JP5818770B2 - Powder supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder supply device that sequentially takes out powder from a powder container and divides it into a desired amount such as a packaging unit. Specifically, the powder is taken out from the powder container by dropping its own weight and carrying it horizontally. The present invention relates to a powder supply device that performs powder division by weighing and intermittent conveyance.

The powder wrapping machine that automatically supplies powder (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 8), in addition to the packaging machine that divides the wrapping paper into packaging units and encloses the powder in each package, upstream and upstream The powder supply part provided is provided.
In addition, most of such powder packaging machines also include a powder distribution division unit disposed between the powder supply unit and the packaging machine (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 and 5 to 8). There are few models that directly send the powder from the powder supply unit to the packaging machine (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

  As the distribution / division mechanism equipped in the powder distribution / division section, there are a distribution mechanism in which a large number of divided ridges are arranged linearly or in an annular shape, and a division mechanism for releasing powder from each tub by opening and closing the basin. Combined mass type (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 4, 5, and 7), a distribution mechanism equipped with a turntable having an annular groove called R-groove, and a scraping / cutting unit that can move back and forth in the R-groove An R disk system combined with a splitting mechanism including the above (see, for example, Patent Documents 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8). In both the mass system and the R disk system, the powder is continuously distributed to each basket and the R groove by receiving powder continuously from the powder supply part while moving the basket and the R groove of the distribution mechanism. In the mass method, the powder is sequentially released from each sputum, and in the R-disc method, the powder is divided by a predetermined amount by scraping and cutting out the R groove by the scraping / cutting unit. The divided powder is sent to the packaging machine.

  As the powder supply device equipped in the powder supply unit, A: a vibratory feeder that sequentially takes out the powder from the powder container and divides the powder into the powder distribution division unit (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3, 5) -8), B: Another type of powder supply device that sequentially takes out powder from the powder container by rotating the shaft of the screw and supplies the powder divided into required amounts by intermittent operation of the screw shaft rotation (for example, Patent Document 2) 3, hereinafter referred to as an axial rotation feeder for convenience, and C: other types of powder supply devices that are dividedly supplied by spraying powder in an air cylinder (see, for example, Patent Document 4, hereinafter, this specification for convenience) Call it a spout feeder).

  Among such conventional powder supply devices, the vibration feeder (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 and 5 to 8) continuously supplies powder. Therefore, when incorporated in a powder dispenser, the powder is divided prior to the division of the powder. The powder distribution division part that distributes and equalizes the powder is also necessary, so it is difficult to meet the demands for miniaturization of powder packaging machines and cost reductions, but powders with the same or similar flow characteristics based on specific gravity, particle size and other factors Are mixed in advance and continuously fed to the powder distribution division unit, and other powders are separately fed separately to the powder distribution division unit and divided into multiple layers. Since it is possible to divide various powders into single-packing units with a single or a small number of powder supply devices, the total cost of the powder packing machine will not increase for that many types of powders. So at present It has been used in many of the powdered medicine packing machine.

  On the other hand, among the above-mentioned conventional powder supply devices, the spray feeder (see, for example, Patent Document 4) feeds powder directly into the packaging machine, so that the powder distribution machine is small in that no powder distribution division unit is required. Although a large number of air cylinders are lined up according to the type of agent and the packaging machine is moved along that line, it is possible to reduce the size by eliminating the powder distribution division part. It has not been widely used to reduce the effect of cost reduction.

  Furthermore, among the conventional powder supply devices described above, the shaft rotation feeder (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3), by intermittently operating the screw shaft rotation, or by combining it with the opening and closing of the outlet shutter, It is possible to divide the powder with finer resolution than the vibration feeder, but in order to prevent the powder from being crushed by the screw, the screw and the gap around it should be larger than a certain size. Since the amount of discharge at the time of minute discharge is not stable, it is difficult to improve the dispensing accuracy at the time of division, and those that can accurately separate powdered medicines even with a minute amount of packaging units are still in practical use It is only used to divide the powder into prescription units and dispensing instruction units that are larger than the packaging unit. The saw Inclusive, etc. cascade arrangement placing the vibrating feeders downstream are used with vibrating feeder.

JP-A-2-4602 JP-A-5-49676 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-80043 JP-A-8-80902 JP-A-9-299452 JP 2001-97532 A JP 2005-272081 A JP 2011-011814 A

Thus, the conventional powder supply device has not been able to be divided and supplied by a simple mechanism. For this reason, the majority of powder wrapping machines still have a mechanism in which a small number of vibratory feeders, powder distribution dividers and packaging machines are cascaded, or a large number of rotary feeders, a few vibration feeders and powder distribution dividers. A mechanism in which the packaging machine and the packaging machine are arranged in cascade is adopted.
However, there is a strong demand for simultaneously reducing the size and reducing the cost of powder medicine packaging machines, and in order to meet this demand, a powder supply device that can supply powders in divided units must be realized with a simple mechanism. Don't be. And, as a countermeasure, the powdered medicine is divided by intermittently operating the vibratory feeder while measuring the amount of powdered powder, rather than stabilizing the amount of discharged powder at the minute amount of the shaft rotary feeder with severe restrictions such as gaps. That seems more feasible.

  However, in powder sachets, only one kind of powder may be packaged as it is, but after adding additives or mixing other powders (hereinafter referred to as mixed powders in this specification). There are many cases of packaging. And if the specific gravity and flow characteristics are different for each component of the mixed powder, even if the powder can be accurately divided on the basis of weight, the mixing ratio will be the first, middle and last May vary to an undesirable degree. When the cause is investigated, it is presumed that not only the characteristics of powder but also vibration is a major factor. In a vibration feeder that explicitly uses a vibration source and actively uses vibration to discharge and feed powders, the mixing ratio varies greatly, and the shaft rotation feeder that generates vibrations negatively as a result of the shaft rotation movement of the screw. However, although the fluctuation of the mixing ratio appears as it is, the mixing ratio did not fluctuate greatly when the powder was dropped from the powder container in the vibration-suppressed state.

