material and thickness of the wrapping paper 10 are used. By making the character spacing and size of the symbol arrangement such as a logo different for each type and determining the type by the reading means, it can serve as an identifier.

  Further, the ink for printing the identifier is not limited to a fluorescent material such as a fluorescent paint, and may be a normal black ink, a magnetic ink, or the like.

  However, if the identifier is made of a fluorescent material such as the above-mentioned fluorescent paint, even if printing is performed on the wrapping paper, the identifier does not affect the printing, such as blocking the printing, and the packaging looks good. There is an advantage that paper can be formed.

  Further, the wrapping paper information indicated by the identifier is not limited to the above-described material, thickness, welding temperature, and the like, and can be appropriately added or changed as long as it is information about the wrapping paper, such as the width of the wrapping paper. Furthermore, the wrapping paper information may be information including at least one of the material, thickness, width, and the like of the wrapping paper, rather than all the information described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the identifier is printed on the side surface of the wrapping paper wound in a substantially cylindrical shape, but the printing position of the identifier is not limited to the side surface. For example, as shown in FIG. It may be the side edge 10b on one surface. However, at this time, as in the case shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the space between the identifiers is dense on the inner peripheral side when the wrapping paper is wound around the paper tube drum (see FIG. 6). (B)), an arrangement in which the printed material is wound so that it is sparse on the outer peripheral side ((b) in FIG. 6), and the spacing between characters or barcodes increases toward the outer peripheral side of the wrapping paper 10 And

  In addition, the identifier may be printed on both side edges, the center of the surface, or the like, and may be printed not only on one surface but also on both surfaces.

  When printing is performed as described above, the installation position of the identifier reading means may be changed according to the position where the identifier is printed.

  Further, as a form of providing the identifier, as shown in FIG. 7B, the permanent magnet 21 is provided on the end surface of the paper tube 9, and the magnetic detection means 22 such as a Hall sensor as the reading means is provided as described above. The drug packaging apparatus can also be configured by being disposed so as to face the paper tube 9 so that the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 21 can be detected.

  In this case, the combination of the number and polarity of the permanent magnets 21, the magnitude of the magnetic force, the magnitude of the magnetic force, the interval, etc. for each type of the wrapping paper 10, etc. And each set corresponds to each identifier on a one-to-one basis, and according to the setting, the permanent magnet 21 is attached to the side surface or end surface of the paper tube 9 (one end portion of the circumferential curved surface). By disposing, the Hall sensor can digitally read the magnetic field and detect it as a reading pattern, and therefore, the type of the wrapping paper can be identified by the reading pattern. In order to provide the permanent magnet 21 in the paper tube 9, it can be embedded in the paper tube 9, or a so-called sheet magnet can be used.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, a plurality of permanent magnets 21 are provided on both end faces of the paper tube 9, and the number of one end side 21a and the other end side 21b, the magnitude of the magnetic force, and It is also possible to set the mounting angle ψ to be different. That is, the information amount of the reading pattern is increased by changing the mounting angle ψ, for example, 0 ° and 60 ° on the one end 21a and 0 ° and 90 ° on the other end 21b. Since an amount of information sufficient to represent the paper information can be set in the paper tube drum 7, it is possible to set the wrapping paper information while minimizing an increase in parts cost.

  As described above, when both end faces are used, the amount of information that can be set by the arrangement of the identifiers increases, and various types of wrapping paper can be handled. When the paper tube 9 is attached to the paper tube drum 7, there is an advantage that a paper tube suitable for the medicine packaging apparatus can be identified, an appropriate wrapping paper can be identified, and an appropriate attachment state can be confirmed.

  Further, for such a permanent magnet 21, the magnetic detection means 22 as the reading means 4 is provided close to the paper tube 9 as in the case of the image sensor as a means for reading the magnetic information. As shown in FIG. 7A, a permanent magnet 23 for focusing the magnetic field on the permanent magnet 21 can be provided in the vicinity of the magnetic detection means 22. Here, the vicinity may be, for example, the back side of the magnetic detection means 22 when viewed from the permanent magnet 21, and the distance from the permanent magnet 21 can affect the magnetic field by the permanent magnet 21 according to the magnetic strength of the permanent magnet 21. This means that it is only necessary to be set.

