JP4070848B2

JP4070848B2 - Substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus and substantially cylindrical article dispensing method

Info

Publication number: JP4070848B2
Application number: JP27470197A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 和樹土井; 昌史田村
Original assignee: Takazono Corp
Current assignee: Takazono Corp
Priority date: 1996-10-08
Filing date: 1997-10-07
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-07
Also published as: JPH10167452A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、物品の払い出し装置及び略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法に関する。さらに詳しくは、略円筒状の物品を連続して払い出すことができる、略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置及び略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、注射剤等の物品の払い出し装置の一例として、実開平６−６５３１１号公報に記載されているものがある。
【０００３】
前記従来の物品の払い出し装置は、図７に示すように、収容棚２１と、排出口２４と、収容溝３０と、ピッキングロータ２９と、払出部３２とから構成されており、次のように配置されている。
【０００４】
物品としての注射剤２３を直立状態で一列に収容した収容棚２１を二個、排出口２４が同一円周上にある状態に設け、注射剤２３を一個だけ収容することができる収容溝３０を外周に開設したピッキングロータ２９を前記円周に近接して回転自在に設けている。さらに、前記収容溝３０の回転軌跡途中に収容溝３０の物品を払い出す払出部３２を設けている。
【０００５】
前記物品の払い出し装置による払い出し方法は、次の通りである。
【０００６】
まず、ピッキングロータ２９が回転し、一方の排出口２４に収容溝３０が対向する位置までくると、収容溝３０が空であれば排出口２４に待機した注射剤２３が押し出され、収容溝３０に移載する。この状態でピッキングロータ２９が更に回転し、他方の収容棚２１の排出口２４に到来しても、すでに収容溝３０に注射剤２３が収容されているため、その排出口２４に待機している注射剤２３は収容溝３０に移れずに待機する。
【０００７】
次に、更にピッキングロータ２９が回転し、収容溝３０が払出部３２の開口部３３にくると、収容溝３０に収容されていた注射剤２３はロータ載置台の底面が開口されることによって開口部３３から落下し、注射剤２３は払い出しシュートを経て排出される。
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、前記従来の物品の払い出し装置では、上述のように収容棚２１に注射剤２３を整列状態に並べる時間がかかるため、作業性が悪いという問題がある。
【０００９】
また、前記従来の物品の払い出し装置では、物品を直立状態にするため、注射剤２３が小さい場合には安定が悪く、収容溝３０に注射剤２３を収容する際に傾いて注射剤が破損するという問題もある。
【００１０】
本発明は、以上のような問題点を解決するためになされたもので、作業性よく、且つ物品の種類、大きさを問わず物品を破損せずに払い出すことができる、略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置及び略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法を提供することにある。
【００１１】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は上記課題を解決すべくなされたものであり、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置としの特徴は、請求項１に記載される如く、収容部(９)に収容された略円筒状の物品を払出口（６）から一つずつ払出すようにした払い出し装置であって、水平方向に対して所定角度（α）だけ傾けた受け台（４）上に、鉛直方向に対して該所定角度（α）と同角度だけ傾けた中心軸を有するように円筒状の外枠部（５）が設置され、該外枠部（５）内で且つ受け台（４）上に、鉛直方向に対して前記所定角度（α）と同角度だけ傾斜した軸を回転軸として回転可能な外輪ローター（３）が設けられ、該外輪ローター（３）内で鉛直方向を回転軸として回転可能な収容部材（１）が設けられ、前記外輪ローター（３）と収容部材（１）とは異なる速度で相対的に回転可能に構成され、外輪ローター（３）の内側面（３ｃ）と収容部材（１）上部に囲まれた領域が前記収容部（９）とされ、外輪ローター（３）の最上部付近に対応した位置の外枠部（５）に前記払出口（６）が開口されており、収容部材（１）の上面は円錐形の傾斜面（１ｄ）とされて該収容部材（１）の外端縁（１ｂ）は、払出口（６）側で外輪ローター（３）の内側面（３ｃ）と略接すべく位置し且つ払出口（６）と対向する位置で外輪ローター（３）の内縁（３ａ）と略接すべく位置してなり、外輪ローター（３）の上面は、該外輪ローター（３）の回転軸に垂直な方向に対して前記所定角度（α）に比べて大きな一定角度（β）だけ傾斜させて外縁（３ｂ）が内縁（３ａ）よりも低くなるよう傾斜した点にある。
【００１２】
ここで略円筒状の物品とは、少なくとも一部にほぼ円筒の部分を有する物品を意味し、例えば注射剤、試験管等とすることができる。
【００１３】
前記略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、略円筒状の物品を無整列に収容部９に収容し、払出手段を収容部９の外周で回転させることにより収容部９の略円筒状の物品を払出部８より払い出す。このように、略円筒状の物品を無整列に収容可能であるから、物品を整列する作業工程を省略することができる。
【００１４】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項２に記載される如く、前記収容部へ物品を投入可能な投入部１１が投入量に応じて物品の投入を制御可能に設けられていることが好ましく、これにより収容部９に物品を適量投入することができる。従って収容部９に許容量以上に略円筒状の物品を投入することがない。
【００１５】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項３に記載される如く、前記物品の外周への移動を補助する撹拌手段が前記収容部９に設けられていることが好ましく、このことにより物品をより容易に外周方向へ移動させ、払い出し手段によって的確に払い出すことができるよう払い出し手段に物品を載置することが可能である。
【００１６】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項４に記載される如く、前記収容部９で収容されている略円筒状の物品の残量を検知する残量検知手段が設けられてなることが好ましく、このことにより残量検知手段により残量を検知し、残量が所定量以下であることを作業者に知らせることができる。
【００１７】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項５に記載される如く、前記収容部９に前記物品の破損を防止するための破損防止手段が設けられていることが好ましく、このことにより収容部９に収容されている物品が容易に破損することを防止することができる。
【００１８】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項６に記載される如く、前記払出口６から略円筒状の物品が上下方向に複数払い出されることを防止すべく、略円筒状の物品を一つずつ誘導する誘導手段１５が設けられてなることが好ましく、このことにより、物品を確実に一つずつ払出手段から払い出すべく、物品を誘導することができる。
【００１９】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項７に記載される如く、前記誘導手段１５により誘導された略円筒状の物品を払出口６から一つずつ払い出すべく開放可能で、且つ略円筒状の物品が一つ払い出されると他の物品が払い出されることを防止すべく閉鎖される開閉手段１６が払出部８と外輪ローター３の境界に設けられてなることが好ましく、このことにより複数の物品が一度に払い出されることを防止し、物品を確実に一つずつ払出手段から払出部８へ払い出すことができる。