  For this reason, it seems that it is difficult to realize the divided supply of the mixed powder in the unit of packaging by remodeling the familiar vibration feeder or the shaft rotation feeder, but some of the vibration feeders (see Patent Document 7) are small. There is a so-called so-called powder transport vibrator that uses an endless belt in the powder delivery path to make the powder transport path vibrated and to vibrate the powder transport path. When recalling that the feeder explicitly uses not only vibration but also conveyance for feeding powder, the powder feeding function is maintained if the horizontal conveyance function is left even if the vibration function is removed from the vibration feeder. I thought.

And in order to confirm it, when the mixed powder was processed by operating the powder feeding type vibration feeder in a vibration stopped state, a result without inconvenience was obtained for the fluctuation of the mixing ratio, but the divided amount of the powder There was still dissatisfaction with the accuracy of. The trial vibratory feeder is for continuous supply, so by simply performing intermittent operation for divided supply and alternately performing powder delivery and weighing, the powder can be divided accurately with a small amount like a packing unit. I can't hope for that.
Therefore, by removing the powder from the powder container by its own weight drop and horizontal transport, and improving the powder supply device that performs powder splitting by weighing and intermittent transport, it is possible to mix mixed powders even in small quantities such as packaging units. Realizing a powder supply device that can be accurately divided is a technical problem.

  In order to solve such problems, the situation when the powder was divided in small portions by the intermittent operation of the endless belt that transports the powder was investigated. It is bent with the curvature of an endless belt that turns around half a turn and gradually changes the conveyance direction from almost horizontal to vertical, and the amount of powder remaining at the time of conveyance stop is not stable at such rounded ends. It has been found. It has also been found that the smaller the curvature of the end portion of the powder transport path, the smaller the amount of powder remaining at the end of the powder transport path when transport is stopped, and the accuracy of the divided amount of the powder is improved accordingly.

  The powder supply device of the present invention (Solution 1) has been invented based on such knowledge, and a powder container capable of dropping the stored powder from its lower end opening under its own weight, and a powder carrier below the lower end opening. A horizontal transport mechanism that positions the path and drops the powder from the powder container sequentially onto the powder transport path during the transport operation but does not drop the powder from the powder container when the transport is stopped, the powder container, and the A weighing unit for measuring the weight of the powder delivery side including a horizontal conveyance mechanism or measuring the weight of the powder reception side including a member for receiving the powder discharged out of the powder conveyance path, and the horizontal conveyance mechanism intermittently The intermittent operation of the horizontal transport mechanism is adapted to the divided amount of the powder by operating and detecting the weight of the powder discharged from the horizontal transport mechanism based on the measurement result of the weighing unit. A powder supply device comprising a control device, wherein a guide surface that abuts on the powder conveyed by the horizontal conveyance mechanism is obliquely crossed on the powder conveyance path and is placed on the powder conveyance path. A powder guide member is provided that discharges the powder that is provided and abutted against the guide surface from the powder conveyance path by a component force along the guide surface of the abutment pressure.

  Further, the powder supply device of the present invention (solution 2) is the powder supply device of the above solution 1, wherein the horizontal transport mechanism includes a rotating disk, and the lower end opening of the powder container is provided. By removing the central part of the rotating disk and being positioned closer to the outer periphery, the powder delivery path becomes a horizontal ring on the upper surface of the rotating disk and conveys the powder in a free-mounted state. It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, the powder supply device of the present invention (solution 3) is the powder supply device of the above solution 2, wherein the upper surface of the rotating disk has a lower portion of the powder transport path than the edge portion, The height difference is characterized in that even if the powder guide member is kept stationary, the powder abutted on the guide surface is only discharged to the powder conveyance path by the component force of the contact pressure.

  Further, the powder supply device of the present invention (solution means 4) is the powder supply device of the above solution means 1 to 3, wherein the powder supply member vibrates either one or both of the powder guide member and the horizontal transport mechanism. A vibration mechanism is provided, and the control device limits the vibration operation of the vibration mechanism to the last package.

  Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 5) is the powder supply apparatus according to any one of the above solution means 1 to 4, and is capable of moving forward and backward in the powder transport path upstream of the powder guide member. In the state, it is provided with a discharge promotion member that can promote discharge of powder by performing a discharge promotion operation, and the control device limits the operation of the discharge promotion member to the last package. .

  Further, the powder supply device of the present invention (solution 6) is the powder supply device of the above solution 1, wherein the horizontal conveyance mechanism is terminated at the powder conveyance path, and the powder guide member is the It is separable with respect to a powder conveyance path, The said control apparatus limits the separation from the said powder conveyance path of the said powder guide member to the last package.

  Moreover, the powder supply apparatus of the present invention is (the solution means 7), the powder supply apparatus of the above solution means 1 to 6, wherein the weighing unit measures the weight of the powder supply side, and the control device However, while calculating the amount of powder to be charged into the powder container, one or both of determining the suitability of the amount of powder charged and calculating the amount of powder divided based on the amount of powder charged is performed. It is characterized by that.

In such a powder supply device of the present invention (Solution means 1), the powder extraction from the powder storage container to the powder transfer path is performed by dropping the dead weight from the lower end opening of the powder storage container and by the horizontal transfer by the horizontal transfer mechanism. By doing so, it is possible to take out the powder without vibration, so it is possible to omit the vibration means at all, or even if there is a vibration means, just suppress the vibration until the division breaks, Powders can be taken out in order in a stable and homogeneous state where the mixing ratio does not vary much even with powders.
In addition, by taking the powder take-out to be executed / stopped in response to the execution / stop of the transfer operation, the powder can be easily divided by the intermittent operation of the horizontal transfer mechanism, and the intermittent operation is By adapting the divided amount of the powder based on the measured weight, it is possible to divide the powder by an arbitrary divided amount whether it is a constant value or a variable value.