  By providing the permanent magnet 23 for focusing the magnetic field on the permanent magnet 21 in this way, the permanent magnet 21 can set an amount of information sufficient to represent the wrapping paper information. By exhibiting the action of attracting and focusing the magnetic field (line of magnetic force) by the magnetic field, there is an advantage that the magnetic detection means 22 can reliably detect the magnetic information represented by the permanent magnet 21.

  The permanent magnet 21 can also be used for paper feed speed detection. In this case, the read pattern is repeatedly detected, but there is an advantage that the paper feed speed can be easily detected by detecting the repetition cycle. As another form of identifier, a metal piece (not shown) may be used instead of the permanent magnet 21, and a metal detection means may be provided instead of the magnetic detection means.

  As described above, since the identifier is provided at a predetermined position of the wrapping paper main body for packaging the medicine, the wrapping paper can be specified in units including the wrapping paper main body, so that hygiene management and inventory management can be easily performed. . When the identifier is provided on the end face of the paper tube, the wrapping paper can be specified in units including the paper tube 9. Therefore, it is convenient for production management or the like in which the paper tube 9 is recycled.

  The heat welding means is not limited to the above-described heater, and can be appropriately changed, for example, a thermocompression bonding apparatus generally used conventionally, such as a pressure bonding sealing apparatus.

  Further, when an error occurs, the error is displayed on the display device in the above embodiment, but the alarm means can be appropriately changed such as a buzzer.

  If a wrapping paper with an identifier is manufactured and sold in a specific place such as a factory, this identifier can be used for manufacturing management like a manufacturing lot number, the sales route can be grasped, hygiene management and Inventory management becomes easy.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the chemical | medical agent packaging apparatus which concerns on this invention. The principal part expansion perspective view of FIG. The block diagram which shows the connection relation of a microcomputer. (A) and (B) are perspective views showing still another embodiment of the identifier. The perspective view which shows other embodiment of an identifier. (A) and (B) are perspective views showing another embodiment of the wrapping paper provided with the identifier, (A) shows the outer peripheral side, and (B) shows the inner peripheral side. (A) and (B) are perspective views showing other embodiments of the wrapping paper provided with the identifier, (A) shows the state with the wrapping paper, and (B) shows the state without the wrapping paper. .

Explanation of symbols

  1 ... hopper, 2 ... heater, 4 ... image sensor, 7 ... paper tube drum, 8 ... brake plate, 9 ... paper tube, 10 ... paper wrapper, 11 ... symbol, 12 ... microcomputer, 21 ... permanent magnet, 22 ... Magnetic detection means

Claims (6)

Drug packaging comprising a drug loading means (1) for loading a drug into the wrapping paper (10), and a heat welding means (2) for thermally welding and sealing the wrapping paper (10) loaded with the drug An apparatus (11) is provided with an identifier (11) indicating at least one piece of information on the material, thickness, and width of the wrapping paper on the paper tube (9) of the wrapping paper (10). A reading means (4) for reading and a temperature control means for setting the temperature of the heat welding means (2) corresponding to the wrapping paper information of the identifier (11) read by the reading means (4) are provided. A pharmaceutical packaging device characterized by that. The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the identifier (11) comprises a permanent magnet (21). The medicine packaging device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of permanent magnets (21) are attached at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the reading means (4) reads the wrapping paper information according to the attachment angle of the permanent magnet (21). The medicine packaging device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the permanent magnet (21) is located on at least one end side of the paper tube (9). The medicine packaging device according to claim 4, wherein the permanent magnet (21) is embedded in the paper tube (9). A medicine packaging method in which a medicine is put into a wrapping paper (10), and the wrapping paper (10) is thermally welded and sealed by means of heat welding means (2), the paper tube of the wrapping paper (10) (9) is provided with an identifier (11) indicating at least one of the material, thickness and width of the wrapping paper, the identifier (11) is read by the reading means (4), and the identifier (11) read A medicine packaging method, characterized in that the temperature of the heat welding means (2) is set corresponding to the packaging paper information.

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