【００２０】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項８に記載される如く、前記開閉手段１６が開放された後、外輪ローター３から略円筒状の物品が払い出されたか否かを検知すべく払出検知手段が払出口６に設けられ、該払出検知手段が略円筒状の物品を検知すると前記開閉手段１６が閉鎖されてなることが好ましく、このことにより物品が払い出されていない場合に開閉手段１６が閉鎖されることを防止することができ、物品が一つ払い出されたときのみ開閉手段１６が閉鎖されることになる。
【００２１】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、請求項９に記載される如く、前記払出口６から払い出された略円筒状の物品を複数個貯留可能で、且つ貯留した物品を一つずつ払い出し可能な貯留部１４が設けられていることが好ましく、このことにより払出部８から払い出した物品を貯留部に貯留することができ、さらに要求に応じて貯留部から前記貯留された物品を一つずつ次の工程へ払い出すことができる。
【００２２】
本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法としての特徴は、請求項１０に記載される如く、
収容部(９)に収容された略円筒状の物品を払出口（６）から一つずつ払出す払い出し方法であって、
鉛直方向に対して所定角度（α）だけ傾斜した軸を回転軸とした外輪ローター（３）と該外輪ローター（３）内で鉛直方向を回転軸とした収容部材（１）とを、鉛直方向に対して該所定角度（α）と同角度だけ傾けた中心軸を有するように設置された円筒状の外枠部（５）内で異なる速度で相対的に回転させて、外輪ローター（３）の内側面（３ｃ）と収容部材（１）上部とで囲まれた収容部（９）に投入された物品を、収容部材（１）の上面である傾斜面（１ｄ）に沿ってその外端縁（１ｂ）側へ移動させ、収容部材（１）の外端縁（１ｂ）と外輪ローター（３）の内縁（３ａ）とが同じ高さである部分から物品を外輪ローター（３）の傾斜した上面へ自重によって載せ、外輪ローター（３）を回転させてその上面に載っている物品を、外輪ローター（３）の、外縁側に向けて下傾斜した上面によって、外枠部（５）に設けた払出口（６）から自重によって排出する点にある。
このように、略円筒状の物品を無整列に収容するので、物品を整列する工程を省略することができる。従って、作業効率よく物品を収容した後、払い出すことができる。
【００２３】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の一実施形態について図面に基づいて説明する。図１は本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の一実施形態を示す斜視図であり、図２は本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の一実施形態を示す断面図である。略円筒状の物品としては注射剤、試験管等が考えられるが、以下の実施形態については、略円筒状の物品の例として注射剤を払い出す場合について説明する。
【００２４】
本実施形態における略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置は、装置本体１２上に水平方向から所定角度α傾けた状態で固定して設けられる受け台４が設置され、受け台４上に略円筒状の外枠部５が設置されている。更に、該外枠部５内で且つ受け台４上に、鉛直方向から前記所定角度α傾斜した軸を回転軸として回転可能なドーナツ状の外輪ローター３が設けられ、該外輪ローター３内で鉛直方向を回転軸として回転可能な円錐形の収容部材１とが設けられている。尚、外輪ローター３の最上部（図１に於けるＬ部）付近の外枠部５には払出口６が開口されており、払出口６から取り出された注射剤１０を該払出口６の外側に設置されている払出部８より払い出すことが可能である。
また、該払出部８の外側には貯留部１４が設けられており、払出部８から払い出された注射剤１０を複数個貯留することができる。このように貯留された注射剤１０は、処方箋の要求に応じて前記貯留部１４から一つずつ払い出すことが可能である。
【００２５】
次に、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置を構成する部位について詳しく説明する。
【００２６】
まず、収容部材１は、円錐形（図２に示すように断面が三角形）に形成されており、その下部は内輪ローター２と一体となっている。前記内輪ローター２は鉛直方向を回転軸として回転可能な円筒状に設けられている。前記内輪ローター２は、該内輪ローター２を回転させるための駆動装置、例えばモーター７に接続されている。従って、収容部材１は内輪ローター２と同様にモーター７によって鉛直方向を回転軸として回転する。尚、前記収容部材１の半径は、注射剤１０の底面の直径及び注射剤１０の長さから定められている。
【００２７】
次に前述の収容部材１の外周に、収容部材１の外端縁１ｂと平面視わずかな間隔をあけて、払い出し手段として前記外輪ローター３が回転可能に設置されている。ここで、前記わずかな間隔とは、収容部材１と外輪ローター３の間に注射剤１０が落ち込まず外輪ローターと収容部材１とが相対的に円滑に回転しうる程度の間隔である。
【００２８】
該外輪ローター３は、変速ギア、プーリーを介して前述のモーター７と接続されている。更に外輪ローター３の外周には、前述のようにモーターに接続されたプーリーを含めて四個のプーリーが互いに９０°の角度をもって配置されており、これにより外輪ローター３が回転軸を中心に正確に回転するよう構成されている。尚、外輪ローター３の中心軸は、収容部材１の中心軸、つまり鉛直方向に対して前記所定角度α傾斜している。また、外輪ローター３の上面は、回転軸に垂直な方向に対して一定角度βだけ、内縁が外縁よりも上方に傾斜している。ここで該傾斜角βはβ＞αの関係にあり、払出部８側であっても内縁３ａが外縁３ｂよりも高くなるよう構成されている。
尚、収容部材１の外端縁１ｂは、払出部８側で外輪ローター３の内側面３ｃと略接すべく位置し、且つ、払出部８と対向する位置で外輪ローター３の内縁３ａと略接すべく位置してなり、これにより収容部材１の円錐形の上面を滑り落ちた物品を、払出部８と対向する付近で外輪ローター３の上面に載置されるように構成されている。
【００２９】
尚、外輪ローター３の幅Ｈ及び傾斜角βは外枠部５の半径及び注射剤１０の直径により決められており、外輪ローター３は、その幅方向に一つの注射剤１０のみ載置されるよう、つまり二つの注射剤１０が並列して載置されないように構成されている。
【００３０】
外輪ローター３の更に外周には、外輪ローター３の外縁３ｂと平面視わずかな間隔をあけて注射剤１０が落下しないための外枠部５が受け台４に固定されている。ここで、外輪ローター３と外枠部５の間のわずかな間隔とは、外輪ローター３と外枠部５の間に注射剤１０が落ち込まず、外輪ローター３が円滑に回転しうる程度の間隔である。
【００３１】
尚、本実施形態において外輪ローター３の内側面３ｃと収容部材１上部に囲まれた領域に、作業者の投入した注射剤１０が収容され、該領域が本発明の収容部９に相当し、また、外輪ローター３が前記収容部９の外周で回転する本発明の払出手段に相当する。
また、払出部８は払出口６から外側になるほど低くなるように傾斜がつけられている。
【００３２】
次に、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置を用いた略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法について図３を用いて説明する。図３は本発明の払い出し方法の一実施形態を示す平面工程図である。
【００３３】
まず、略円筒状の注射剤１０を収容部９に投入し、収容部９内に注射剤１０を収容せしめておく。この投入された注射剤１０は円錐形の収容部材１の上面の傾斜面１ｄ（図２参照）に沿って外端縁１ｂ側に移動する（図３（ａ）参照）。
【００３４】
そして、モーター７を駆動させると、内輪ローター２を介して収容部材１が回転し、これにより、収容部９内の注射剤はより収容部材１の外端縁１ｂ側に移動しやすい。
【００３５】
特に、収容部材１は、変速ギア等を介して回転する外輪ローター３と異なる回転速度でもって回転するので、収容部材１の外端縁１ｂ側に位置する注射剤１０は、例えば底面が外輪ローター３の内側面３ｃと接するものであっても、注射剤１０の軸長方向が収容部材１の半径方向と直交するように横たわる。
【００３６】
そして、この横たわった注射剤１０が、収容部材１の外端縁１ｂと外輪ローター３の内縁３ａとが同じ高さである部分（図１及び図２のＫ部）に達すると、外輪ローター３の外縁３ｂが内縁３ａより低く位置するので、注射剤１０は外輪ローター３の外縁３ｂ方向に転がる。結果として、注射剤１０は外輪ローター３に載置される（図３（ｂ）参照）。
【００３７】
そして、外輪ローター３に載置された注射剤１０は、外輪ローター３に伴って回転して、払出口６より払出部８へと払い出され、貯留部１４に貯留される（図３（ｃ）参照）。このように、注射剤１０は、貯留部１４へ貯留され、所定の数の注射剤１０が貯留部１０に貯留されると、注射剤１０は順次薬剤棚に収納するための搬送機へ所望のタイミングで払い出される。
