JP5368923B2 - PTP sheet stacking apparatus and stacking method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable PTP sheets to be stacked smoothly and at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided: a pusher 16 that sends a piece of PTP sheet 1 to an accumulation portion 12; an accumulation shutter 17 which, pushing up the piece of PTP sheet sent into the accumulation portion while creating a supply space for a new piece of PTP sheet, advances itself forward in the same direction as the piece of new PTP sheet is fed in by the pusher; a sheet stopper 19 which regulates the movement of an assembly of stacked PTP sheets already sent into within the accumulation portion toward the direction in which the accumulation shutter advances for a shift; and a pull-out pusher 20 which supports the assembly while transfers it to the same direction in which it has been fed in so that the assembly can be transferred out from the accumulation portion. The sheet stopper is arranged to be released of the regulation when transferring is made by the pull-out pusher. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a PTP sheet stacking apparatus and stacking method for stacking a predetermined number of PTP (Press Through Pack) sheets.

  As is well known, the PTP sheet is a packaging form in which the contents are pushed out from the container (pocket part) side to break the upper lid and the contents are taken out. It is often used for packaging tablets and capsules in pharmaceutical packaging. Is called. And the PTP sheet which concerns is marketed in the state by which the packaging process was normally carried out in the state (article assembly) which laminated | stacked two or more. In stacking the PTP sheets, the two PTP sheets may be overlapped with the surfaces provided with the pocket portions facing each other and the positions of the pocket portions being shifted from each other. Thereby, the pocket part of the other PTP sheet enters the space between the pocket parts of one PTP sheet, thereby suppressing the height of the entire article assembly formed by stacking a plurality of PTP sheets. it can.

  Furthermore, the product is subjected to a packaging process such as pillow packaging or box packaging in a state where a plurality of pairs of PTP sheets entangled in this manner are stacked. Therefore, as described above, a pair of PTP sheets corresponding to a predetermined number of stages is provided between a tying device that overlaps a pair of PTP sheets with the pocket portions facing each other and a packaging machine body (including a boxing device) that performs a predetermined packaging process. An integration device for integrating the components is disposed. As an example of a stacking apparatus that performs a process of stacking a plurality of sets, there is a PTP sheet stacking apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 of Patent Document 1, the PTP sheet stacking apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 sends the entangled PTP sheets to the stacking unit [40], and the stacking unit [40] ] On the sheet stacking platform [47], the sheet stacking platform [47] is raised by the air cylinder [45], and the PTP sheet is pushed up to the upper side of the shutter [49, 49a]. Then, by closing the shutter [49, 49a] and lowering the sheet stacking base [47], the PTP sheets are sequentially stacked on the upper side of the shutter [49, 49a] from below.

  When a predetermined number of PTP sheets are stacked on the shutter [49, 49a], the aggregate of the PTP sheets is pushed out in the horizontal direction by the pusher [62] and transferred onto the conveyor [70]. This assembly conveys the assembly to the next-stage apparatus. The numbers in the above [] are the codes used in Patent Document 1.

JP 61-155156 A

  In the stacking device shown in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to move the PTP sheet sent to the stacking unit [40] to the upper side of the shutter [49, 49a]. Become. The shutter [49, 49a] that opens and closes is in a closed state that is positioned horizontally, and an open state in which the tip jumps upward from that position and becomes vertical. The open state is higher than the closed state. Therefore, the sheet stacking base [47] is once lifted above the tip of the opened shutter [49, 49a] at least once, and then lowered after the shutter is closed to be placed on the shutter [49, 49a]. Since the movement stroke becomes large, there is a problem that it cannot cope with high speed.

  Further, when the sheet stacking base [47] is lowered from the closed shutter [49, 49a], the stacking process of the PTP sheets on the sheet stacking base [47] is completed, but the next PTP sheet is In order to place the sheet on the sheet stacking base [47], it is necessary to wait until the sheet stacking base [47] further descends and returns to the PTP sheet conveyance surface, and this waiting time is determined for each PTP sheet stacking process. Occurs and becomes a bottleneck in speeding up.