In addition, a powder guide member, which is basically a simple fixed member / stationary member, is provided on the powder transport path, and the guide surface of the powder guide member is obliquely crossed with the powder transport path and transported by the horizontal transport mechanism. When the powdered powder comes into contact with the guide surface, it changes the moving direction along the guide surface by the component force of the contact pressure so that it comes out of the powder transport path. The powder is discharged from the side part where it is easy to make the shape of the edge rather than the end part, which is difficult to make the shape steep, so the powder discharge end part can be easily made by simply making the edge shape sharp. Even in such a small amount, the powder can be accurately divided. Moreover, since a distribution mechanism that requires a large member such as an R disk is not required, it contributes to downsizing and cost reduction of the powder medicine packaging machine.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the powder is taken out from the powder container by its own weight drop and horizontal conveyance, and while the powder is divided by weighing and intermittent conveyance, the mixed powder is also a small amount like a packaging unit. However, it is possible to realize a powder supply device that can be accurately divided.

The powder supply device of the present invention (solution 2) is simpler and more robust than the belt-based transport mechanism based on the fact that the powder transport path does not have to end due to the addition of the powder guide member. By implementing a horizontal transport mechanism using a simple rotating disk, a powder supply device that is inexpensive and lasts long can be realized.
In addition, based on the fact that the powder is taken out from the powder container to the powder conveyance path little by little, the lower end opening of the powder container removes the central part of the rotating disk from the outer periphery with respect to the positional relationship between the powder container and the rotating disk. Since the place where the powder falls from the powder container on the upper surface of the rotating disk naturally becomes the powder transport path, the member that scrapes the powder above the powder transport path of the rotating disk is provided. There is no need to form a step on the inner peripheral side of the powder transport path or carve the powder transport path deeply, and the powder transport path becomes a horizontal ring on the upper surface of the rotating disk, of which from the powder container to the powder guide member The powdered medicine is transported in a free-placed state up to.

  Furthermore, in the powder supply device of the present invention (Solution means 3), it is assumed that the powder is taken out from the powder storage container to the horizontal transport mechanism little by little from the edge portion with respect to the upper surface shape of the rotating disk. By lowering the portion of the powder transport path, the powder does not easily spill even if the rotational speed of the disk is increased and the centrifugal force is increased, so the upper limit of the transport speed can be easily increased. Moreover, the height difference between the edge portion and the powder transport path is limited to the extent that the powder that has come into contact with the guide surface is discharged from the powder transport path by the component force of the contact pressure even when the powder guide member is stationary. Therefore, since the function of the powder guide member is maintained, an object such as an R-disk type scraping unit is unnecessary.

  In addition, in the powder supply device of the present invention (solution means 4 and 5), the powder container is emptied at the final stage of taking out the powder by providing the vibration mechanism and other discharge promoting members. It is possible to quickly complete the discharge of the powder from the horizontal transfer mechanism while compensating for the decrease in the discharge efficiency by the powder guide member when the amount of the powder transferred becomes extremely small. In addition, since the operation of the discharge promoting member is limited to the last package, the discharge promoting member does not operate until all the division breaks are over, so vibrations that may cause a change in the mixing ratio do not occur. Therefore, even mixed powder can be divided accurately.

  Moreover, in the powder supply apparatus of the present invention (solution 6), the powder guide member that exerts the powder discharge function by contacting the powder conveyance path can be separated from the powder conveyance path, so that the powder can be taken out. When the powder container becomes empty at the final stage and the amount of powder transported becomes extremely small, the horizontal transport mechanism is terminated at the end of the powder transport path by moving the powder guide member with reduced discharge efficiency away from the powder transport path. Since the powder is discharged from, the powder discharge can be completed promptly. In addition, since the separation of the powder guide member from the powder conveyance path is limited to the last package, the powder is not discharged from the end of the conveyance path until all the division breaks are over, so the division accuracy is impaired. I can't.

  Moreover, in the powder supply apparatus of this invention (solution means 7), the powder input amount to a powder container can be calculated by employ | adopting what measures the weight of the powder delivery side to a weighing | measuring part. Further, in addition to the calculation of the powder input, the determination of the suitability of the powder input and the calculation of the powder split amount are also performed, thereby contributing to the early detection of mistakes and the optimization of the powder split.

About Example 1 of this invention, the structure etc. of a powder supply apparatus are shown, (a) is the schematic diagram which squinted the principal part mechanism which excluded the flame | frame etc., (b) is the schematic diagram which planarly viewed the principal part mechanism, (c) is the schematic diagram which looked at the principal part mechanism from the front, (d) is the schematic diagram of the powder medicine packaging system represented with the block diagram and the perspective view. About Example 2 of this invention, the structure etc. of a powder supply apparatus are shown, (a) is a schematic diagram of a rotary disk etc. which looked down from diagonally upward, (b) is a schematic diagram of a rotary disk etc. which looked up from diagonally below, ( c) is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating disk, (d) to (f) are all enlarged views of one end of the longitudinal sectional view of the rotating disk, and (g) is a perspective view of the powder supply state relating to the sachet before the last. (H) is a perspective view of the powder supply state concerning the last sachet. About Example 3 of this invention, the structure etc. of a powder supply apparatus are shown, (a) is an external appearance perspective view of a principal part mechanism, (b) is a perspective view of the powder supply state which concerns on the package before the last, (c ) Is a perspective view of the powder supply state according to the last sachet.

About the powder supply apparatus of such this invention, the specific form for implementing this is demonstrated by the following Examples 1-3.
The embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 embodies the above-described solving means 1 and 2 (claims 1 and 2 as originally filed), and the embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 3, and 3, 5, 7 (first claims of the application, claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 7) are embodied. The third embodiment shown in FIG. 1, 6, 7 (claims 1, 6, 7 at the beginning of the application) is embodied.
In the illustrations, for the sake of simplicity, details of the electronic circuits such as the housing panel, fasteners such as bolts, couplings such as hinges, electric circuits such as motor drivers, and controllers are omitted. However, the drawings mainly show what is necessary and related to the explanation of the invention.

  About the Example 1 of the powder supply apparatus of this invention, the specific structure is demonstrated referring drawings. FIG. 1A is a schematic view in which a principal part mechanism of a powder supply device 10 is omitted in which FIG. 1A is omitted, FIG. 1B is a schematic view in plan view of a principal part mechanism of the powder supply device 10, and FIG. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the principal part mechanism of the powder supply apparatus 10 from the front.