尚、注射剤１０を所定の数だけ貯留部１４で貯留するので、注射剤１０を貯留部から次の行程に払い出す際に、一定の時間間隔、又は所望の時に払い出すことができる。
【００３８】
また、回転に際して、外枠部５に対して外輪ローター３が回転するので、外輪ローター３に載置された注射剤１０は、例えば底面の一端部のみが外枠部５と接している状態であっても、注射剤１０の軸長方向が収容部材１の半径方向と直交するよう、つまり底面と上方部との二点で外枠部５と接するように横たわり、バランスよく外輪ローター３上に載置される。
【００３９】
尚、注射剤１０が外輪ローター３にバランスよく載置されなかった場合、たとえば注射剤の一部のみが外輪ローター３に載置された場合、外輪ローター３の回転と共に注射剤１０は不安定に移動するため収容部材１に落下する。
【００４０】
さらに、β＞αゆえに外輪ローター３は払出部８側であっても外縁が下方に傾斜しているので、注射剤１０の自重によって払出口６を通過して払出部８へ払い出される。
【００４１】
このように、注射剤などの略円筒状の物品を無整列に収容しても、物品を一つ一つ整列して取り出すことができるので、物品を予め整列する作業工程を省略することができる。
【００４２】
また、払出手段としての外輪ローター３の外周に外枠部５を設置することにより、物品が外部に落下して破損することがない。
さらに、構造が簡素であるために、注射剤などが破損した場合にも掃除することが容易である。
【００４３】
前述の実施形態において説明した注射剤１０の底面の直径よりも小さい直径の場合、図４に示すように、注射剤１０の直径にあわせて内縁３ａ側も下方に傾斜させ外縁３ｂ側の傾斜面３ｄの幅を調整した外輪ローター３を採用することにより、該外縁３ｂ側の傾斜面３ｄに幅方向に一つの注射剤１０のみが載置され、的確に一つずつの注射剤１０を払い出すことができる。尚、内縁３ａ側に載置された注射剤１０は、外輪ローター３の回転に伴い収容部材１の外端縁１ｂが内縁３ａより低くなると、収容部材１に落下する。
【００４４】
このように、払い出す物品の多少の大きさの変化に対しても基本的な構造を変化させることなく、前記外輪ローターのみを交換することにより、的確に各種の物品を払い出すことができる。
尚、払い出す物品の大きさが大きく変化した場合には、前述の略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の大きさ、すなわち収容部材の半径等を変化させる。
【００４５】
また、前述の実施形態においては、収容部材１の上面が傾斜面１ｄとして形成されているので、収容部材１に収容された注射剤１０を外側へ移動させることができる。さらに、該収容部材１は回転可能に設けられているので、注射剤１０を遠心力によって外側へ移動させることができる。つまり、上記実施形態においては、収容部材１の上面の傾斜面１ｄ、及び回転可能な収容部材１が請求項３における撹拌手段に相当する。
尚、撹拌手段として回転可能な収容部材１の上面に半径方向（放射状）に一個以上の撹拌板を突設することも可能である。
このように、収容部材１の上面に撹拌板を突設することによって、収容部材１の回転で、収容される注射剤１０を外周方向へより的確に移動させることができ、従って払出手段としての外輪ローター３により的確に載置させることができる。
【００４６】
本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の他の実施形態として、収容部９へ物品を投入可能な投入部１１ａとして投入部材１１（図５参照）を物品の投入量に応じて物品の投入を制御可能に設けることも可能である。
前述のように投入部材１１から収容部材１に投入される注射剤１０の投入量を制御するために、前記投入部材１１に蓋と投入する物品の数をカウントするためのカウンタとを設けた構成とすることができる。これにより、カウントした物品の数が所定の数に達すると、前記蓋を閉じて収容部材１に余分な物品が投入されず、払い出し手段としての外輪ローター３に効率よく載置されるようにすることができる。
尚、収容部材１への物品の投入を制御するための機構としては、前述の蓋に限らず、物品を所定量だけ投入すると、一旦物品の投入を停止させることができるものであれば、適宜設計変更可能である。また、収容部材１に物品を投入するのは、複数個を同時に投入しても、一個ずつ連続的に投入してもよい。
【００４７】
本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の他の実施形態として、払出部８の払出口６側、又は外輪ローター３の払出口６近辺にセンサーを設けた構成を採用することもでき、これにより、注射剤１０が通過したか否かをセンサーで検出することで、払い出される注射剤１０を一個ずつ確実に確認することができる。センサーの設けられる位置は、払出部８の払出口６側であることが、実際に払い出された注射剤１０を確認することができるため好ましい。
内輪ローター２及び外輪ローター３を回転させるためのモータ７に制御装置を加え、前述のセンサーとを組み合わせて用いることにより、注射剤１０を所望の場所に格納する場合に、注射剤１０の払い出しに次のような制御を行うことができる。つまり、注射剤１０が一個払い出されたことをセンサーが検出すると前記制御装置でモータ７を制御し、外輪ローター３の回転を停止させる。そして、払い出された注射剤１０の格納が終了する時間（予め設定されている）になると、次に払い出される注射剤１０を検出するまで外輪ローター３及び内輪ローター２を回転させるべく前記制御装置でモータ７を制御することができる。
【００４８】
また、注射剤１０と接触する部位、つまり収容部９（前記収容部材１の表面及び外輪ローター３の内側面３ｃ）、並びに外枠部５の内側面等注射剤１０の破損を防止するための破損防止手段として注射剤１０と接触する部位に樹脂等でコーティングを施すことにより、注射剤１０を保護する効果が得られる。
【００４９】
また、本発明において払出手段は収容部９の外周で回転して払出部８より物品を払い出すものであれば適宜設計変更可能であり、しかも払出手段として上記実施形態の如く外輪ローター３を採用した場合であっても、外輪ローター３を回転させる手段は上記実施形態のものに限定されない。尚、上記実施形態においては四個のプーリー１３より外輪ローター３が正確に回転するように構成したが、少なくとも三個のプーリーを用いて該プーリーを結んだ三角形内に外輪ローター３の回転軸が位置するように設置すれば、外輪ローター３を正確に回転させることができる。
【００５０】
上記実施形態において、収容部９は外輪ローター３の内側面３ｃと収容部材１上部に囲まれた領域からなるが、本発明は上記実施形態に限定されるものでなく、本発明において収容部９は、外周で回転する払出手段によって払い出すべく略円筒状の物品を無整列に収容可能なものであれば適宜設計変更可能である。
また、上記実施形態において払出部８は払出口６の外側に設置される傾斜面を有するものであるが、本発明は上記実施形態に限定されず、払出口６から所定の位置に払い出し可能なものであれば適宜設計変更可能である。
【００５１】
また、払い出し装置を、前記収容部に収容されている物品の残量を検知する残量検知手段を装置本体に設け、残量が少なくなると警報を発したり、表示させたりする構成とすれば、作業者が常に残量を監視する必要なく、収容部内の物品の残量を知ることができる。
残量を検知する残量検知手段としては、内輪ローターの外周側、即ち外輪ローター側に収容されている物品の本数を見るセンサや、払出口から払い出された数をカウントし、作業者が収容部に投入した物品の数から前記払い出された数の差を計算することにより残量を検知するものが用いられ得る。
【００５２】
上述の実施の形態における払い出し装置の払出口に図に示す様に開閉手段を設け、払出口から払出部へ確実に一本ずつ払い出すことも可能である。
このような払い出し装置においては、払出口６の外側面、即ち払出口６の外側に設置されている払出部８と払出手段としての外輪ローター３との境界に例えば開閉手段としての扉１６を取付け、該扉１６を開放・閉鎖することにより払出口６を開閉可能としている。
【００５３】
払出口６において、外輪ローター３の回転方向側端部、即ち、図６における左側端部６ａには当接型のセンサが設けられており、略円筒状の物品、例えば注射剤がセンサ（図示せず）に当接することにより、注射剤が一本だけ払出手段としての外輪ローターによって払出口６の前まで運ばれてきたことを検知する。センサで注射剤を感知した後、センサからの信号は扉１６を開閉するための開閉駆動手段に送信され、開閉駆動手段により扉１６が開放される。
ここで、扉１６が開放されたか否かは、扉１６に予め取り付けられたセンサにより検知される。
【００５４】
センサにより扉１６が開放されたことを確認すると、払出部８へ確かに注射剤が払い出されたか否かを払出検知手段で検知する。払出検知手段としては、例えば赤外線等の発光素子と、該発光素子からの光線を受光する受光素子等からなるセンサが用いられる。