  Further, the PTP sheet assembly laminated on the shutter [49, 49a] is pushed out and discharged using a pusher [62] that reciprocates linearly, but outside the one side of the shutter [49, 49a]. After the pusher [62] at the reference position is moved forward and the assembly is carried out of the shutter [49, 49a], the pusher [62] is moved backward and returned to the reference position. The PTP sheet cannot be loaded on the shutter [49, 49a]. Therefore, when at least the process of unloading the assembly is performed, the next process cannot be performed until the pusher [62] moves backward and returns to the reference position, so the standby time is a bottleneck in speeding up. It becomes.

  Furthermore, since the pusher [62] actually reciprocates only at the N-th time, the waiting time for waiting for the pusher [62] to move backward is set to the N-th time only, and the (N− 1) If the waiting time is not taken until the first time, the operation timing is divided only for the Nth time, so the control becomes complicated. On the other hand, if the operation timing is made the same from the first time to the Nth time, the control becomes simple, but the waiting time occurs every time, which further hinders the speeding up. Therefore, there is a problem that it is desired to develop an integrated device that can respond at high speed.

  Further, as an aspect of the packaging system, the destination of the stacking device is a buffer device for temporarily storing and buffering articles, or changing the attitude of the articles (upside down, rotating 90 degrees in a horizontal plane) In the case of a posture change device such as landscape to portrait or vice versa, a plurality of sheets are conveyed and supplied to the device in a stacked state, but one or two PTP sheets are joined together without being stacked. In some cases, it may be desired to supply the device. In such a case, if both cases are to be used in a single packaging system, the PTP sheet lifting / lowering process is required as described above, even when one (one set) PTP sheet is carried out. Because it is not possible to respond at high speed, it is practically impossible to double-use it. Therefore, in order to cope with high speed, it is necessary to assemble another system without an integrated device, and there is a problem that it lacks versatility.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides (1) a feeding means for feeding a PTP sheet to the stacking unit and a PTP sheet fed to the stacking unit is pushed up to form a new PTP sheet supply space below. In addition, an accumulation shutter that moves forward in the same direction as the feeding direction of the new PTP sheet by the feeding means, and an assembly of the PTP sheets that are fed into the stacking unit and stacked, A sheet stopper for restricting the movement of the shutter in the forward movement direction, and a pulling pusher that moves in the same direction as the feeding direction and carries out the assembly from the stacking unit, the sheet stopper, When the transfer by the extraction pusher is performed, the restriction is released. The feeding means corresponds to the pusher 16 in the embodiment. Such a configuration that reciprocates in a predetermined loop shape is preferable because it can cope with high speed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a conveyor, a robot, or other conveying means can be used.

  The PTP sheet accumulated in the accumulator is lifted by the accumulating shutter, and when the accumulating shutter moves forward in that state, the PTP sheet also tries to move forward accordingly. It remains in the accumulating part as it is. Then, the PTP sheet that has been fed by the pusher enters the space formed by the forward movement of the integrated shutter, and is positioned below the aggregate of the PTP sheets that have been stacked so far, and the new PTP sheet is also Incorporated into the aggregate.

  Since the movement path of the integrated shutter is moved upward to lift the PTP sheet, it moves forward, so it is possible to feed a new PTP sheet by moving the pusher. Can be done. The amount of lifting the PTP sheet may be at least the same as the height of the newly supplied PTP sheet. And when it makes it the same as the height concerned, it becomes possible to respond at higher speed.

  Then, when a predetermined number of PTP sheets are stacked, the assembly is transferred by the extraction pusher. The transfer direction of the extraction pusher is set to the direction of feeding the PTP sheet to the assembly portion by the pusher and the advance of the integrated shutter. Coupled with the direction of movement, when the collection of the aggregate by the extraction pusher (carrying out from the collection section) is completed, the next PTP sheet can be supplied to the collection section. Therefore, higher speed operation is possible without waiting time.

  (2) The extraction pusher has a support part that supports the assembly from below, and the transfer is performed in a state where the assembly is lifted to a height higher than the PTP sheet fed by the pusher. It is good to do. In addition, when using the extraction pusher provided with the support part, it is not always necessary to lift the height of the PTP sheet or more as in the present invention. For example, an assembly of PTP sheets placed on the conveyance surface Or slightly lifted (if lifted, contact resistance is reduced and stress from the transfer surface is not received).