  The powder supply device 10 includes a horizontal transport mechanism 20 to 22 mainly including a rotating disk 20 having a powder transport path 21, a powder container 30 that can collectively store the powder 5 before being divided, and during the division. A powder guide member 40 that guides the powder 5 that has been transported little by little from the powder transport path 21 to the off-road guide position 23 for discharge supply, their mechanisms 20 to 40, and the powder 5 that remains there. And a control device 11 that performs control and information processing related to the operation of each of the mechanisms 20 to 40.

The horizontal transport mechanisms 20 to 22 are appropriately provided with a rotary disk 20 that is supported rotatably around a vertical axis at the center of the circle with the flat circular upper surface being horizontal, and a rotational drive source such as an electric motor. And a disk rotation drive mechanism 22 that rotates and stops the rotating disk 20 according to the control of the control device 11.
The powder container 30 is similar to the conventional product in that the upper end opening 31 is widened for feeding the powder 5 before splitting, and the stored powder 5 is dropped by its own weight, and is slightly transferred to the horizontal transport mechanisms 20 to 22. A lower end opening 32 that is narrowed so as to be delivered one by one is formed. The powder 5 is smoothly dropped by its own weight, and the container shape is a frustum-shaped cylinder and the inner wall is smoothed so that the mixing ratio does not vary as much as possible even if the powder 5 is a mixed powder. .

  The powder container 30 is provided with an elevating mechanism 33 that can move the powder container 30 up and down in accordance with the control of the control device 11, and by lifting and lowering the powder container 30 disposed just above the rotating disk 20, A portion of the upper surface of the rotating disk 20 that is positioned below the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 is the powder conveying path 21, and the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 and the powder conveying path on the upper surface of the rotating disk 20. The gap with 21 can be opened and closed and adjusted. Further, by maintaining the gap so narrow that the powder 5 does not flow down when the rotating disk 20 and the powder container 30 are stationary, the conveying operation of the horizontal conveying mechanisms 20 to 22 by the rotating operation of the rotating disk 20. Sometimes the powder 5 is dropped from the powder container 30 onto the powder conveyance path 21 in order, but the powder 5 is not dropped from the powder container 30 when the conveyance is stopped due to the rotation stop.

  When arranging the powder container 30 on the rotating disk 20, the entire area of the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 is accommodated on the upper surface of the rotating disk 20 in a plan view, but is separated from the center of the rotating disk 20. By doing so, it is positioned closer to the outer periphery of the rotary disk 20. Thereby, the powder conveyance path 21 that receives the powder 5 from the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 during the rotation operation becomes a horizontal ring shape on the upper surface of the rotary disk 20 and conveys the powder 5 in a free-standing state. It becomes. The distance between the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 and the powder conveyance path 21 and the center of the rotating disk 20 is preferably 1/2 or more of the radius of the upper surface of the rotating disk 20, and preferably 2/3 or more if possible. This is because as the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 is concentrated closer to the outer periphery of the rotary disk 20, the speed difference between the inner and outer periphery of the powder delivery path 21 and thus the imbalance of the powder discharge amount of the lower end opening 32 becomes smaller. The separation distance between the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 and the outer periphery of the rotating disk 20, that is, the edge of the upper surface is preferably small if the powder 5 can be prevented from falling from the rotating disk 20 during conveyance.

  The powder guide member 40 has a guide surface 41 having a length that goes out of the rotary disk 20 across the powder conveyance path 21, and has a horizontal support member 42 and a vertical position in a posture lying above the rotary disk 20. The state where the lower end of the guide surface 41 is in contact with the upper surface of the rotary disk 20 is supported by the support member 43. In the example shown in the figure, a separate member made of soft plastic or the like, which secures close contact over the entire width of the powder transport path 21 without damaging the rotating disk 20 and has little powder 5 adhering, is adopted as the guide surface 41 portion. The member of the guide surface 41 is attached to the main body of the powder guide member 40 having the necessary rigidity. However, it may be a single body as long as it can perform the necessary function.

  The powder guide member 40, in particular the guide surface 41, has one end reaching the inside of the inner periphery of the powder transport path 21, the other end reaching the outside of the outer periphery of the powder transport path 21, and from the edge of the upper surface of the rotary disk 20. Exit and past the off-road guide position 23. Therefore, the powder 5 that has been conveyed through the powder conveyance path 21 comes into contact with the guide surface 41 without any leakage. And the powder 5 which contact | abutted to the guide surface 41 is pressed simultaneously with conveyance by the powder conveyance path 21, but a contact pressure is applied, but the guide surface 41 crosses with respect to the powder conveyance path 21 diagonally. Therefore, it is sent out from the powder delivery path 21 to the off-road guide position 23. More specifically, the guide surface 41 is in a state where one end of the guide surface 41 is closer to the upstream side and the other end portion of the guide surface 41 is closer to the downstream side as viewed in the flow direction of the powder 5 in the powder transport path 21. When the contact pressure of the powder 5 is divided on the basis of the guide surface 41, the component force from the powder transport path 21 toward the out-of-road guide position 23 along the guide surface 41 is divided. The powder 5 in front of the guide surface 41 is discharged from the powder transport path 21 to the outside by the component force.

  The weighing unit 12 employs, for example, a load cell that satisfies the necessary conditions such as the maximum measurement weight, resolution, and accuracy, and includes a horizontal transfer mechanism 20 to 22, a powder storage container 30, a lifting mechanism 33, a powder guide member 40, a support member 42, 43 are arranged directly below or directly below the support member 44 attached indirectly through another member, and their weights are measured. If the powder 5 is present in the powder container 30 or on the rotating disk 20, the weight including the powder 5 is measured, and the weight value of the measurement result is sent to the control device 11 by signal transmission or data communication. ing.

  The control device 11 is an electronic control device mainly composed of a programmable microprocessor system or sequencer, and dispenses instructions that extract and process prescription data and a part of the data by performing necessary control and calculation by program processing. Based on the data, the horizontal transport mechanisms 20 to 22 are intermittently operated, and the weight of the powder 5 discharged from the powder transport path 21 of the rotating disk 20 of the horizontal transport mechanisms 20 to 22 to the off-road guide position 23 by the powder guide member 40. Is detected on the basis of the measurement result of the weighing unit 12 so that the intermittent operation of the horizontal transport mechanisms 20 to 22, particularly the rotating disk 20, is adapted to the divided amount of the powder 5. Further, the control device 11 calculates the amount of the powder to be charged into the powder container 30 based on the measurement result of the weighing unit 12, determines whether or not the powder dose is appropriate, and determines the divided amount of the powder based on the amount of powder charged. The calculation is also performed, but a detailed specific example will be described in the following description of the operation.

