JP6735523B2 - Tablet printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet printing device that prints predetermined identification information on a tablet and then dries the tablet.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, identification information relating to manufacturers, product categories, etc. is often printed on tablets such as pharmaceuticals and foods by inkjet printing. This identification information is generally composed of alphabets, numbers, or symbols so that the dispensing pharmacy, the patient, or the consumer can know the type of tablet.

Generally, such a device for printing tablets includes a loading unit for loading a plurality of tablets, a transport unit for transporting the multiple tablets loaded from the loading unit in one direction, and a tablet transported by the transport unit. And a printing unit that prints predetermined identification information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, when printing identification information on tablets, the printing surface is often not sufficiently dry after printing the identification information, so if these tablets are ejected directly to the collection box, the tablets will be printed in the collection box. The surfaces may contact each other, and the identification information of one tablet may be transferred to another tablet. When the identification information is transferred in this way, the identification information of the transferred tablet becomes unclear, while the transferred tablet becomes dirty, which is treated as a defective product in the subsequent inspection process, resulting in a yield. Was.

JP, 2013-013711, A

According to the above, when the identification information is printed on the tablet, it is necessary to forcibly dry the printing surface of the tablet after the identification information is printed. Since the distance from the printing location to the discharging location is short, it was difficult to dry the tablets sufficiently while transporting them.

Of course, the distance necessary for the drying process after printing the tablets should be increased in the length direction of the device, but this has a problem of increasing the size of the entire device. Further, it may be considered that the transportation of the tablets is temporarily stopped and the tablets are dried, but there is a problem that the yield of the tablets occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a tablet printing apparatus capable of reliably drying a printing surface of a tablet on which identification information is printed without increasing the size of the apparatus. To aim.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a tablet printing apparatus which prints predetermined identification information on a tablet and then dries the tablet, comprising: a loading section into which a plurality of tablets are loaded; A plurality of tablets inserted from one part in one direction, a printing part that prints predetermined identification information on the tablets transferred by the transfer part, and a predetermined identification information by the printing part. A drying unit for drying the printing surface of the tablet while conveying the printed tablet in the other direction opposite to the conveying unit.

According to this, since the distance necessary for the drying process after printing the tablets is secured below the transport unit, it is possible to reliably dry the printing surface of the tablets on which the identification information is printed without increasing the size of the device. it can.

Further, the transport unit includes a reversing drum provided in the front in the transport direction, a driven shaft provided in the rear in the transport direction, and a transport unit belt wound endlessly on the reversing drum and the driven shaft, The tablets on the conveyor belt may be turned upside down according to the rotation of the turning drum and transferred to the drying section on the same plane. According to this, since the tablets on which the identification information is printed are transferred from the transport section to the drying section on the same plane, it is possible to prevent the printing surfaces of the tablets from contacting each other during the transfer.

In addition, the transport unit reverses the tablets on the transport unit belt according to the rotation of the reversing drum and then transports the tablets for a predetermined distance under the transport unit belt in a suspended state. May be said to be handed over. According to this, since the tablet is transported under the transportation section for a predetermined distance in a suspended state, it is possible to dry the tablet immediately after printing the tablet by the printing section and before drying it by the drying section.

The transport unit may drop a defective tablet downward in the process of transporting the tablet in a suspended state. According to this, among the tablets on which the identification information is printed, the defective tablet can be discharged before the drying step, so that only the non-defective tablet can be handled in the drying step, and the printing surface of a plurality of tablets can be efficiently processed. Can be dried.

Further, the drying unit includes a drive shaft or a driven shaft provided on the front side in the conveying direction, a driven shaft or a drive shaft provided on the rear side in the conveying direction, and a drying endlessly wound around the drive shaft or the driven shaft. The belt for a part may be provided, and the belt for the part for drying may be formed with a flow hole through which gas can flow in the thickness direction. According to this, the gas can flow through the flow holes of the drying section belt, so that the printing surface of the tablet on the drying section belt can be dried more reliably.

Further, the drying unit is provided with a heater inside the drying unit belt, and the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature onto the tablets on the drying unit belt through the flow holes of the drying unit belt. May be. According to this, since the heater is provided inside the belt for the drying unit, it is not necessary to separately provide an installation space for the heater, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, since the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature to the tablets on the drying section belt through the flow holes of the drying section belt, the printing surface of the tablets on the drying section belt can be dried more reliably. ..

Further, the drying section belt may be formed in a mesh shape. According to this, since the total area of the circulation holes of the belt for the drying section becomes large, the printing surface of the tablet on the drying section can be dried more reliably.

According to the present invention, since the distance required for the drying process after printing of tablets is secured below the transport unit, it is possible to reliably dry the printing surface of the tablets on which the identification information is printed without increasing the size of the device. You can Further, when the tablets on which the identification information is printed are transferred from the transport section to the drying section on the same plane, it is possible to prevent the printing surfaces of the tablets from contacting each other during the transfer.

