JP5389059B2 - Pocket forming apparatus and PTP packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pocket portion forming apparatus for forming a pocket portion for containing an object to be contained in a belt-like film, and a PTP packaging machine including the pocket portion forming apparatus.

  In general, a PTP sheet is composed of a container film having a plurality of pocket portions in which objects to be stored such as tablets are accommodated, and a cover film attached to the container film so as to close the opening side of the pocket portions. Yes.

  In the PTP sheet, in order to improve the strength of the pocket portion, etc., it is conceivable to form a recess at the top of the pocket portion.

  As a pocket part forming apparatus for forming such a pocket part in a strip-shaped container film, there is an apparatus developed by the applicant of the present application (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Such a pocket portion forming apparatus includes a lower die and an upper die, and a plurality of holes are formed in the lower die and the upper die at positions corresponding to the positions where the pocket portions are formed. A molding plug is inserted into the lower mold hole so as to be movable up and down, and a pusher is accommodated in the upper mold hole. And after holding a strip-shaped container film with a lower mold | type and an upper mold | type, a container film is extended | stretched with a shaping | molding plug and a pocket part is formed. At this time, a concave portion is formed at the top of the pocket portion by being sandwiched between the molded plug and the pusher. Further, by making it possible to change the maximum protruding amount of the molded plug from the hole portion of the lower mold, various pocket portions having different depths can be formed.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-88238

  However, in the configuration described in the above Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-88238, the depth of the recess cannot be adjusted unless the molded plug or pusher is replaced with one having a different shape, and only a recess having a certain size is formed. I could not.

  Generally, the depth of the pocket portion is set to a predetermined size for each of various products in relation to accumulation, packaging, boxing, and the like after manufacturing the PTP sheet. On the other hand, the depth of the concave portion is set to a predetermined dimension for each of various products in relation to the size of an object to be stored such as a tablet. For this reason, if the dimensions of the pocket portion and the recess cannot be adjusted separately, the versatility may be lowered. Further, the work of replacing the molded plug or pusher with a different one for each product may cause a decrease in workability and an increase in production cost.

  In order to be able to adjust the dimensions of the pocket and recess separately, it is conceivable to provide a drive mechanism for controlling the drive of the upper pusher as well as the lower mold plug. When this drive mechanism is provided, there is a concern that the apparatus will be enlarged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is a main object of the present invention to provide a pocket forming apparatus and a PTP packaging machine capable of improving versatility while suppressing an increase in size of the apparatus. One of them.

  Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above-described problem will be described separately. In addition, the effect specific to the means to respond | corresponds as needed is added.

Means 1. A pocket portion forming apparatus for forming a pocket portion for containing an object in a band-shaped film,
A first mold and a second mold for sandwiching the film;
In the first mold and the second mold, a hole formed at a position corresponding to the pocket portion;
The pocket is formed by pressing the film by projecting from the hole of the first mold into the hole of the second mold, provided to be movable along the hole in the hole of the first mold. A pocket forming mold,
A protrusion amount adjusting means configured to adjust the protrusion amount of the pocket portion forming mold, and performing control to retract at least the pocket portion forming die to the first position and then retract to the second position;
A recess-forming mold provided to be movable along the hole in the hole of the second mold, and for forming a recess at the top of the pocket;
By providing an urging means for urging the concave portion forming mold toward the first mold side,
The pocket part forming apparatus characterized in that the depth of the pocket part can be changed and the depth of the concave part can be changed.

  According to the means 1, the film is sandwiched between the first mold and the second mold, and the pocket forming mold is protruded to the first position, so that the recess forming mold is resisted against the urging force of the urging means. A pocket portion having a predetermined depth is formed while pushing back. Subsequently, by retracting the pocket portion forming mold to the second position, the concave portion forming die moves following the pocket portion forming die by the biasing force of the biasing means, and a concave portion having a predetermined depth is formed on the top of the pocket portion. Form.

  As described above, according to the means 1, it is possible to change the depth of the pocket portion and the depth of the concave portion only by performing the operation control of the pocket portion forming type.

  As a result, the depth of the pocket portion and the concave portion can be individually adjusted, so that versatility can be improved. In addition, it is not necessary to replace each forming die only for adjusting the depths of the pocket portion and the recessed portion, and it is possible to improve workability and suppress increase in production cost. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a separate drive mechanism corresponding to each forming mold, and the enlargement of the apparatus can be suppressed.

  Mean 2. The pocket forming apparatus according to means 1, wherein the urging means is constituted by an elastic member.