  (3) A movable holding plate that contacts the upper surface of the uppermost PTP sheet stacked in the stacking unit and biases downward is provided, and the movable holding plate is not supplied with the PTP sheet in the stacking unit. In this case, the stacking shutter is positioned on or above the transport surface of the PTP sheet in the stacking unit, and the stacking shutter pushes up the movable holding plate positioned on or above the transport surface to increase the new sheet. It is possible to form a supply space for a simple PTP sheet. By providing the movable holding plate, it is possible to prevent the stacked PTP sheets from being rampant or collapsed. Furthermore, even when there is no PTP sheet in the stacking unit at the start of operation or when the assembly is pulled out, the pusher and the stacking shutter have a PTP sheet because the movable holding plate is positioned on the transport surface in the stacking unit. Since the same movement as that of the case can be performed from the beginning, it is possible to respond at high speed with a simple configuration and control.

  (4) The sheet stopper may be configured such that the restriction state is set to a basic posture, and the restriction is released when a biasing force greater than a force set in the same direction as the feeding direction is applied to the stopper. . In the embodiment, it is realized by using springs and springs of various forms and shapes. By adopting such a configuration, a special drive source or the like is not necessary, and the sheet stopper can be configured with a simple configuration.

  (5) The integrated shutter and the extraction pusher may take a looped locus. In this way, it is possible to cope with the smooth movement by sending out the PTP sheet or by high speed operation.

  (6) In the PTP sheet stacking method according to the present invention, the stacking shutter pushes the PTP sheet fed into the stacking unit upward, and the stacking shutter is in a state where the horizontal movement of the pushed PTP sheet is restricted. In accordance with the timing of the forward movement, a feeding device that feeds the PTP sheet into the stacking unit is activated and a new space is formed in the lower space of the pushed-up PTP sheet formed by the forward movement of the stacking shutter. A process of feeding the PTP sheet is repeatedly performed, a plurality of PTP sheets are stacked in the stacking unit, and a pulling pusher that moves in the same direction as the forward movement direction of the stacking shutter is used to collect the assembly of the stacked PTP sheets. Unloading from the stacking unit, and the assembly is moved by the extraction pusher. When it is unloaded from the product portion was so the restriction is released.

  Further, as in the invention of (2), the stacking method using the extraction pusher having the support portion (regardless of whether it is lifted by the support portion or not), the stacking shutter is used for the PTP sheet sent to the stacking portion. The stacking shutter is moved forward in a state where the pushed-up PTP sheet is restrained from moving in the horizontal direction, and a pusher for feeding the PTP sheet to the stacking unit moves forward in accordance with the timing of the forward movement. , Repeatedly executing a process of feeding a new PTP sheet into the space below the pushed-up PTP sheet formed by the forward movement of the stacking shutter, stacking a plurality of PTP sheets in the stacking unit, and stacking the PTPs The assembly of sheets is supported by the extraction pusher, and the extraction pusher The assembly is unloaded from the stacking part by moving in the same direction as the forward movement of the filter, and when the unloading pusher unloads the set from the stacking part, the regulation is This can be realized by releasing it.

  Since the exposure of the PTP sheet in the stacking unit can be suppressed, the PTP sheet can be stacked without damaging the PTP sheet. Each process in the stacking process of each PTP sheet and the unloading process of the stacked assembly can be performed smoothly and continuously, and wasteful waiting time can be reduced to increase the speed. Furthermore, since the vertical movement of the PTP sheet in the stacking portion is reduced, stable high speed operation is possible.

It is a front view which shows the suitable one form of the integration | stacking apparatus of the PTP sheet which concerns on this invention. FIG. It is the side view. It is an AA arrow directional cross-sectional view in FIG. It is a figure explaining an effect | action. It is a figure explaining an effect | action. It is a figure explaining the effect | action. It is a figure explaining the effect | action. It is a figure which shows an example of a PTP sheet. It is a figure which shows a modification. It is a figure which shows a modification.