  About the powder supply apparatus 10 of this Example 1, the use aspect and operation | movement are demonstrated referring drawings. FIG.1 (d) is the schematic diagram which represented the powder system which equipped the powder distribution machine equipped with the packaging apparatus 50 with the powder supply apparatus 10 with the block diagram and the perspective view, Show.

  The typical usage of the powder supply device 10 is to supply the powder 5 one by one to the packaging device 50 equipped in the powder distribution machine. Here, the powder supply device 10 is incorporated in the powder distribution device together with the packaging device 50. It shall be assumed. The main mechanisms 20 to 40 of the powder supply device 10 are disposed above the mechanism portion of the packaging device 50, and at this time, the out-of-road guide position 23 of the powder supply device 10 is placed on the charging hopper 51 of the packaging device 50 and further above. The temporary storage hopper 52 is positioned above. Therefore, the powder 5 for one package sequentially supplied from the powder supply device 10 is temporarily stored in the temporary storage hopper 52, and promptly charged from the temporary storage hopper 52 to the charging hopper 51 at an appropriate timing. Separately enclosed in paper. Thus, the powder distribution division part is not provided between the powder supply device 10 and the packaging device 50.

  In this example, the packaging machine control device 53 also serves as the control device for the packaging device 50, the control device 11 of the powder supply device 10 is separate from the packaging machine control device 53, and the control device 11 is in communication. Although the devices that cooperate in accordance with the instructions of the packaging machine control device 53 are illustrated, these control devices may be integrated and may be arranged anywhere as long as the operation of each mechanism unit can be controlled. Furthermore, the control devices 11 and 53 control the operation of each mechanism unit according to the operation of an operation member (not shown), and information necessary and useful information for packaging the powder 5 from the outside via an appropriate network or the like. To get. For example, prescription data, dispensing instruction data, and the like are acquired from a prescription order entry system, a prescription receiving device, and the like, and powdered data and the like are acquired from a shared database (DB) that holds a medicine master and the like. Specifically, the prescription drug, patient information, the number of divisions, etc. are obtained from the prescription information, the drug quality and operating conditions are obtained from the powder information, and the information on the responsible pharmacist and the amount of powder 5 are obtained from the assortment information.

  When the powder 5 is to be packaged using such a powder packaging machine, the responsible pharmacist prepares the powder 5 to be packaged based on a prescription or a dispensing instruction prior to using the powder packaging machine. If powder 5 is a mixed powder, weigh each of the indicated powders with an electronic balance, etc., and put them all into one dispensing bowl. When mixed, powder 5 suitable for sachet by the powder sachet is produced. Then, the pharmacist in charge puts the powder into the powder container 30, and further, information necessary for packaging by reading prescription instructions (not shown) or selecting prescription information or dispensing instructions by operating a touch panel (not shown). If the cue is given to the powder dispenser, the dispenser control device 53 and the control device 11 automatically acquire additional information via the network, and based on this, the powder supply device 10 and the packaging device 50 cooperate. Package powder.

  Specifically, first, the control device 11 inputs the weight measurement value after storing the powder from the weighing unit 12, and calculates the difference between it and the previously acquired weight measurement value before storing the powder. The amount of powder input to the powder container 30 related to the powder 5 that is the target of the packaging is calculated. Then, the actual powder dose and the prescription value are compared by the control device 11, and if the actual powder dose is within the prescription value standard allowable range such as ± 5% or ± 10%, it is determined to be appropriate. However, if it deviates from the allowable range, it is determined to be inappropriate and the automatic processing is stopped. On the other hand, if it is determined to be appropriate, the automatic processing of the control device 11 is continued, and the divided amount of the powder is calculated by dividing the actual powder input amount by the number of sachets at the time of specifying the aliquot, and the unequal designation Sometimes, the divided amount of the powder is calculated by multiplying the ratio of the prescription value of each package to the total prescription value by the actual powder input amount.

  When the number of packages and the amount of powder for each package are determined in this way, a notification of powder supply preparation completion is sent from the control device 11 to the packaging machine control device 53. On the other hand, when the packaging device 50 is ready to receive the powder 5 in the temporary storage hopper 52, an instruction to start supplying powder is sent from the packaging machine control device 53 to the control device 11. When the powder supply device 10 and the packaging device 50 are both ready to receive and deliver a single powder, the powder supply device 10 rotates the rotating disk 20 in accordance with the control of the control device 11, and accordingly the powder. The powder 5 in the container 30 falls from the lower end opening 32 and is sent to the powder conveyance path 21 little by little and freely conveyed to the powder guide member 40. That is, the powder 5 is unfolded on the powder transport path 21 as the rotary disk 20 rotates, but is placed on the powder transport path 21 in a free state without being pressed or frayed. Then, along with the circulation movement of the powder delivery path 21, the powder is drawn from directly under the powder container 30 toward the powder guide member 40 and eventually comes into contact with the guide surface 41 of the powder guide member 40.

  The powder 5 abutting against the guide surface 41 is prevented from advancing there. However, since the guide surface 41 is inclined with respect to the powder transport path 21, the powder 5 is guided to the outer peripheral side along the guide surface 41. When released from the road 21 and reaches the off-road guide position 23, it is dropped and released, and temporarily stored in the temporary storage hopper 52 below it. In this way, the powder 5 is successively sent from the powder container 30 and the rotary disk 20 to the temporary storage hopper 52 as the rotary disk 20 rotates, and during this time, the measurement result of the weighing unit 12 is displayed at any time. 11, and the amount of powder supply to the temporary storage hopper 52 is monitored based on the decrease value of the weight value. Since the rotary disk 20 stops rotating and the powder 5 from the out-of-road guide position 23 immediately stops dropping, only the appropriate amount of powder 5 is supplied to the packaging device 50 accurately.