  According to the means 2, the configuration can be simplified by using an elastic member such as a coil spring as the biasing means.

  In addition, since the film is stretched by the pocket part forming mold to form the pocket part and then the concave part is formed, the concave part forming work can be performed in a state where the film becomes thinner. Even when the elastic member is used and only a relatively weak urging force is obtained, the concave portion can be sufficiently formed.

  Means 3. The pocket part forming apparatus according to means 1 or 2, wherein the film is formed using aluminum as a main material.

  Here, “formed with aluminum as a main material” means not only the case of being formed of aluminum alone, but also includes an aluminum laminate film in which a resin film layer is interposed.

  When a film is formed using aluminum as a main material, it is more likely to be plastically deformed and less likely to be restored to its original shape as compared to the case of forming from a resin material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Crushing deformation of the pocket portion is likely to occur. On the other hand, the intensity | strength of a pocket part can be improved by providing the said recessed part in a pocket part. As a result, it is possible to prevent the pocket portion from being crushed and deformed due to external pressure or the like when the PTP sheet is accumulated.

  Therefore, the configuration of the means 1 and the like is more effective under the configuration of the means 3.

  Means 4. A PTP packaging machine comprising the pocket forming apparatus according to any one of means 1 to 3.

  By providing the PTP packaging machine with the pocket forming apparatus described in the means 1 or the like, there are merits such that the pockets and the recesses can be efficiently formed in the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet.

  The structure shown below is mentioned as a more specific structure of a PTP packaging machine.

“PTP for producing a PTP sheet comprising a container film having a plurality of pockets for accommodating the objects to be accommodated, and a cover film attached to the container film so as to close the pockets. A packaging machine,
A pocket part forming device for forming the pocket part in the container film conveyed in a band shape;
A loading means for loading the object to be stored in the pocket portion;
Attaching means for attaching the band-shaped cover film so as to close the pocket portion with respect to the container film in which the objects to be stored are put in the pocket portion,
A PTP packaging machine comprising sheet punching means for punching a strip-shaped PTP film having the cover film attached to the container film in units of PTP sheets. "

(A) is a perspective view which shows a PTP sheet, (b) is a perspective view which shows a PTP film, (c) is a partial expanded sectional view of a PTP sheet. It is the schematic for demonstrating the whole structure of a PTP packaging machine. It is a fragmentary sectional view which shows schematic structure of a pocket part formation apparatus. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is the elements on larger scale of the pocket part formation apparatus for demonstrating the formation process of a pocket part. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the container film which shows the shape of the pocket part of another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the PTP sheet 1 is attached to the container film 3 having a plurality of pocket portions 2 and the back side of the container film 3 so as to close the pocket portions 2. And a cover film 4. The container film 3 in this embodiment is formed of an aluminum laminate film, and the cover film 4 is formed of an aluminum film.

  The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured into a sheet shape by punching a strip-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 1B) formed from the container film 3 and the cover film 4.

  As shown in FIG.1 (c), each pocket part 2 accommodates the tablet 5 as a to-be-contained object one by one. In the present embodiment, a lens lock having a substantially circular shape in plan view is accommodated as the tablet 5. Correspondingly, the pocket portion 2 is also formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view.

  Further, a concave portion 2 b is provided in the top portion 2 a of each pocket portion 2. The recess 2b in the present embodiment is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view, and is curved and formed in a substantially arc shape in cross section.

  Next, an outline of the PTP packaging machine 8 for manufacturing the PTP sheet 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the uppermost stream side of the PTP packaging machine 8, the raw material of the strip-shaped container film 3 is wound in a roll shape.

  In the PTP packaging machine 8, the container film 3 wound in a roll shape is intermittently transferred, and the pocket portion forming device 14 is arranged along the transfer path of the container film 3. .

  The pocket portion 2 is formed on the container film 3 by the pocket portion forming device 14. The pocket portion 2 is formed at intervals between the transfer operations of the container film 3 by cold working.

  Furthermore, along the transfer path of the container film 3 in which the pocket portion 2 is formed, a tablet loading device 16 as loading means, an inspection device 17 as inspection means, and a film receiving roller 18 are disposed.

  The tablet loading device 16 freely drops the tablet 5 by opening the shutter at predetermined intervals, and the tablet 5 is loaded into each pocket portion 2 in accordance with the shutter opening operation.