【００５５】
払出検知手段において注射剤が払い出されたことを検知すると、前記開閉駆動手段へと信号が送られ、即座に扉１６が閉鎖される。
このように、開閉手段としての扉を設け、一本の物品が払い出されたことを検知するとすぐに扉１６が閉鎖されることにより、複数本の物品が一度に払い出されることを防止することができる。
【００５６】
また、外輪ローターにおいて、上下方向に二本以上の物品が重った状態で払出口から払い出されることをより確実に防止するため、図６に示す様に、外輪ローターの上端縁から物品の径の二本分未満の高さの部分に誘導手段としての仕切り１５を設ければ、外輪ローターの上下方向に二本以上の物品が載っていても、上の物品は誘導手段としての仕切板１５に引っかかり、外輪ローター３と仕切板１５の間を通り抜けることができない。
従って、仕切板１５により外輪ローターの上下方向に物品を一本だけ誘導することができる。
【００５７】
上述の実施の形態においては、プーリーの回転により外輪ローターを回転させたが、外輪ローターを載置する受け台の裏面にローラーを設け、ローラーを回転させることにより受け台を回転させ、結果として外輪ローターを回転させる手段を用いてもよい。
【００５８】
上記受け台の裏面に設けるローラーを、内輪ローターを回転させる駆動装置、例えばモーターに接続し、傘歯車等で内輪ローターと外輪ローターの両方を一つの駆動装置で駆動可能となるように外輪ローターと内輪ローターを回転させる回転手段を構成すれば、駆動装置を複数必要とせず、従って前記回転手段を小型に形成することができる。
【００５９】
上述の実施の形態においては、払出口から払出部へと払い出された略円筒状の物品（注射剤）は貯留部に一端貯留されたが、貯留部は必ずしも必要ではなく、払出部へと払い出された略円筒状の物品（注射剤）を例えばコンベヤ等の搬送手段により直接次工程へと搬送しても良い。このように貯留せずに、直接次工程へと搬送すれば、略円筒状の物品が容易に破損する材質である場合等、貯留させている間に物品同士が接触して破損する危惧が無く、且つ効率よく次工程へと搬送することができる効果が得られる。
【００６０】
上述の各実施の形態においては、収容部と払出手段を夫々一つずつ有する払い出し装置を用いたが、収容部と払出手段を二つ以上有する払い出し装置を用いてもよい。
例えば収容部と払出手段を夫々二つずつ有する払い出し装置を用いる場合、その夫々に異なる大きさの物品を投入することができる。そして、装置本体を引き出し式のトレーに載置し、夫々の払い出し装置から払い出される物品、例えば注射剤を別々にコンベヤで搬送し、次工程、例えば注射剤の袋詰め工程へ搬送することにより、大きさの異なる物品を同時に払い出し装置外部へ払い出すことができる。
【００６１】
このように、引き出し式のトレーを用いることにより、棚状に複数の収容部と払出手段とのセットを有する払い出し装置を重ねて収納し、その夫々の払出手段から別々に物品を払い出すことにより、一度に大量の物品を区分して払い出すことができる効果が得られる。
【００６２】
【発明の効果】
本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置によれば、物品を整列する作業工程を省略することができ、従って作業効率よく物品を収容させておくことができる。
【００６３】
また、本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法によれば、作業効率よく物品を収容した後、払い出すことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の一実施形態を示す斜視図。
【図２】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の一実施形態を示す断面図。
【図３】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し方法の（ａ）〜（ｃ）は一実施形態を示す平面工程図。
【図４】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の外輪ローターの他の実施形態を示す一部省略断面図。
【図５】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置の他の実施形態を示す斜視図。
【図６】本発明に係る略円筒状の物品の払い出し装置のその他の実施形態を示す斜視図。
【図７】従来の物品の払い出し装置の一例を示す平面図。
【符号の説明】
１収容部材２内輪ローター
３外輪ローター４受け台
５外枠部６払出口
７モータ８払出部
９収容部１４貯留部
１５仕切板１６扉[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article dispensing apparatus and a substantially cylindrical article dispensing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus and a substantially cylindrical article dispensing method that can continuously dispense substantially cylindrical articles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an example of a dispensing device for an article such as an injection, there is one described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-65311.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional article dispensing device is composed of a storage shelf 21, a discharge port 24, a storage groove 30, a picking rotor 29, and a discharge part 32, as follows. Has been placed.
[0004]
Two storage shelves 21 storing the injections 23 as articles in a single row in an upright state are provided in a state where the discharge ports 24 are on the same circumference, and a storage groove 30 that can store only one injection 23 is provided. A picking rotor 29 established on the outer periphery is provided rotatably in the vicinity of the circumference. Further, a payout portion 32 for paying out articles in the storage groove 30 is provided in the middle of the rotation trajectory of the storage groove 30.
[0005]
A method for paying out the goods by the paying-out apparatus is as follows.
[0006]
First, when the picking rotor 29 rotates and reaches the position where the storage groove 30 faces one of the discharge ports 24, if the storage groove 30 is empty, the injection 23 waiting on the discharge port 24 is pushed out, and the storage groove 30. To be transferred to. Even if the picking rotor 29 further rotates in this state and arrives at the discharge port 24 of the other storage shelf 21, the injection 23 is already stored in the storage groove 30, so that it is waiting at the discharge port 24. The injection 23 waits without moving to the accommodation groove 30.