  1 to 8 show a preferred embodiment of a PTP sheet stacking apparatus according to the present invention. The PTP sheet stacking apparatus includes a PTP sheet transport apparatus 10 that transports a pair of PTP sheets 1 on the upstream side, and a stacking unit 12 on the downstream side of the PTP sheet transport apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the PTP sheet 1 is formed with a plurality of pocket portions 2a on the sheet surface of the plastic sheet 2, and stores the tablets 3 and the like in the pocket portions 2a, and the sheet surface is made of a sheet material such as an aluminum foil. 4 is an airtightly sealed structure. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), one of the two PTP sheets to be paired is inverted while being rotated 180 degrees, and the two PTP sheets 1 are joined together with the positions of the pocket portions 2a being shifted from each other. Can. Further, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), by providing a pocket portion non-formed region 5 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet 1, the pair of PTP sheets 1 are rotated 180 degrees to form a pocket. When tying together with the portion 2a facing, the respective pocket portion unformed regions 5 are located on the opposite side, so that the peripheral edges of the superimposed PTP sheet groups substantially coincide. This pocket part non-formation region 5 is used for printing, engraving or the like of the model number of the tablet 3 or a trade name (trademark). Of course, such a configuration in which the pocket portion non-formation region 5 is not provided may be employed, and in that case, when the PTP sheets 1 are held together as shown in FIG. 9D, the peripheral positions of the sheets are shifted.

  Then, the pair of PTP sheets 1 conveyed by the PTP sheet conveying apparatus 10 are shifted from each other with the pair of PTP sheets 1 facing each other as shown in FIGS. 9 (c) and 9 (d). It is transported in a state of being tangled in a state. The two pairs of PTP sheets 1 are joined by a joining device or the like provided on the upstream side of the apparatus, so that an assembly in which a plurality of pairs in the stacking apparatus are further stacked in a continuous process from the manufacture of the PTP sheet. Thus, it is possible to automatically carry out the process of carrying out to the subsequent vertical servo loop device 13.

  The PTP sheet conveying apparatus 10 includes a lower conveying plate 14 constituting a conveying surface of the pair of PTP sheets 1, an upper holding plate 15 disposed above the lower conveying plate 14 at a predetermined interval, and a lower conveying plate 14. And a pusher 16 for feeding the upper PTP sheet 1 to the stacking unit 12 on the downstream side. The lower conveyance plate 14 and the upper holding plate 15 are both formed in a band plate shape, and the distance between the two is equal to or larger than the height of the pair of PTP sheets 1 laid together. And the lower conveyance board 14 is thin so that the center site | part of the PTP sheet 1 may be supported. Thus, the PTP sheet 1 on the lower transport plate 14 is left and right with its left and right side portions protruding from the lower transport plate 14. The PTP sheet 1 supplied on the lower conveying plate 14 from the upstream apparatus is advanced on the lower conveying plate 14 by receiving a conveying force from a push finger of a finger conveyor installed below or above the lower conveying plate 14. Moving. That is, the pushing finger contacts the left and right side edges of the rear edge of the PTP sheet 1 and feeds it forward. The finger conveyor provided with the pushing fingers may be continuous from the upstream tying device or may be provided for the PTP sheet conveying device 10. Of course, other transport mechanisms may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pusher 16 is disposed close to the left and right outer sides of the lower conveyance plate 14, moves along a loop-shaped locus S indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and a tip 16 a of the pusher 16. To contact the rear edge of the PTP sheet 1 and push forward. In other words, the pusher 16 moves forward while gradually moving upward from a reference position located below the lower transport plate 14 shown in FIG. 1 by a power source such as a drive motor (not shown) and a motion conversion mechanism such as a link / cam. If the tip 16a moves to the lower conveyance plate 14 and moves forward as it is and reaches the vicinity of the stacking unit 12, it moves downward and descends below the conveyance surface (upper surface) of the lower conveyance plate 14. The operation of moving backward further at the position and returning to the reference position is repeated. Then, by projecting upward from the lower transport plate 14 at a predetermined rear position of the PTP sheet 1 on the lower transport plate 14, the front end 16a of the pusher 16 contacts the predetermined position of the rear end edge of the PTP sheet 1, and the front Can be pushed out. The paired PTP sheets 1 are fed into the stacking position in the stacking unit 12 by this extrusion.