  The inspection device 17 is for inspecting whether or not the tablets 5 are reliably filled in the pocket portions 2, whether or not there are abnormalities in the tablets 5, and whether or not foreign matter is mixed. The inspection device 17 performs an inspection from the opening side of the pocket portion 2.

  Moreover, the raw material of the cover film 4 formed in the strip | belt shape is wound by the roll shape in the most upstream side.

  The drawing end of the cover film 4 wound in a roll shape is guided toward the film receiving roller 18. A heating roller 19 can be pressed against the film receiving roller 18, and the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are sent between the rollers 18 and 19. Then, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 pass between the rollers 18 and 19 in a heated and pressed state, so that the cover film 4 is adhered to the back side of the container film 3 and the pocket portion 2 is closed with the cover film 4. Can be removed. Thereby, the PTP film 6 with which the tablet 5 was filled in each pocket part 2 is manufactured. The film receiving roller 18 and the heating roller 19 constitute attachment means in this embodiment.

  On the downstream side of the film receiving roller 18, a perforation forming device 22, a marking device 23, and a sheet punching device 24 are sequentially arranged along the transfer path of the PTP film 6. The perforation forming device 22 has a function of forming perforations at predetermined positions on the PTP film 6. The marking device 23 has a function of attaching a stamp indicating identification information such as a lot number to a predetermined position of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 24 has a function as a sheet punching unit that punches the PTP film 6 into one PTP sheet.

  A scrap hopper 26 for storing the end material 25 from the sheet punching device 24 is provided on the downstream side of the sheet punching device 24. In addition, a conveyor 28 for transferring the punched PTP sheet 1 is provided below the sheet punching device 24. The punched PTP sheet 1 is transferred to a finished product hopper 29 by the conveyor 28. After that, the PTP sheets 1 accommodated in the finished product hopper 29 are set so that two pockets 2 face each other and the pocket portions 2 face each other, and a plurality of sets are accumulated and stacked. Eventually, they are guided to a band (bundling) process or a bag making process and packed in a box. However, when a defective product is determined by the inspection device 17, the PTP sheet 1 that has been determined to be defective is separately discharged by a defective sheet discharge mechanism (not shown).

  The container film 3 and the PTP film 6 are conveyed through a plurality of rollers as shown in FIG. Among these rollers, the rollers 18, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 facing the bulging side of the pocket portion 2 have a positional relationship in which the roller surface and the pocket portion 2 face each other. Since the concave portion for accommodating the pocket portion 2 is formed on the surface of the roller 18 or the like, the pocket portion 2 is not basically crushed. Further, the feeding operation is performed while the pocket portion 2 is housed in each recess such as the film receiving roller 18, so that the intermittent feeding operation and the continuous feeding operation are reliably performed.

  Although the outline of the PTP packaging machine 8 is as described above, the pocket portion forming apparatus 14 will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pocket portion forming apparatus 14 includes a lower mold 41 as a first mold and an upper mold 42 as a second mold. A cylindrical lower mold chamber 44 is fixed on the support base 43 in a fixed state, and the lower mold 41 is fixed on the lower mold chamber 44. In the lower mold 41, a plurality of hole portions 45 are formed at positions corresponding to the positions of the pocket portions 2.

  A plurality of insertion holes are formed in the support base 43, and a rod-shaped slider 46 is inserted into the insertion holes through a bearing mechanism so as to be movable up and down. The slider 46 can be moved up and down between predetermined strokes by the cam mechanism 50. A plate 47 is fixed to the upper end of the slider 46, and a plug base 48 is placed and fixed on the plate 47.

  The plug base 48 has a molded plug 49 that can be inserted into the hole 45 and extends upward. The forming plug 49 constitutes the pocket forming die in this embodiment. The tip shape of the molding plug 49 is substantially the same as the inner shape of the pocket portion 2. That is, a forming recess 49 a for forming the recess 2 b of the top 2 a of the pocket portion 2 is formed at the tip of the molding plug 49. The forming recess 49a is formed in a substantially arc shape in cross section corresponding to the recess 2b.

  Further, the plate 47, the plug base 48, and the molded plug 49 can be moved up and down by the vertical movement of the slider 46 driven by the cam mechanism 50.

  In the present embodiment, the maximum protrusion amount of the molded plug 49 from the hole 45 is configured to be arbitrarily adjustable. Thereby, the depth X [refer FIG.1 (c)] of the pocket part 2 formed in the container film 3 can be suitably adjusted according to a product form.