[0007]
Next, when the picking rotor 29 further rotates and the accommodation groove 30 comes to the opening 33 of the dispensing part 32, the injection 23 accommodated in the accommodation groove 30 is opened by opening the bottom surface of the rotor mounting table. It falls from the part 33, and the injection 23 is discharged | emitted through a discharge chute | shoot.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional article dispensing apparatus has a problem that workability is poor because it takes time to arrange the injection 23 in the storage shelf 21 in an aligned state as described above.
[0009]
Further, in the conventional article dispensing device, since the article is in an upright state, the stability is poor when the injection 23 is small, and the injection is inclined when the injection 23 is stored in the storage groove 30 and is damaged. There is also a problem.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and has a substantially cylindrical shape that is easy to work and can be dispensed without damaging the article regardless of the type and size of the article. It is an object to provide an article dispensing apparatus and a substantially cylindrical article dispensing method.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the feature of the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is accommodated in the accommodating portion (9) as described in claim 1. A dispensing device for dispensing substantially cylindrical articles one by one from a dispensing outlet (6), on a cradle (4) inclined by a predetermined angle (α) with respect to the horizontal direction. The central axis is inclined with respect to the vertical direction by the same angle as the predetermined angle (α). A cylindrical outer frame portion (5) is installed, and an axis inclined within the outer frame portion (5) and on the cradle (4) by the same angle as the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction. An outer ring rotor (3) that can rotate as a rotating shaft is provided, and a housing member (1) that can rotate around the vertical direction as a rotating shaft in the outer ring rotor (3) is provided, and the outer ring rotor (3) and the housing member (1) is configured to be relatively rotatable at a speed different from that of the inner ring (3c) of the outer ring rotor (3) and a region surrounded by the upper portion of the housing member (1) is the housing portion (9), The outlet (6) is opened in the outer frame portion (5) at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the uppermost portion of the outer ring rotor (3), and the upper surface of the housing member (1) has a conical inclined surface (1d). The outer end edge (1b) of the housing member (1) is connected to the inner side surface of the outer ring rotor (3) on the outlet (6) side ( c) is positioned so as to be substantially in contact with the inner periphery (3a) of the outer ring rotor (3) at a position facing the discharge outlet (6), and the upper surface of the outer ring rotor (3) is The outer ring rotor (3) is inclined so that the outer edge (3b) is lower than the inner edge (3a) by inclining by a constant angle (β) larger than the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the outer ring rotor (3). In the point.
[0012]
Here, the term “substantially cylindrical article” means an article having a substantially cylindrical portion at least partially, and can be, for example, an injection or a test tube.
[0013]
The substantially cylindrical article dispensing device accommodates substantially cylindrical articles in the accommodating portion 9 in a non-aligned manner, and rotates the dispensing means on the outer periphery of the accommodating portion 9 to thereby remove the substantially cylindrical article in the accommodating portion 9. The payout unit 8 pays out. As described above, since the substantially cylindrical articles can be accommodated in a non-aligned manner, an operation step for aligning the articles can be omitted.
[0014]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 2 As described in the above, it is preferable that a loading unit 11 capable of loading an article into the housing portion is provided so as to be able to control the loading of the article in accordance with the amount of loading, and thereby an appropriate amount of the article is loaded into the housing portion 9. be able to. Therefore, a substantially cylindrical article is not thrown into the accommodating portion 9 beyond the allowable amount.
[0015]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 3 As described above, it is preferable that a stirring means for assisting the movement of the article to the outer periphery is provided in the housing portion 9, whereby the article can be moved more easily in the outer peripheral direction and can be accurately adjusted by the dispensing means. It is possible to place the article on the dispensing means so that it can be dispensed.
[0016]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 4 It is preferable that a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the substantially cylindrical article accommodated in the accommodating portion 9 is provided, so that the remaining amount is detected by the remaining amount detecting means. It is possible to detect and notify the operator that the remaining amount is not more than a predetermined amount.
[0017]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 5 As described in the above, it is preferable that a breakage prevention means for preventing breakage of the article is provided in the accommodating portion 9, whereby the article accommodated in the accommodating portion 9 is easily damaged. Can be prevented.
[0018]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 6 As described in Exit 6 In order to prevent a plurality of substantially cylindrical articles from being dispensed in the vertical direction, One by one It is preferable that a guiding means 15 for guiding is provided, which ensures that the article is One by one The article can be guided to be dispensed from the dispensing means.
[0019]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 7 The substantially cylindrical article guided by the guiding means 15 is Exit 6 From One by one Opening / closing means 16 that can be opened to be dispensed and is closed to prevent another article from being dispensed when one substantially cylindrical article is dispensed is provided with the dispensing unit 8. Outer ring rotor 3 It is preferable that it is provided at the boundary of this, and this prevents a plurality of articles from being dispensed at one time, One by one The payout means 8 can pay out to the payout unit 8.
[0020]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 8 After the opening / closing means 16 is opened, Outer ring rotor 3 Dispensing detection means for detecting whether or not a substantially cylindrical article has been dispensed from Exit 6 Preferably, the opening / closing means 16 is closed when the dispensing detection means detects a substantially cylindrical article, so that the opening / closing means 16 is closed when the article is not dispensed. The opening / closing means 16 is closed only when one article is paid out.
[0021]
In addition, the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention is Claim 9 As described in Exit 6 It is possible to store a plurality of substantially cylindrical articles dispensed from One by one It is preferable that a storage unit 14 that can be paid out is provided, so that the articles dispensed from the dispensing unit 8 can be stored in the storage unit, and the stored articles can be stored from the storage unit upon request. One by one It can be paid out to the next process.
[0022]
As a feature of the method of paying out a substantially cylindrical article according to the present invention, as described in claim 10,
A payout method for paying out substantially cylindrical articles housed in the housing part (9) one by one from the payout opening (6),
An outer ring rotor (3) having an axis inclined by a predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction as a rotation axis, and a housing member (1) having the vertical direction as a rotation axis in the outer ring rotor (3), Installed so as to have a central axis inclined by the same angle as the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction. The cylindrical outer frame portion (5) is rotated relative to each other at different speeds, and the housing portion (9) surrounded by the inner side surface (3c) of the outer ring rotor (3) and the upper portion of the housing member (1). The thrown article is moved to the outer edge (1b) side along the inclined surface (1d) which is the upper surface of the housing member (1), and the outer edge rotor (1b) of the housing member (1) and the outer ring rotor are moved. An article is placed on the inclined upper surface of the outer ring rotor (3) by its own weight from a portion where the inner edge (3a) of (3) is at the same height, and the article placed on the upper surface is rotated by rotating the outer ring rotor (3). The upper surface of the outer ring rotor (3) that is inclined downward toward the outer edge side is to be discharged by its own weight from the discharge port (6) provided in the outer frame portion (5).
As described above, since the substantially cylindrical articles are accommodated in a non-aligned manner, the step of aligning the articles can be omitted. Accordingly, the goods can be dispensed after being stored efficiently.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. is there. As the substantially cylindrical article, an injection, a test tube, and the like are conceivable. In the following embodiments, a case where the injection is dispensed as an example of the substantially cylindrical article will be described.
[0024]
The substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with a cradle 4 fixed on the apparatus body 12 in a state inclined at a predetermined angle α from the horizontal direction. An outer frame portion 5 is installed. Further, a donut-shaped outer ring rotor 3 is provided in the outer frame portion 5 and on the cradle 4 so as to be rotatable about an axis inclined by the predetermined angle α from the vertical direction. There is provided a conical housing member 1 that can rotate about a direction as a rotation axis. In addition, a discharge port 6 is opened in the outer frame portion 5 near the uppermost portion (L portion in FIG. 1) of the outer ring rotor 3, and the injection 10 taken out from the discharge port 6 is placed outside the discharge port 6. It is possible to pay out from the payout part 8 installed in the.