It is a schematic configuration diagram showing a tablet printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is an expanded side view which shows the connection part of the conveyance part and the drying part of the downstream side of the tablet printing apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the drying part of the tablet printing apparatus of FIG.

Next, an embodiment of a tablet printing apparatus according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present apparatus) will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present apparatus includes a base 1, a loading section 2 provided on the upper side of the base 1, and an upstream transport section 3 provided below the loading section 2 in the base 1. A transport unit 4 on the downstream side provided below the transport unit 3 on the upstream side; a drying unit 5 provided below the transport unit 4 on the downstream side; and a control unit 6 for controlling each unit.

In addition, in this embodiment, a dividing line for dividing the tablet T in half is engraved on the surface of the tablet T. The front surface of the tablet T means a surface on which the score line of the tablet T is engraved, and the back surface of the tablet T means a surface on which the score line of the tablet T is not engraved. Further, the one surface of the tablet T refers to a surface on the lower side of the transport unit 3 on the upstream side or a surface on the upper side of the transport unit 4 on the downstream side regardless of the front and back of the tablet T. The other surface of the tablet T refers to the upper surface of the upstream transport unit 3 or the lower surface of the downstream transport unit 4 regardless of whether the tablet T is front or back.

The charging unit 2 includes a hopper 21 having a charging port 21a formed in an upper portion thereof. When a plurality of tablets T are charged into the hopper 21 through the charging port 21a, the tablets T pass through the inside of the hopper 21. , And is discharged to the upstream transport unit 3.

The upstream transport unit 3 transports the plurality of tablets T loaded from the loading unit 2 in one direction (rightward in FIG. 1), and is arranged under the loading unit 2 in a multi-row distribution. The trough 31, the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32 (first conveyor) provided on the front side of the multi-row sorting trough 31 in the conveying direction, and the placement-type conveyor 33 (first conveyor) provided on the front side of the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32 in the conveying direction. 2), and the multi-row sorting trough 31, the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32, and the placement-type conveyor 33 are arranged side by side along the transportation direction.

The multi-row distribution trough 31 is arranged in such a manner that it gradually inclines downward toward the front in the transport direction, and transports the plurality of tablets T while gradually aligning them in the width direction (depth direction in FIG. 1).

The ceiling-suspended conveyor 32 has a drive shaft 321 arranged in the front in the conveying direction, a driven shaft 322 arranged in the rear in the conveying direction, and a timing of endless winding between the drive shaft 321 and the driven shaft 322. The belt 323 is provided, and the timing belt 323 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 when the drive shaft 321 rotates itself by a drive motor (not shown).

Thus, when the plurality of tablets T conveyed from the multi-row distribution trough 31 reach the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32, they are the same in that they are adsorbed to the timing belt 323 of the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32 in a ceiling-mounted state. It is delivered on a flat surface and is transported forward in the transport direction in accordance with the rotation of the timing belt 323 while maintaining its suspended state.

In the present embodiment, at the position in front of the multi-row distribution trough 31 in the transport direction and below the rear end of the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32, the shaft rotates in a predetermined direction (rightward in FIG. 1). An auxiliary roller 324 is provided. The auxiliary roller 324 is arranged such that the highest point on the peripheral surface is higher than the multi-row distribution trough 31 and lower than the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32. For this reason, the auxiliary roller 324 receives the plurality of tablets T from the multi-row distribution trough 31 on the peripheral surface and then raises the tablets T on the peripheral surface in accordance with the rotation, and at the highest point, the auxiliary roller 324 of the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32. It is delivered to the timing belt 323. Generally, the suction force is weak at the end portion of the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32, but the tablet T can be reliably delivered to the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32 by thus raising the tablets T by the auxiliary roller 324.

The stationary conveyor 33 includes a reversing drum 331 arranged in the front in the conveying direction, a driven shaft 332 arranged in the rear in the conveying direction, and a timing belt wound endlessly between the reversing drum 331 and the driven shaft 332. 333, the timing belt 333 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 when the reversing drum 331 rotates about its own axis by a drive motor (not shown).

An intermediate roller 334 is provided at the upper left position of the reversing drum 331, and the timing belt 333 delivered from the reversing drum 331 is lifted to the upper left side of the reversing drum 331 so that A space for arranging each member such as a first imaging unit 101, a third imaging unit 103, a second printing unit 202, and a second inspection imaging unit 302 described later is formed.

Thus, when the plurality of tablets T conveyed from the ceiling-mounted conveyer 32 reach the placement-type conveyer 33, they are delivered on the same plane in such a manner that they are placed on the timing belt 333 of the placement-type conveyer 33. After that, the sheet is conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the timing belt 333 while maintaining the mounted state. Then, the tablets T that have reached the reversing drum 331 are adsorbed on the timing belt 333 by a negative pressure chamber (not shown), and are conveyed downward in a state of being turned upside down as the reversing drum 331 rotates.