  The stacking unit 12 is installed at a downstream portion of the lower transport plate 14. An integrated shutter 17 is disposed in front of both pushers 16. The integrated shutter 17 has an inverted L-shaped main body shape having a support portion 17b protruding forward at the upper end of a vertically extending support plate 17a, and the support portion 17b is fed into the integrated portion 12 and stacked. The lower end surface of the assembled PTP sheet 1 can be brought into contact with and lifted. Further, the pair of integrated shutters 17 is moved forward by a predetermined distance (for example, PTP) at the upper position by the height of the pair of PTP sheets 1 embraced from the conveyance surface of the lower conveyance plate 14 by the cam mechanism. It moves along a loop (endless) trajectory that moves horizontally by a distance equal to or longer than the length of the seat 1 in the front-rear direction and then returns to the original with a semicircular arc trajectory on the lower side.

  In addition, a sheet stopper 19 is provided at an openable / closable position at a position where it can contact both side edges of the front end of the aggregate of PTP sheets 1 stacked in the stacking unit 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the sheet stopper 19 has a strip shape extending vertically, and can rotate forward and backward about a rotation shaft 19a provided at a predetermined position on the outer side. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet stopper 19 contacts both side edges of the front end of the PTP sheet 1, and the PTP sheet 1 (aggregate) is prevented from moving forward, and from the closed state in a predetermined direction. It can be rotated 90 degrees and can be in a non-contact open state with both side edges of the front end of the PTP sheet 1. The sheet stopper 19 uses the biasing force of the spring to maintain the closed state at all times, and opens when the PTP sheet 1 moves forward with a certain force exceeding the biasing force of the spring. To work.

  Therefore, when the integrated shutter 17 moves upward, the assembly of the PTP sheets 1 follows the upward movement, but when the integrated shutter 17 moves horizontally (forward movement), it is only on the support portion 17b. The assembly of the PTP sheets 1 tries to move forward following the horizontal movement of the accumulation shutter 17 (support portion 17b), but the movement is blocked by the sheet stopper 19. As a result, only the integrated shutter 17 moves forward, and a space is formed below the assembled PTP sheet 1. The PTP sheet 1 sent to the stacking unit 12 by the pusher 16 and the horizontal movement timing of the stacking shutter 17 are matched, so that the PTP sent by the new pusher 16 is formed in the formed space. The sheet 1 can be supplied, and a pair of PTP sheets can be positioned and stacked under the assembly.

  A movable restraining plate 18 is attached to the stacking box 22 above the stacking unit 12 so as to be movable up and down. The movable holding plate 18 can contact the upper surface of the aggregate of the stacked PTP sheets 1 and moves downward due to its own weight. That is, when the PTP sheet 1 is not present in the stacking unit 12, it is located at the lowest position, that is, on the conveyance surface of the lower conveyance plate 14 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). When the sheet 1 is present, it is lightly urged downward by its own weight by coming into contact with the upper surface of the aggregate so that the aggregate of the stacked PTP sheets 1 is not collapsed or exposed. Further, the left and right sides of the PTP sheet 1 are in contact with the inner surface of the stacking box 22 as shown in FIG.

  Specific operations and controls of the pusher 16 and the integrated shutter 17 are as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5A, in a state where a predetermined number of PTP sheets 1 are already laminated in the stacking unit 12 (the movable holding plate 18 is in contact with the upper surface of the assembly), the pusher 16 is A pair of PTP sheets 1 are brought into contact with the rear edges of the PTP sheet 1 and fed forward. At this time, the accumulation shutter 17 is positioned below the aggregate of the PTP sheets 1 whose support portions 17 b are accumulated in the accumulation portion 12.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the PTP sheet 1 pushed by the pusher 16 moves forward, and the stacking shutter 17 has a support portion 17 b that is a pair of PTPs than the transport surface of the lower transport plate 14. The sheet moves upward by the height of the sheet 1 and lifts the assembly of the PTP sheets 1. The position shown in FIG. 5B is the reference position.