Moreover, the storage part 14 is provided in the outer side of this paying-out part 8, and the injection | pouring 10 discharged | paid out from the paying-out part 8 can be stored in multiple numbers. The injection 10 stored in this way is sent from the storage unit 14 in response to a prescription request. One by one It is possible to pay out.
[0025]
Next, the parts constituting the substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail.
[0026]
First, the housing member 1 is formed in a conical shape (the cross section is triangular as shown in FIG. 2), and the lower part thereof is integrated with the inner ring rotor 2. The inner ring rotor 2 is provided in a cylindrical shape that is rotatable about a vertical direction as a rotation axis. The inner ring rotor 2 is connected to a driving device for rotating the inner ring rotor 2, for example, a motor 7. Therefore, the housing member 1 is rotated about the vertical direction as the rotation axis by the motor 7 in the same manner as the inner ring rotor 2. The radius of the housing member 1 is determined from the diameter of the bottom surface of the injection 10 and the length of the injection 10.
[0027]
Next, the outer ring rotor 3 is rotatably installed on the outer periphery of the housing member 1 as a dispensing means with a slight space from the outer edge 1b of the housing member 1 in plan view. Here, the slight interval is an interval at which the injection 10 does not fall between the housing member 1 and the outer ring rotor 3 and the outer ring rotor and the housing member 1 can rotate relatively smoothly.
[0028]
The outer ring rotor 3 is connected to the motor 7 described above via a transmission gear and a pulley. Further, on the outer periphery of the outer ring rotor 3, four pulleys including the pulley connected to the motor as described above are arranged at an angle of 90 ° to each other, so that the outer ring rotor 3 is accurately centered on the rotation axis. It is configured to rotate. The central axis of the outer ring rotor 3 is inclined by the predetermined angle α with respect to the central axis of the housing member 1, that is, the vertical direction. Further, the upper surface of the outer ring rotor 3 has an inner edge inclined upward from the outer edge by a certain angle β with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. Here, the inclination angle β has a relationship of β> α, and the inner edge 3a is configured to be higher than the outer edge 3b even on the payout portion 8 side.
The outer end edge 1b of the housing member 1 is positioned so as to be substantially in contact with the inner side surface 3c of the outer ring rotor 3 on the paying part 8 side, and is substantially the same as the inner edge 3a of the outer ring rotor 3 at a position facing the paying part 8. The article which is positioned so as to come into contact with it and slides down on the conical upper surface of the housing member 1 is placed on the upper surface of the outer ring rotor 3 in the vicinity of facing the payout portion 8.
[0029]
The width H and the inclination angle β of the outer ring rotor 3 are determined by the radius of the outer frame portion 5 and the diameter of the injection 10, and only one injection 10 is placed in the width direction of the outer ring rotor 3. That is, it is comprised so that the two injections 10 may not be mounted in parallel.
[0030]
On the outer periphery of the outer ring rotor 3, an outer frame portion 5 is fixed to the cradle 4 so that the injection 10 does not fall with a slight gap from the outer edge 3 b of the outer ring rotor 3 in plan view. Here, the slight interval between the outer ring rotor 3 and the outer frame portion 5 means that the injection 10 does not fall between the outer ring rotor 3 and the outer frame portion 5 and the outer ring rotor 3 can rotate smoothly. It is.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the injection 10 injected by the operator is accommodated in a region surrounded by the inner surface 3c of the outer ring rotor 3 and the upper portion of the accommodating member 1, and this region corresponds to the accommodating portion 9 of the present invention, Further, the outer ring rotor 3 corresponds to the dispensing means of the present invention in which the outer ring rotor 3 rotates on the outer periphery of the accommodating portion 9.
Further, the payout portion 8 is inclined so as to become lower toward the outside from the payout opening 6.
[0032]
Next, a substantially cylindrical article dispensing method using the substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the payout method of the present invention.
[0033]
First, the substantially cylindrical injection 10 is put into the storage portion 9 and the injection 10 is stored in the storage portion 9. The injected injection 10 moves to the outer edge 1b side along the inclined surface 1d (see FIG. 2) on the upper surface of the conical housing member 1 (see FIG. 3 (a)).
[0034]
When the motor 7 is driven, the housing member 1 is rotated via the inner ring rotor 2, whereby the injection in the housing portion 9 is more easily moved to the outer edge 1 b side of the housing member 1.
[0035]
In particular, since the housing member 1 rotates at a rotational speed different from that of the outer ring rotor 3 that rotates via a transmission gear or the like, the bottom surface of the injection 10 positioned on the outer end edge 1b side of the housing member 1 is, for example, the outer ring rotor. 3, the axial length direction of the injection 10 lies so as to be orthogonal to the radial direction of the housing member 1.
[0036]
When the lying injection 10 reaches a portion where the outer edge 1b of the housing member 1 and the inner edge 3a of the outer ring rotor 3 are at the same height (the K portion in FIGS. 1 and 2), the outer ring rotor 3 is reached. Since the outer edge 3b of the inner ring 3 is positioned lower than the inner edge 3a, the injection 10 rolls in the direction of the outer edge 3b of the outer ring rotor 3. As a result, the injection 10 is placed on the outer ring rotor 3 (see FIG. 3B).
[0037]
Then, the injection 10 placed on the outer ring rotor 3 rotates with the outer ring rotor 3, is dispensed from the dispensing port 6 to the dispensing unit 8, and is stored in the storage unit 14 (FIG. 3 (c )reference). In this way, the injection 10 is stored in the storage unit 14, and when a predetermined number of injections 10 are stored in the storage unit 10, the injection 10 is sequentially transferred to a carrier for storing in the drug shelf. It is paid out at the timing.
Since a predetermined number of the injections 10 are stored in the storage unit 14, when the injection 10 is discharged from the storage unit to the next process, it can be discharged at a certain time interval or at a desired time.
[0038]
In addition, since the outer ring rotor 3 rotates with respect to the outer frame portion 5 during rotation, the injection 10 placed on the outer ring rotor 3 is in a state where, for example, only one end portion of the bottom surface is in contact with the outer frame portion 5. Even in such a case, the injection 10 lies so that the axial length direction of the injection 10 is perpendicular to the radial direction of the housing member 1, that is, in contact with the outer frame portion 5 at two points, that is, the bottom surface and the upper portion. Placed.
[0039]
When the injection 10 is not placed on the outer ring rotor 3 in a balanced manner, for example, when only a part of the injection is placed on the outer ring rotor 3, the injection 10 becomes unstable with the rotation of the outer ring rotor 3. It falls to the housing member 1 to move.
[0040]
Further, since β> α, the outer ring rotor 3 is inclined toward the dispensing portion 8 side, so that the outer edge is inclined downward, so that the weight of the injection 10 passes through the dispensing port 6 and is dispensed to the dispensing portion 8.
[0041]
As described above, even if substantially cylindrical articles such as injections are accommodated in a non-aligned manner, the articles can be taken out one by one, so that the work process for pre-aligning the articles can be omitted. .