  Such a configuration can be realized, for example, by adjusting the initial position (for example, the lowest position) of the slider 46 by a predetermined adjustment mechanism (first adjustment mechanism). As the adjustment mechanism, for example, an arbitrary configuration such as adjusting the initial position of the slider 46 by moving a wedge plate (not shown) having a tapered surface in the left-right direction can be adopted. In this case, the wedge plate may be automatically moved by a ball screw mechanism provided with a motor, or may be moved manually. Of course, instead of using the wedge plate, the initial position may be manually adjusted by an initial position adjusting screw or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the molding plug 49 performs a predetermined stroke operation from the lowermost position to the uppermost position (first position) by the position of the cam follower constituting the cam mechanism 50 or the profile of the cam plate, etc. It is configured to perform an operation of moving backward to a predetermined intermediate position (second position) and stopping.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the intermediate position is configured to be arbitrarily adjustable. Thereby, the depth Y [refer FIG.1 (c)] of the recessed part 2b formed in the top part 2a of the pocket part 2 can be suitably adjusted according to a product form.

  Such a configuration can be realized, for example, by providing an adjustment mechanism (second adjustment mechanism) for adjusting the position of the cam follower constituting the cam mechanism 50 or the profile of the cam plate. The cam mechanism 50 and various adjustment mechanisms (first adjustment mechanism and second adjustment mechanism) constitute the protrusion amount adjustment means in the present embodiment.

  On the other hand, an upper plate 51 is provided above the container film 3. A plate 52 is fixed to the lower surface of the upper plate 51, and the upper mold 42 is fixed to the plate 52.

  The upper plate 51, the plate 52 and the upper mold 42 can be moved up and down by a cam mechanism 54. And the container film 3 is clamped by both the molds 41 and 42 by lowering the upper mold 42 and bringing it into contact with the lower mold 41 in a fixed state.

  The upper mold 42 is also provided with a hole 53 similar to the lower mold 41. A pusher 55 is accommodated in each hole 53 so as to be movable up and down. The pusher 55 has a convex cross-sectional shape that protrudes downward. The pusher 55 constitutes a recess forming mold in this embodiment.

  In addition, a restricting portion 53a that restricts the pusher 55 from falling off is formed in the vicinity of the opening of each hole 53 (see FIG. 4 and the like). A coil spring 56 as an urging means (elastic member) is accommodated between the pusher 55 and the plate 52 in a contracted state. As a result, the pusher 55 is normally biased downward.

  Further, a forming convex portion 55 a for forming the concave portion 2 b of the top portion 2 a of the pocket portion 2 is formed at the distal end portion of the pusher 55. The front end surface of the forming convex portion 55a is formed in a substantially arc shape in cross section corresponding to the concave portion 2b.

  Next, the process of forming the pocket portion 2 on the container film 3 will be described.

  During normal operation, that is, during conveyance of the container film 3, the upper mold 42 is separated from the lower mold 41 and is positioned above (see FIG. 4). In this state, the molded plug 49 is retracted in the hole 45 and is separated from the container film 3 downward.

  And when conveyance of the container film 3 is stopped, the upper mold | type 42 will descend | fall and the container film 3 will be clamped by the said upper mold | type 42 and the lower mold | type 41 (refer FIG. 5).

  Subsequently, the molding plug 49 starts to rise and presses the container film 3 (see FIG. 6). When the forming plug 49 is raised by a predetermined amount, the container film 3 is sandwiched between the forming concave portion 49 a of the forming plug 49 and the forming convex portion 55 a of the pusher 55.

  In this state, the molded plug 49 further rises while pushing up the pusher 55 against the urging force of the coil spring 56, and reaches the uppermost position (first position) (see FIG. 7). Thereby, a pocket portion 2 having a predetermined depth X is formed in the container film 3.

  Subsequently, the forming plug 49 moves back to the preset intermediate position (second position) and stops (see FIG. 8). Then, the pusher 55 moves following the molded plug 49 by the urging force of the coil spring 56, and a concave portion 2 b having a predetermined depth Y is formed in the top portion 2 a of the pocket portion 2.

  Thereafter, the upper die 42 is raised and separated from the lower die 41 (see FIG. 9). Subsequently, the molding plug 49 is retracted into the hole 45, and the process of forming the pocket 2 is completed (see FIG. 10).

  As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, it is possible to change the depth X of the pocket portion 2 and change the depth Y of the recess 2b only by controlling the operation of the molding plug 49. It is also possible to do.