  When the integrated shutter 17 moves horizontally from the reference position toward the front, the aggregate of the PTP sheets 1 is prevented from moving forward by the sheet stopper 19, and as shown in FIG. Only the forward movement moves, and the pusher 16 moves forward in accordance with the timing, whereby the pair of PTP sheets 1 is inserted into the space formed below the assembly. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), a new PTP sheet 1 is completely fed below the previously stacked PTP sheet 1, so that a new set including the PTP sheet sent this time is included. Become a body. In this way, the integrated shutter 17 only needs to be moved upward by at least the height of the pair of PTP sheets 1, and does not need to be moved so as to be lowered after being largely lifted more than necessary. Since a new PTP sheet can be fed by the pusher 16 as the horizontal movement starts, there is no useless waiting time and high speed response is possible.

  Thereafter, the pusher 16 and the integrated shutter 17 move backward (FIG. 6 (b)) and return to the state shown in FIG. 5 (a). Thereafter, by repeating the above process a predetermined number of times, an aggregate in which a predetermined number of PTP sheet pairs are stacked is formed in the stacking unit 12.

  Further, an extraction pusher 20 is provided outside the integrated shutter 17. The extraction pusher 20 supplies an assembly in which a desired number of PTP sheets are laminated to the vertical servo loop device 13 at the next stage. And it takes the shape provided with the support part 20a which supports the lower surface of an aggregate | assembly, and the pushing part 20b formed so that it may protrude toward the upper part at the rear end of the support part 20a. The pushing portion 20b contacts the rear end edge of the PTP sheet assembly. The extraction pusher 20 takes a rectangular locus by a cam mechanism or the like.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 7A), the support portion 20 a is positioned below the assembly, but the upper end of the pushing portion 20 b is positioned below the transport surface of the lower transport plate 14. Then, the extraction pusher 20 moves upward from the state in which the movement of the PTP sheet on the lower transport plate 14 is allowed. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), when the support portion 20a rises to the position of the conveyance surface of the lower conveyance plate 14, the support portion 20a comes into contact with the lower end surface of the assembly, and the pushing portion 20b is made of the assembly. Contact the trailing edge.

  From this state, it further moves upward by a predetermined distance, more specifically, by the height of a pair of entangled PTP sheets. Thereby, as shown in FIG.7 (c), an aggregate | assembly raises only the said predetermined distance.

  Thereafter, the extraction pusher 20 moves forward in the horizontal direction. Along with this, the assembly supported by the extraction pusher 20 also moves forward. At this time, the movement of the front end both side edges of the assembly is suppressed by the sheet stopper 19, but the pushing portion 20 b Since the backward movement is prevented, the urging force forward by the extraction pusher 20 is applied to the sheet stopper 19 from the pushing portion 20b through the assembly, and the urging force maintains the state in which the sheet stopper 19 is closed. Since it is greater than the force, the sheet stopper 19 is opened, the assembly also moves forward, and is carried out of the stacking unit 12. And it moves more than the length of the front-back direction of a PTP sheet | seat, and supplies an assembly to the storage box 25 of the vertical servo loop apparatus 13 of the next stage (refer Fig.8 (a)). Further, with this supply, the aggregate of PTP sheets is detached from the stacking unit 12, and the aggregate is removed below the movable restraint plate 18. Therefore, the movable restraint plate 18 is moved downward by its own weight and is transported downward. Located on the plate 14. In the present embodiment, the movable holding plate 18 is moved downward so as to be positioned on the upper surface of the lower transport plate 14 in this embodiment, but may be stopped at a predetermined position above it.

  Thereafter, the extraction pusher 20 moves downward (see FIG. 8B), moves backward in the horizontal direction, and returns to the position of FIG. 7A. In this way, the extraction pusher 20 moves vertically along a vertical (loop shape) locus by moving up and down vertically and moving back and forth horizontally. The servo loop device 13 is supplied.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, if the aggregate is extracted by the extraction pusher 20, the process of the pusher 16 and the integration shutter 17 shown in FIGS. The PTP sheet stacking work can be started. When the integrated shutter 17 reaches the reference position, the integrated shutter 17 lifts the movable holding plate 18 by a predetermined distance to form a predetermined space between the movable holding plate 18 and the lower transport plate 14, and subsequently the pusher to be performed. A pair of PTP sheets are supplied into the space with the forward movement of 16 and the integrated shutter 17.