[0042]
Further, by installing the outer frame portion 5 on the outer periphery of the outer ring rotor 3 serving as a paying-out means, the article will not fall outside and be damaged.
Furthermore, since the structure is simple, it is easy to clean even when the injection is damaged.
[0043]
In the case of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bottom surface of the injection 10 described in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner edge 3a side is also inclined downward according to the diameter of the injection 10, and the inclined surface on the outer edge 3b side. By adopting the outer ring rotor 3 in which the width of 3d is adjusted, only one injection 10 is placed in the width direction on the inclined surface 3d on the outer edge 3b side. One by one The injection 10 can be dispensed. The injection 10 placed on the inner edge 3a side falls to the housing member 1 when the outer edge 1b of the housing member 1 becomes lower than the inner edge 3a as the outer ring rotor 3 rotates.
[0044]
As described above, various articles can be paid out accurately by replacing only the outer ring rotor without changing the basic structure even if the size of the article to be paid out changes slightly.
When the size of the article to be dispensed changes greatly, the size of the above-described substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus, that is, the radius of the accommodating member is changed.
[0045]
Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the upper surface of the accommodating member 1 is formed as the inclined surface 1d, the injection 10 accommodated in the accommodating member 1 can be moved outward. Furthermore, since the storage member 1 is rotatably provided, the injection 10 can be moved outward by centrifugal force. That is, in the above embodiment, the inclined surface 1d on the upper surface of the housing member 1 and the rotatable housing member 1 Claim 3 This corresponds to the stirring means.
In addition, it is also possible to project one or more stirring plates in the radial direction (radially) on the upper surface of the accommodating member 1 that can rotate as the stirring means.
In this way, by providing a stirring plate on the upper surface of the storage member 1, the stored injection 10 can be moved more accurately in the outer circumferential direction by the rotation of the storage member 1, and therefore as a dispensing means. The outer ring rotor 3 can be mounted accurately.
[0046]
As another embodiment of the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention, an input member 11 (see FIG. 5) is used as an input section 11a that can input an article into the storage section 9 according to the input amount of the article. It is also possible to provide the input in a controllable manner.
As described above, in order to control the amount of injection 10 to be injected from the input member 11 into the housing member 1, the input member 11 is provided with a lid and a counter for counting the number of articles to be input. It can be. As a result, when the number of counted articles reaches a predetermined number, the lid is closed, and excess articles are not thrown into the housing member 1, but are efficiently placed on the outer ring rotor 3 as a dispensing means. be able to.
The mechanism for controlling the loading of the article into the housing member 1 is not limited to the above-described lid, and any mechanism can be used as long as it can stop the loading of the article once a predetermined amount of the article is loaded. The design can be changed. Also, the articles can be thrown into the housing member 1 even if a plurality of articles are thrown simultaneously, One by one You may throw in continuously.
[0047]
As another embodiment of the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention, a configuration in which a sensor is provided on the dispensing portion 8 side of the dispensing portion 8 or the vicinity of the dispensing port 6 of the outer ring rotor 3 can be adopted. Thereby, the injection 10 to be dispensed is detected by detecting whether or not the injection 10 has passed. One by one It can be confirmed reliably. The position where the sensor is provided is preferably on the dispensing port 6 side of the dispensing unit 8 because the actually injected injection 10 can be confirmed.
By adding a control device to the motor 7 for rotating the inner ring rotor 2 and the outer ring rotor 3 and using it in combination with the aforementioned sensor, when the injection 10 is stored in a desired location, the injection 10 can be dispensed. The following control can be performed. In other words, when the sensor detects that one injection 10 has been dispensed, the control device controls the motor 7 to stop the rotation of the outer ring rotor 3. When the storage of the dispensed injection 10 is completed (set in advance), the control device is configured to rotate the outer ring rotor 3 and the inner ring rotor 2 until the next dispensed injection 10 is detected. Thus, the motor 7 can be controlled.
[0048]
Further, the portion that comes into contact with the injection 10, that is, the storage portion 9 (the surface of the storage member 1 and the inner side surface 3 c of the outer ring rotor 3) and the inner surface of the outer frame portion 5, etc. The effect of protecting the injection 10 can be obtained by applying a coating with a resin or the like to the portion that comes into contact with the injection 10 as a breakage prevention means.
[0049]
Further, in the present invention, the payout means can be appropriately changed in design as long as it rotates around the outer periphery of the accommodating portion 9 and pays out articles from the payout portion 8, and the outer ring rotor 3 is adopted as the payout means as in the above embodiment. Even in this case, the means for rotating the outer ring rotor 3 is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the outer ring rotor 3 is configured to rotate accurately from the four pulleys 13. However, the rotation axis of the outer ring rotor 3 is within a triangle formed by connecting the pulleys using at least three pulleys. If installed so as to be positioned, the outer ring rotor 3 can be rotated accurately.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, the accommodating portion 9 is composed of a region surrounded by the inner side surface 3c of the outer ring rotor 3 and the upper portion of the accommodating member 1. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The design can be changed as appropriate as long as it can accommodate substantially cylindrical articles in a non-aligned manner so as to be dispensed by the dispensing means rotating on the outer periphery.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the payout part 8 has an inclined surface installed in the outer side of the payout outlet 6, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can payout to a predetermined position from the payout opening 6 Any design can be changed as appropriate.
[0051]
In addition, if the payout device is configured to provide a remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the articles stored in the storage unit in the apparatus main body, and to issue an alarm or display when the remaining amount decreases, It is possible for the operator to know the remaining amount of articles in the storage unit without having to constantly monitor the remaining amount.
As the remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount, a sensor for detecting the number of articles accommodated on the outer peripheral side of the inner ring rotor, that is, the outer ring rotor side, and the number discharged from the payout outlet are counted. What detects a remaining amount by calculating the difference of the said number paid out from the number of articles | goods thrown into the accommodating part may be used.
[0052]
As shown in the figure, opening / closing means is provided at the payout port of the payout device in the above-described embodiment, and the payout port is securely connected to the payout unit. One by one It is also possible to pay out.
In such a dispensing device, for example, a door 16 as an opening / closing means is attached to the boundary between the outer surface of the dispensing outlet 6, that is, the dispensing portion 8 installed outside the dispensing outlet 6 and the outer ring rotor 3 as the dispensing means. The opening 16 can be opened and closed by opening and closing the door 16.
[0053]
In the discharge port 6, a contact-type sensor is provided at the rotational direction side end of the outer ring rotor 3, that is, the left end 6 a in FIG. 6. (Not shown), it is detected that only one injection has been carried to the front of the dispensing outlet 6 by the outer ring rotor as the dispensing means. After the injection is sensed by the sensor, a signal from the sensor is transmitted to the opening / closing driving means for opening / closing the door 16, and the door 16 is opened by the opening / closing driving means.
Here, whether or not the door 16 is opened is detected by a sensor attached to the door 16 in advance.
[0054]
When it is confirmed that the door 16 is opened by the sensor, it is detected by the dispensing detection means whether or not the injection is surely dispensed to the dispensing unit 8. As the payout detection means, for example, a sensor including a light emitting element such as an infrared ray and a light receiving element that receives a light beam from the light emitting element is used.
[0055]
When the dispensing detection means detects that the injection has been dispensed, a signal is sent to the opening / closing drive means, and the door 16 is immediately closed.