In the packaging device 50 that has received the powder 5 for one package by the temporary storage hopper 52, the powder 5 in the temporary storage hopper 52 is promptly charged into the input hopper 51 when preparations such as the input hopper 51 and the wrapping paper are completed. In addition, the charging operation from the charging hopper 51 to the packaging paper, the heat sealing of the packaging paper, and the like are performed, and the temporary storage hopper 52 is ready to receive the powder 5 for the next packaging.
From then on, the powder supply device 10 and the packaging device 50 are both ready to receive and deliver the next single powder, so the series of operations described above is repeated.

Thus, in the powder dispensing machine incorporating the powder supply device 10, even if there is no powder distribution division unit, an appropriate amount of powder 5 is supplied from the powder supply device 10 to the packaging device 50 each time the rotating disk 20 operates intermittently. And is further enclosed and enclosed in a wrapping paper by the packaging device 50.
Moreover, in the powder supply device 10, the powder 5 is sequentially taken out from the powder container 30 onto the powder transport path 21 without being vibrated, so that the powder 5 is a mixed powder in which different powders are mixed. However, the mixing ratio in each package is almost the same.

  About Example 2 of the powder supply apparatus of this invention, the specific structure is demonstrated with reference to drawing. FIG. 2 shows a further improvement of the powder supply device 10 described above, and (a) is a schematic diagram of the rotating disk 60, the powder guide member 40, the discharge promoting member 61, and the vibration mechanism 63, as viewed from diagonally above. (B) is a schematic view of the rotating disk 60 and the vibration mechanism 64 viewed from obliquely below, (c) is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating disk 60, and (d) to (f) are longitudinal sectional views of the rotating disk 60. It is an enlarged view of the one end part of a figure.

  This powder supply device is different from that of Example 1 described above (see FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b)), that the top surface shape is slightly changed and the rotating disk 20 becomes the rotating disk 60, The discharge promotion member 61, the vibration mechanism 63, and the vibration mechanism 64 are added, and the control content of the control device 11 is partially changed accordingly.

  The rotating disk 60 (see FIGS. 2 (c) to 2 (f)) has an upper surface that is not a completely flat surface but has a slight height difference in the radial direction. More specifically, the part of the powder transport path 21 is lower than the part of the edge 68, in other words, the part of the edge 68 is higher than the part of the powder transport path 21. It has become. The height difference between the powder transport path 21 and the edge 68 is much smaller than the depth of the R disk type R groove described above, and the maximum inclination of the inner surface of the R disk type R groove described above is also the maximum inclination of the inclined portion 67. Even if the powder guide member 40 remains stationary, if the powder 5 on the powder transport path 21 is conveyed toward the powder guide member 40 even when the powder guide member 40 is stationary, the guide surface 41 will be hit. The vibration-free configuration is maintained in which the powdered powder 5 in contact with the powdered powder is discharged from the powder conveying path 21 by the component force of the contact pressure.

  The discharge promoting member 61 (see FIG. 2A) is a shaft-like member having a male screw or a spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral surface made of soft plastic, and the rotating disk 60 is driven by the promoting member driving mechanism 62 according to the control of the control device 11. Is supported in a horizontal posture, and can be moved up and down and rotated. Further, the discharge promoting member 61 is located in the powder transport path 21 on the upper surface of the rotating disk 60, upstream of the powder guide member 40, that is, in the powder transport path 21 leading from the powder container 30 to the powder guide member 40. It is located at a position close to 40, and moves forward and backward to the powder delivery path 21 by moving away from and in contact with the rotating disk 60 by raising and lowering.

  When such a discharge promoting member 61 is lifted and separated from the rotating disk 60, it does not interfere with the flow of the powder 5 in the powder transport path 21 and does not interfere with or change the flow of the powder 5, but when it is lowered In addition, it contacts the upper surface of the rotating disk 60 and crosses the entire width of the powder delivery path 21 in a contact state. Further, when the discharge promoting member 61 performs shaft rotation as the discharge promoting operation in such an approach state, the powder 5 on the powder transport path 21 is moved toward the edge 68, so that the powder 5 is discharged in the approach state. Can be promoted.

  The vibration mechanism 63 and the vibration mechanism 64 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) may be the same as the vibration source provided in the vibration feeder described above. In order to vibrate the powder guide member 40 (see FIG. 2A), for example, it is attached to the support member 42. The vibration mechanism 64 (see FIG. 2B) is a powder guide member of the horizontal transport mechanism. In order to vibrate 40 and a portion close to the off-road guide position 23, it is disposed below the powder guide member 40 and acts on the lower surface of the rotating disk 60 via, for example, a rolling wheel 65.

  The control device 11 also performs operation control of the discharge promotion member 61 and the vibration mechanisms 63 and 64. However, in the control for dividing the powder 5 put into the powder container 30, the discharge promotion is performed until immediately before the final packing. The member 61 is withdrawn from the powder delivery path 21 and is set in a static state where the shaft does not rotate, and the excitation mechanisms 63 and 64 are also set in a static state where the vibration is not caused. And only at the time of the last packing, the discharge promotion member 61 is made to enter the powder transport path 21 and the shaft is rotated to perform the discharge promotion operation, and the vibration mechanisms 63 and 64 are also vibrated to discharge the powder 5. It has come to promote.

  About the powder supply apparatus of this Example 2, the use aspect and operation | movement are demonstrated referring drawings. FIG. 2 (g) is a perspective view of the powder supply state according to the pre-packaging, and FIG. 2 (h) is a perspective view of the powder supply state according to the final package.

Since the basic usage and operation conditions are the same as those described in the first embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be described here.
Since the edge 68 is higher than the powder delivery path 21 on the upper surface of the rotating disk 60, even if the rotational speed of the rotating disk 60 is increased, undesired movement or scattering of the powder 5 due to centrifugal force is unlikely to occur. With respect to the powder flow rate when the powder 5 is sequentially sent from the container 30 to the powder conveyance path 21, the decrease in the flow rate due to vibration suppression can be compensated by improving the conveyance speed.