  Further, a machine frame 23 is provided on both sides of the stacking unit 12 at a predetermined front position, and a fixed stopper 21 is provided at the front end of the machine frame 23. The fixed stopper 21 is located at a predetermined position on the back side of the storage box 25 of the vertical servo loop device 13 and is extracted from the stacking portion 12 by the extraction pusher 20 and contacts both side edges of the front end of the assembly that has moved forward. And deterring any further forward movement. Thereby, it is prevented that it is pushed into the storage box 25 more than necessary.

  The vertical servo loop device 13 includes a plurality of storage boxes 25. The storage box 25 revolves in a vertical plane and is carried out toward an apparatus such as a next-stage packaging machine body at an appropriate discharge position. Here, each storage box 25 includes a bottom plate 25b fixed below the connecting plate 25d attached to the endless chain 26, a guide rod 25c supported above the bottom plate 25b and the connecting plate 25d, A top plate 25a that moves up and down with respect to the guide rod 25c. The space | interval of the top plate 25a and the bottom plate 25b can be adjusted, and is set so that it may suit the height of an aggregate. In the vertical servo loop device 13, the bottom plate 25b is temporarily stopped in accordance with the position of the support portion 20a of the extraction pusher 20 that horizontally moves forward, and is extracted from the stacking portion 12 by the extraction pusher 20. The assembly that has moved forward is stored in the storage box 25 as it is. When the assembly is supplied into the storage box 25, the vertical servo loop device 13 resumes operation, makes the next empty storage box 25 face the stacking unit 12, and temporarily stops in that state.

  In the above-described embodiment, the opening and closing of the sheet stopper 19 can be performed at an appropriate timing by using the force of the spring without using a special drive source or the like. The sheet stopper 19 may be opened and closed in accordance with the operation of the extraction pusher 20 and the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the wiping pusher 20 is provided with the support portion 20a that supports the aggregate of the PTP sheets 1 and is carried out in a state where the aggregate is lifted, but may be transported without being lifted. .

  Furthermore, the extraction pusher 20 can also be configured to carry by the pusher 20b without the support 20a. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper surface level of the lower transport plate 14 becomes the extraction level of the PTP sheet assembly, and the next stage vertical servo loop device moves while moving on the lower transport plate 14. It is stored in the 13 storage boxes 25. Further, the movement trajectory of the extraction pusher 20 takes the movement of a rectangular box motion, as in the above embodiment.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10A, the upper surface of the lower transport plate 14 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 25b of the storage box 25 are aligned. Then, the PTP sheets 1 are sequentially stacked in a state where the upper end of the pushing portion 20 b of the extraction pusher 20 is waiting below the lower transport plate 14. This lamination process is the same as that in the above embodiment.

  When a predetermined number of PTP sheets 1 are stacked, as shown in FIG. 10B, the extraction pusher 20 moves upward, and the pusher 20b protrudes above the upper surface of the lower transport plate 14 and is stacked. It contacts the rear edge of the assembly of PTP sheets 1.

  Next, the extraction pusher 20 moves forward in the horizontal direction. Along with this, the assembly is also urged forward by the pushing portion 20 b of the extraction pusher 20. At this time, the movement of the front end both side edges of the assembly is restrained by the sheet stopper 19, but the backward movement of the assembly is prevented by the pushing portion 20 b, so that the forward biasing force by the extraction pusher 20 is reduced. The pushing portion 20b is applied to the sheet stopper 19 via the assembly, and the biasing force is larger than the force for maintaining the closed state of the sheet stopper 19, so that the sheet stopper 19 is opened and the assembly is also moved to the lower conveying plate 14. And move forward along the bottom plate 25b of the storage box 25 at the same level as the upper surface, and are carried out of the stacking unit 12. Then, the extraction pusher 20 (pushing portion 20b) is moved by the length in the front-rear direction of the PTP sheet 1, and the assembly is supplied into the storage box 25 of the vertical servo loop device 13 at the next stage (FIG. 11 (a)). )reference). Further, with this supply, the aggregate of PTP sheets is detached from the stacking unit 12, and the aggregate is removed below the movable restraint plate 18. Therefore, the movable restraint plate 18 is moved downward by its own weight and is transported downward. Located on the plate 14.