In this way, a door as an opening / closing means is provided, and the door 16 is closed as soon as it is detected that one article has been paid out, thereby preventing a plurality of articles from being paid out at one time. Can do.
[0056]
Further, in the outer ring rotor, in order to more reliably prevent two or more articles from being discharged from the discharge outlet in a state where they are overlapped in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 6, the diameter of the article from the upper edge of the outer ring rotor. If the partition 15 as the guiding means is provided in a portion having a height less than two, even if two or more articles are placed in the vertical direction of the outer ring rotor, the upper article is the partition plate 15 as the guiding means. And cannot pass between the outer ring rotor 3 and the partition plate 15.
Accordingly, only one article can be guided in the vertical direction of the outer ring rotor by the partition plate 15.
[0057]
In the above-described embodiment, the outer ring rotor is rotated by the rotation of the pulley. However, a roller is provided on the back surface of the cradle on which the outer ring rotor is placed, and the cradle is rotated by rotating the roller. A means for rotating the rotor may be used.
[0058]
The roller provided on the back surface of the cradle is connected to a driving device that rotates the inner ring rotor, such as a motor, and the outer ring rotor is configured so that both the inner ring rotor and the outer ring rotor can be driven by a single driving device with a bevel gear or the like. If the rotating means for rotating the inner ring rotor is configured, a plurality of driving devices are not required, and therefore the rotating means can be formed in a small size.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, the substantially cylindrical article (injection) that has been dispensed from the dispensing outlet to the dispensing unit is once stored in the storage unit. The dispensed substantially cylindrical article (injection) may be directly conveyed to the next process by a conveying means such as a conveyor. In this way, if the material is a material that can be easily damaged if it is directly transported to the next process without being stored, there is no risk of the items coming into contact with each other and being damaged while being stored. And the effect which can be efficiently conveyed to the following process is acquired.
[0060]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the accommodating portion and the dispensing means are each One by one Although the payout device having the payout device is used, a payout device having two or more accommodating portions and payout means may be used.
For example, the storage unit and the dispensing means Two by two In the case of using the dispenser having the same, articles of different sizes can be put into each of them. And by placing the device main body on a drawer-type tray and conveying the articles dispensed from the respective dispensing devices, for example, injections separately on a conveyor, by conveying them to the next step, for example, injection bagging step, Articles having different sizes can be simultaneously dispensed to the outside of the dispensing apparatus.
[0061]
In this way, by using a drawer-type tray, a dispensing device having a set of a plurality of storage units and dispensing means is stacked and stored in a shelf shape, and articles are separately dispensed from the respective dispensing means. The effect that a large amount of articles can be sorted and dispensed at a time is obtained.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
According to the substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, the operation step of arranging the articles can be omitted, and therefore the articles can be accommodated efficiently.
[0063]
Moreover, according to the substantially cylindrical article dispensing method according to the present invention, the article can be dispensed after being stored efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIGS. 3A to 3C are plan process diagrams showing an embodiment of a method for paying out a substantially cylindrical article according to the present invention. FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the outer ring rotor of the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional article dispensing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Housing member 2 Inner ring rotor
3 outer ring rotor 4 cradle
5 Outer frame part 6 Outlet
7 Motor 8 Dispensing part
9 accommodation part 14 storage part
15 Partition plate 16 Door

Claims

A dispensing device configured to dispense the substantially cylindrical articles accommodated in the accommodating portion (9) one by one from the dispensing outlet (6),
A cylindrical outer frame portion having a central axis inclined at the same angle as the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction on the cradle (4) inclined at a predetermined angle (α) with respect to the horizontal direction. (5) is installed, and can rotate around the axis inclined at the same angle as the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction in the outer frame part (5) and on the cradle (4). An outer ring rotor (3) is provided, and an accommodation member (1) that is rotatable about the vertical direction as a rotation axis is provided in the outer ring rotor (3). The outer ring rotor (3) and the accommodation member (1) are different. An area surrounded by the inner side surface (3c) of the outer ring rotor (3) and the upper part of the accommodating member (1) is configured as the accommodating portion (9), and is configured to be relatively rotatable at a speed, and the outer ring rotor (3) The outlet (6) is opened in the outer frame (5) at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the top,
The upper surface of the housing member (1) is a conical inclined surface (1d), and the outer edge (1b) of the housing member (1) is the inner surface of the outer ring rotor (3) on the discharge outlet (6) side ( 3c) is positioned so as to be substantially in contact with the inner periphery (3a) of the outer ring rotor (3) at a position facing the discharge outlet (6),
The upper surface of the outer ring rotor (3) is inclined by a fixed angle (β) larger than the predetermined angle (α) with respect to the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the outer ring rotor (3), and the outer edge (3b) is the inner edge. (3a) A substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus, characterized in that the apparatus is inclined so as to be lower than (3a).

2. The substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an input section (11a) capable of inputting an article into the housing section (9) is provided so as to be able to control the input of the article in accordance with an input amount.

The substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (9) is provided with a stirring means for assisting movement of the article to the outer periphery.

The article dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of the substantially cylindrical article accommodated in the accommodating portion (9).

The substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the accommodating portion (9) is provided with a breakage prevention means for preventing breakage of the article.

The guiding means (15) for guiding the substantially cylindrical articles one by one is provided in order to prevent a plurality of substantially cylindrical articles from being discharged from the dispensing outlet (6) in the vertical direction. The substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to claim 5.

The substantially cylindrical article guided by the guiding means (15) can be opened to be dispensed one by one from the dispensing outlet (6), and when one substantially cylindrical article is dispensed, another article is dispensed. 7. A substantially cylindrical article dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein an opening / closing means (16) closed to prevent this is provided at a boundary between the dispensing outlet (6) and the outer ring rotor (3).

After the opening / closing means is opened, a dispensing detection means is provided at the dispensing outlet (6) to detect whether or not a substantially cylindrical article has been dispensed from the outer ring rotor (3). 8. The substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the cylindrical article is detected, the opening / closing means (16) is closed.

A storage section (14) capable of storing a plurality of substantially cylindrical articles discharged from the discharge outlet (6) and discharging each stored article one by one is provided. The substantially cylindrical article dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 9.

A payout method for paying out the substantially cylindrical articles stored in the storage portion (9) one by one from the payout opening (6),
An outer ring rotor (3) having an axis inclined by a predetermined angle (α) with respect to the vertical direction as a rotation axis and a housing member (1) having the vertical direction as a rotation axis in the outer ring rotor (3) The outer ring rotor (3) is rotated relative to each other at different speeds in a cylindrical outer frame portion (5) installed so as to have a central axis inclined by the same angle as the predetermined angle (α ). The article placed in the housing part (9) surrounded by the inner side surface (3c) and the upper part of the housing member (1) is moved along the inclined surface (1d) which is the upper surface of the housing member (1). The outer ring rotor (3) is inclined from the portion where the outer edge (1b) of the housing member (1) and the inner edge (3a) of the outer ring rotor (3) are at the same height. The outer ring rotor (3) is rotated on the upper surface by its own weight, and the article placed on the upper surface is rotated by the outer ring rotor (3). A substantially cylindrical article dispensing method characterized in that the rotor (3) is discharged by its own weight from a dispensing outlet (6) provided in the outer frame portion (5) by an upper surface inclined downward toward the outer edge side.