  In addition, (see FIG. 2 (g)), from the first packaging to just before the last packaging, the discharge promoting member 61 rises and retreats from the powder transport path 21 and remains stationary without rotating. Since neither the vibration mechanism 63 nor the vibration mechanism 64 continues to vibrate, whether the powder 5 is a simple powder or a mixed powder, the division situation is exactly the same as in the first embodiment, and the division speed is the conveyance speed. Corresponding to the improvement, the powdered medicine 5 is supplied promptly.

  Further (see FIG. 2 (g)), the last package that is no longer required to be divided is rotated while the discharge promotion member 61 descends and enters the powder delivery path 21, and the vibration mechanism 63 Since the vibration mechanism 64 also vibrates, even if the amount of the powdered powder 5 becomes small, the powdered powder 5 is quickly supplied from the powder transporting path 21 to the off-road guide position 23 so that the powder 5 can be quickly supplied to the last package. To be done. In addition, since a clear vibration is applied to the last package, in the case of mixed powder, there may be a change in the mixing ratio at the moment of discharge or separation for each drug type due to differences in the characteristics of the powder, There is no inconvenience because it is packed together.

About Example 3 of the powder supply apparatus of this invention, the specific structure is demonstrated referring drawings. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of a main part mechanism of the powder supply device 70.
The main point that this powder supply device 70 is different from those of the first and second embodiments is that the upper surface portion forms a powder conveyance path instead of the horizontal conveyance mechanisms 20 to 22 mainly composed of the rotary disks 20 and 60. A horizontal conveyance mechanism 71 mainly composed of an endless belt 74 is employed.

  In other words, in addition to the horizontal transport mechanism 71 described above, the powder supply device 70 includes a powder storage container 30 that drops the stored powder 5 from its lower end opening under its own weight, and a powder delivery system that includes the powder storage container 30 and the horizontal transport mechanism 71. A weighing unit 12 that measures the weight of the side, a vibration mechanism 77 that vibrates the endless belt 74 of the horizontal transport mechanism 71, and a guide surface that comes into contact with the powder 5 that has been transported by the endless belt 74 of the horizontal transport mechanism 71 Is placed on the powder conveyance path in a state of being obliquely crossed with the powder conveyance path of the endless belt 74, and the powder 5 that contacts the guide surface is applied to the powder distribution path by the component force along the guide surface of the contact pressure. The powder guide member 80 to be discharged out of the road and the endless belt 74 of the horizontal transport mechanism 71 are intermittently operated and the weight of the powder 5 discharged from the horizontal transport mechanism 71 is detected based on the measurement result of the weighing unit 12. In Ri has become that a control device 11 without the intermittent operation shown adapt the division of the powdered medicine 5 the horizontal transport mechanism 71.

  Among them, the powder container 30, the weighing unit 12, and the vibration mechanism 77 are inherited from the conventional powder-feeding type vibration feeder (see Patent Document 7) that has been inherited from the powder supply device 10. However, since there is no corresponding powder guide member 80 in the conventional powder conveyance type vibration feeder, the powder guide member 40 of the powder supply device 10 is adapted to the endless belt 74. The control device 11 (not shown) is succeeded from the powder supply device 10 and is almost in time. The horizontal transfer mechanism 71 is generally sufficient from the conventional powder transfer type vibration feeder. However, a part of the horizontal transfer mechanism 71 is modified for cooperation with the powder guide member 80.

  More specifically, the horizontal transport mechanism 71 uses a portion of the endless belt 74, which is stretched in a substantially horizontal straight line, on the upper surface side as a powder transport path, and is located on both sides of the powder transport path. When the frame 72 and the side frame 73 are installed, the powder container 30 is installed on the powder conveyance path in a state where the lower end opening is accommodated between the side frames 72 and 73, and the endless belt 74 is circulated. The powder 5 is sequentially sent from the powder container 30 to the powder conveyance path of the endless belt 74, and when the endless belt 74 stops, the powder delivery to the powder conveyance path stops. However, unlike the conventional products, the side frames 72 and 73 do not extend to the end 75 of the powder delivery path by the endless belt 74, and are provided only up to a place closer to the powder container 30 than the end 75. .

  Similar to the powder guide member 40, the powder guide member 80 has a guide surface that completely crosses the upper surface of the endless belt 74 that forms the powder conveyance path, and a drive member such as an elevating mechanism or a swing mechanism is attached thereto. Therefore, the lower end of the guide surface can be separated from the powder delivery path. Along with this, the control device 11 is also configured to control the operation of the drive member of the powder guide member 80. However, as with the operation control of the discharge promoting member 61 and the vibration mechanisms 63 and 64 in the powder supply device 10, The separation of the powder guide member 80 from the powder conveyance path is limited to the last package. Further, the powder guide member 80 whose guide surface is obliquely crossed with respect to the powder conveyance path has the end close to the powder container 30 in close contact with the side frame 72 to prevent powder leakage. The end far from the container 30 is separated from the side frame 73, and the gap between the side frame 73 and the powder guide member 80 is defined by the endless belt 74 and the side of the powder conveyance path. The guide position 76 is located at a different location from the terminal end 75.

  About the powder supply apparatus 70 of this Example 3, the usage mode and operation | movement are demonstrated referring drawings. Fig. 3 (b) is a perspective view of the powder supply state according to the pre-packaging, and Fig. 3 (c) is a perspective view of the powder supply state according to the final package.

Since the basic usage and operation conditions are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments, the differences from the first and second embodiments will be described here.
Since the horizontal conveyance mechanism is mainly composed of the rotating disks 20 and 60 to the endless belt 74, the powder conveyance path has a terminal end 75. In the powder supply device 70, when the powder 5 is supplied to the temporary storage hopper 52, the powder 5 is dropped and released from the terminal end 75 in addition to the road guide position 76. In addition, one that can cover the lower part of the end 75 and receive the powder 5 is used.

  And (see FIG. 3 (b)), from the first packaging to immediately before the last packaging, the endless belt 74 is provided for each packaging unit with the guide surface of the powder guide member 80 entering the powder conveyance path. Since the intermittent operation of stopping after rotating is performed, the powder 5 is sequentially conveyed by the endless belt 74 one by one and supplied from the off-road guide position 76 to the temporary storage hopper 52. The precision of powder division is better. In addition, during that time, the vibration mechanism 77 keeps stationary without vibrating, so even if the powder 5 is a mixed powder, fluctuations in the mixing ratio are suppressed, and the division is made accurately.