  Thereafter, the extraction pusher 20 moves downward (see FIG. 11B), moves backward in the horizontal direction, and returns to the position shown in FIG. In this way, the extraction pusher 20 moves vertically along a vertical (loop shape) locus by moving up and down vertically and moving back and forth horizontally. The servo loop device 13 is supplied.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the accumulation process in the accumulation unit 12 can be performed at high speed without unnecessary movement as in the prior art. The unloading / supply from the stacking unit 12 to the vertical servo loop device 13 in the next stage is performed by moving the lower transport plate as the pulling pusher moves forward through the assembly of PTP sheets stacked in the stacking unit 12. 14 or by being lifted slightly by the support portion 20a of the extraction pusher. Then, the unloading process by the extraction pusher can be performed simultaneously with the completion of the accumulation, and the next accumulation process can be started as soon as the aggregate is unloaded from the accumulation unit 12.

  Therefore, if the PTP sheet is unloaded and supplied to the vertical servo loop device 13 in the next stage without performing the stacking process in the stacking unit 12, the PTP sheet is simply moved on the transport surface ("" When the support portion 20a ″ is present, it is only necessary to lift the sheet by the height of the sheet when it is unloaded, so that high-speed correspondence is possible. In other words, the apparatus of the present embodiment can be used at high speed as an integrated device, but even when not integrated, it can be carried out smoothly with the integrated device installed on the carry-out side, so that it can be shared. Demonstrate the effect. Furthermore, when not stacked, it is possible to cope with higher speed by stopping the operation of the integrated pusher 17 by fixing the movable restraining plate 18 or not at the upper position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 PTP sheet 10 PTP sheet conveying apparatus 12 Stacking part 14 Lower conveying plate 16 Pusher 17 Stacking shutter 18 Movable holding plate 19 Sheet stopper 20 Extraction pusher 21 Fixed stopper

Claims (6)

Feeding means for feeding the PTP sheet to the stacking unit;
The PTP sheet fed into the stacking unit is pushed up to form a new PTP sheet supply space below, and moved forward in the same direction as the feeding direction of the new PTP sheet by the feeding means. An integrated shutter,
A sheet stopper that regulates that the assembly of PTP sheets fed into and stacked in the stacking unit moves in the direction of forward movement of the stacking shutter;
An extraction pusher that moves in the same direction as the feeding direction and carries out the assembly from the stacking unit,
The PTP sheet stacking apparatus is characterized in that the sheet stopper is configured to release the restriction when the sheet stopper is transferred by the extraction pusher.   The extraction pusher has a support portion for supporting the assembly from below, and the transfer is performed in a state where the assembly is lifted to a height higher than the PTP sheet fed by the pusher. The PTP sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PTP sheet stacking apparatus is a PTP sheet stacking apparatus. Provided with a movable restraining plate that contacts the upper surface of the PTP sheet positioned at the uppermost position in the stacking unit and biases it downward.
When the PTP sheet is not supplied into the stacking unit, the movable holding plate is positioned on or above the transport surface of the PTP sheet in the stacking unit,
The said integrated shutter forms the supply space of the said new PTP sheet | seat by pushing up the said movable holding plate located on the conveyance surface or the upper direction upwards. PTP sheet stacking device.   2. The sheet stopper according to claim 1, wherein the restriction state is set to a basic posture, and the restriction is released when a biasing force greater than a force set in the same direction as the feeding direction is applied to the stopper. 4. The PTP sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3.   The PTP sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stacking shutter and the extraction pusher have a loop-shaped locus. The accumulation shutter pushes the PTP sheet sent to the accumulation section upward,
The integrated shutter moves forward in a state where the horizontal movement of the pushed-up PTP sheet is restricted,
In accordance with the timing of the forward movement, a feeding device that feeds the PTP sheet to the stacking unit is activated to feed a new PTP sheet into the space below the pushed-up PTP sheet formed by the forward movement of the stacking shutter. Repeatedly executing the process, laminating a plurality of PTP sheets in the stacking unit,
An extraction pusher that moves in the same direction as the forward movement direction of the accumulation shutter is to carry out the assembly of the stacked PTP sheets from the accumulation unit,
The PTP sheet stacking method is characterized in that the regulation is released when the assembly is carried out of the stacking unit by the extraction pusher.

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