  As a result, the depths X and Y of the pocket portion 2 and the recess 2b can be individually adjusted, so that versatility can be improved. Further, it is not necessary to replace the molding plug 49 and the pusher 55 only for adjusting the depths X and Y of the pocket portion 2 and the recessed portion 2b, and it is possible to improve workability and suppress an increase in production cost. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide separate drive mechanisms corresponding to the molded plug 49 and the pusher 55, and the size of the apparatus can be suppressed.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of the said embodiment, For example, you may implement as follows. Of course, other application examples and modification examples not illustrated below are also possible.

  (A) In the said embodiment, the tablet 5, the pocket part 2, and the recessed part 2b of planar view substantially circular shape are illustrated, However, The shape of the tablet 5, the pocket part 2, and the recessed part 2b is limited to the said embodiment. It is not a thing. For example, the tablet 5, the pocket portion 2, or the recess 2 b may have a substantially oval shape, a substantially oval shape, a substantially rhombus shape, or the like in plan view.

  Correspondingly, the molded plug 49 and the pusher 55 may be configured to be exchangeable with ones having different sizes and shapes. Thereby, the pocket part 2 and the recessed part 2b of various sizes and shapes can be accommodated without exchanging the entire pocket part forming apparatus 14.

  (B) Although the recessed part 2b of the said embodiment curves in the cross-sectional arc shape, the shape of the recessed part 2b is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the bottom of the recess 2b may be flat. Moreover, you may employ | adopt a recessed part with a larger curvature than the recessed part 2b of the said embodiment, a recessed part with a large amount of dents, the recessed part formed in step shape, etc. FIG.

  (C) In the above embodiment, the tablet 5 is the object to be contained, but it is also possible to apply to packaging other than the tablet 5 such as a battery element.

  (D) The material of each film 3 and 4 is not limited to the metal material which made aluminum the main material, You may employ | adopt the thing of another material. For example, not only a metal material but also a synthetic resin material may be employed.

  (E) In the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 56 is employed as the biasing means. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other elastic members such as a leaf spring and rubber, an air cushion mechanism, and the like may be employed.

  (F) In the above embodiment, the upper die 42 is moved up and down by the cam mechanism 54, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other actuators such as a cylinder may be used.

  Similarly, the molded plug 49 and the like are configured to move up and down by the cam mechanism 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other actuators such as a cylinder may be used. In such a configuration, the protrusion amount adjusting means is configured by a control mechanism that controls these actuators.

  (G) It is good also as a structure provided with the heating apparatus in the upstream of the pocket part formation apparatus 14. FIG. By adopting such a configuration, the PTP packaging machine 8 can be manufactured not only with the container film 3 made of aluminum but also with a relatively rigid and predetermined thermoplastic resin material such as PP or PVC. The resulting packaging machine (combined machine). Of course, when forming the container film 3 made of aluminum, the heating device is not used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PTP sheet, 2 ... Pocket part, 2a ... Top part, 2b ... Recessed part, 3 ... Container film, 4 ... Cover film, 5 ... Tablet, 8 ... PTP packaging machine, 14 ... Pocket part formation apparatus, 16 ... Tablet insertion apparatus , 18 ... Film receiving roller, 19 ... Heating roller, 24 ... Sheet punching device, 41 ... Lower die, 42 ... Upper die, 45 ... Hole, 49 ... Molding plug, 49a ... Forming recess, 53 ... Hole, 55 ... pusher, 55a ... forming convex part, 56 ... coil spring.

Claims (4)

A pocket portion forming apparatus for forming a pocket portion for containing an object in a band-shaped film,
A first mold and a second mold for sandwiching the film;
In the first mold and the second mold, a hole formed at a position corresponding to the pocket portion;
The pocket is formed by pressing the film by projecting from the hole of the first mold into the hole of the second mold, provided to be movable along the hole in the hole of the first mold. A pocket forming mold,
A protrusion amount adjusting means configured to adjust the protrusion amount of the pocket portion forming mold, and performing control to retract at least the pocket portion forming die to the first position and then retract to the second position;
A recess-forming mold provided to be movable along the hole in the hole of the second mold, and for forming a recess at the top of the pocket;
By providing an urging means for urging the concave portion forming mold toward the first mold side,
The pocket part forming apparatus characterized in that the depth of the pocket part can be changed and the depth of the concave part can be changed.   The pocket portion forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging means is constituted by an elastic member.   The pocket part forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film is formed using aluminum as a main material.   A PTP packaging machine comprising the pocket portion forming device according to claim 1.

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