  Further, (see FIG. 3 (c)), for the last package that is no longer required to be divided, the guide surface of the powder guide member 80 is withdrawn from the powder transport path, so that all the powder 5 remaining is the powder guide. It is conveyed to the end 75 by the endless belt 74 without being obstructed by the member 80. Furthermore, since the vibration exciting mechanism 77 vibrates, the powder container 30 and the side frames 72 and 73 are transported to the end 75 by the endless belt 74 up to a minute amount of powder 5 that has been prevented from being transported. Then, these powdered medicines 5 are promptly fed from the terminal end 75 to the temporary storage hopper 52.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, only one powder supply device is provided in one powder dispenser, but a plurality of powder supply devices may be provided in one powder supply device.
In the above embodiment, the temporary storage hopper 52 for temporarily storing the powder 5 supplied from the powder supply device 10 is incorporated in the packaging device 50, but the temporary storage hopper 52 is incorporated in the powder supply device 10. If timing adjustment is not required, it may be omitted.
In the above embodiment, the weighing unit 12 measures the weight on the powder delivery side. However, if it is not necessary to confirm the suitability of the actual powder input amount, the weighing unit 12 moves from the powder delivery path to the outside. You may measure the weight of the powder receiving side containing the temporary storage hopper 52 which is a member which receives the discharged powder 5.

In the said Example, the opening degree between the lower end opening 32 of the powder container 30 and the powder conveyance path 21 of the rotary disks 20 and 60, the powder conveyance path on the upper surface of the lower end opening of the powder container 30 and the endless belt 74, and The opening between the two is only described as being openable and closable, but may be closed before the powder is loaded into the powder container 30 and opened at the start of the powder supply operation. The opening time may be automatically adjusted by measuring the time required for division.
Similarly, the rotational speeds of the rotary disks 20 and 60 and the feed speed of the endless belt 74 may be variably controlled according to the division required time for each package.

  The powder supply device of the present invention was invented as being suitable for incorporation into a powder dispenser, but its application is not limited to incorporation into a powder dispenser, for example, to a large number of containers. It can also be used with other devices such as a split injection mechanism or used alone.

5 ... powder,
10 ... powder supply device,
11 ... Control device, 12 ... Weighing unit,
20 ... Rotating disk (horizontal transport mechanism), 21 ... Powder transport path,
22 ... Disk rotation drive mechanism (horizontal transport mechanism), 23 ... Off-road guide position,
30 ... Powder container, 31 ... Upper end opening, 32 ... Lower end opening, 33 ... Elevating mechanism,
40 ... powder guide member, 41 ... guide surface, 42, 43, 44 ... support member,
50 ... Packing device, 51 ... Input hopper, 52 ... Temporary storage hopper, 53 ... Packing machine control device,
60 ... Rotating disk (horizontal transport mechanism),
61 ... discharge promotion member, 62 ... promotion member drive mechanism,
63, 64 ... excitation mechanism, 65 ... rolling wheel, 67 ... inclined portion, 68 ... edge,
70 ... powder supply device,
71 ... Horizontal transport mechanism, 72, 73 ... Side frame,
74 ... endless belt (conveyance path forming member), 75 ... end,
76: Off-road guide position, 77 ... Excitation mechanism, 80 ... Powder guide member

Claims (2)

A powder container capable of dropping the stored powder by its own weight from the lower end opening, and a powder transport path located below the lower end opening, and in the transfer operation, the powders are sequentially dropped onto the powder transport path from the powder container. However, when transport is stopped, the weight of the powder delivery side including the horizontal transport mechanism that does not drop the powder from the powder container and the powder container and the horizontal transport mechanism is measured or discharged from the powder transport path to the outside. A weighing unit for measuring the weight of the powder receiving side including a member for receiving the powder, and intermittently operating the horizontal conveyance mechanism and detecting the weight of the powder discharged from the horizontal conveyance mechanism based on the measurement result of the weighing unit A powder supply device comprising: a control device adapted to adapt the intermittent operation of the horizontal transport mechanism to the divided amount of the powder, and the powder transported by the horizontal transport mechanism A guide surface that is in contact with the powder delivery path is obliquely provided on the powder delivery path, and the powder that is in contact with the guide surface is converted into a component force along the guide surface of the contact pressure. The powder guide member that discharges the powder from the powder transport path and the powder transport path can advance and retreat to the upstream of the powder guide member. and a discharge promoting member capable of promoting, wherein the controller the discharge promoting member operated last minute that is adapted to limit the hull diffuser you wherein drug delivery device. A powder container capable of dropping the stored powder by its own weight from the lower end opening, and a powder transport path located below the lower end opening, and in the transfer operation, the powders are sequentially dropped onto the powder transport path from the powder container. However, when transport is stopped, the weight of the powder delivery side including the horizontal transport mechanism that does not drop the powder from the powder container and the powder container and the horizontal transport mechanism is measured or discharged from the powder transport path to the outside. A weighing unit for measuring the weight of the powder receiving side including a member for receiving the powder, and intermittently operating the horizontal conveyance mechanism and detecting the weight of the powder discharged from the horizontal conveyance mechanism based on the measurement result of the weighing unit A powder supply device comprising: a control device adapted to adapt the intermittent operation of the horizontal transport mechanism to the divided amount of the powder, and the powder transported by the horizontal transport mechanism A guide surface that is in contact with the powder delivery path is obliquely provided on the powder delivery path, and the powder that is in contact with the guide surface is converted into a component force along the guide surface of the contact pressure. A powder guide member for discharging from the powder transport path to the outside of the road , and further, the horizontal transport mechanism has a terminal at the powder transport path, and the powder guide member is connected to the powder transport path. Te are those capable of disjunction, the control device is the powdered medicine guiding member of the powdered medicine conveying path separating the last minute that is adapted to limit the hull to that diffuser drug delivery device, wherein from.

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