The downstream-side transport unit 4 receives the plurality of tablets T from the upstream-side transport unit 3 in an inverted state and transports the tablets T in the other direction (leftward in FIG. 1). A ceiling-mounted conveyor 41 is provided.

The mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41 includes an inversion drum 411 arranged in the front in the conveying direction, a driven shaft 412 arranged in the rear in the conveying direction, and an endless winding between the inversion drum 411 and the driven shaft 412. The timing belt 413 is rotated and the timing belt 413 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 when the reversing drum 411 rotates about its own axis by a drive motor (not shown).

Thus, the tablets T conveyed from the upstream-side conveying unit 3 while being turned upside down are mounted on the timing belt 413 of the mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41 when reaching the mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41. After being delivered in the manner of being placed, it is conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the timing belt 413 while maintaining the placed state. Then, the tablets T that have reached the reversing drum 411 are adsorbed to the timing belt 413 by the negative pressure chamber, are conveyed downward in a state of being turned upside down according to the rotation of the reversing drum 411, and then are suspended from the ceiling under the timing belt 413. It is conveyed for a predetermined distance to the drying unit 5 and delivered on the same plane.

In this way, since the tablets T on which the identification information is printed are transferred from the downstream-side transport section 4 to the drying section 5 on the same plane, it is possible to prevent the printing surfaces of the tablets T from contacting each other during transfer.

Further, since the tablet T is transported under the ceiling of the transport unit 4 on the downstream side for a predetermined distance, the tablet T is printed immediately after the tablet T is printed by the second printing unit 202 and before being dried by the drying unit 5. The T can be dried to some extent.

In addition, a defective product discharge box 42 is provided below the end of the downstream side mounting/ceiling type conveyor 41 on the side of the reversing drum 411. As a result, the tablet T determined to be defective by the control unit 6 is downwardly moved by releasing the suction by the timing belt 413 in the process of being conveyed in the ceiling-suspended state on the mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41. It drops and is discharged to the defective product discharge box 42. Therefore, among the tablets T on which the identification information is printed, defective tablets T can be discharged before the drying step, so that only good tablets T can be handled in the drying step, and the printing surfaces of the plurality of tablets T can be efficiently processed. Can be dried.

The drying unit 5 receives the plurality of tablets T from the downstream-side transport unit 4 in a state of being turned upside down, and receives the plurality of tablets T in a direction opposite to the downstream-side transport unit 4 (right direction in FIG. 1). It is dried while being transported to and comprises a mesh type conveyor 51.

The mesh type conveyor 51 includes a drive shaft 511 arranged at the front side in the conveying direction, a driven shaft 512 arranged at the rear side in the conveying direction, and a mesh shape wound endlessly between the drive shaft 511 and the driven shaft 512. The belt 513 for the drying section is provided, and the belt 513 for the drying section rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 when the drive shaft 511 rotates by its own axis by a drive motor (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the belt 513 for the drying unit is formed by arranging a plurality of elongated string members 513a made of synthetic resin or cloth in a lattice shape in the length direction and the width direction of the apparatus, and forming a plurality of rectangular bands. A shaped through hole 513b is formed. The flow hole 513b is formed with a hole diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the tablet T so that the tablet T does not drop, and one surface (lower surface) of the tablet T is exposed as much as possible from the flow hole 513b. ing.

A heater 8 is provided inside the mesh type conveyor 51. The heater 8 blows warm air of a predetermined temperature on the tablets on the drying unit belt 513 through the circulation holes 513b of the drying unit belt 513. Specifically, the heater 8 directly blows warm air of a predetermined temperature from the circulation holes 513b to the printing surface on the one surface side (lower side) of the tablet T, and the other surface side (upper side) of the tablet T. By blowing hot air of a predetermined temperature that has passed through the flow holes 513b on which the tablets T are not placed, the gas of a predetermined temperature is convected in the entire area below and above the drying unit belt 513. The lower and upper printing surfaces of the tablet T are dried while being dried.

Thus, when the plurality of tablets T transported from the downstream-side transport unit 4 reach the mesh type conveyor 51, they are transferred on the same plane so as to be placed on the drying unit belt 513. Then, the sheet is conveyed forward in the conveying direction in accordance with the rotation of the drying unit belt 513 while maintaining the mounted state. At this time, the tablet T is blown with warm air of a predetermined temperature by the heater, so that the print surfaces on one side (lower side) and the other side (upper side) are dried.

In this way, since the distance required for the drying process after printing the tablets T is ensured below the transport unit 4 on the downstream side, the printing surface of the tablets T on which the identification information is printed can be reliably secured without increasing the size of the device. Can be dried.

Further, since the gas can flow through the flow holes 513b of the drying section belt 513, the printing surface of the tablets T on the drying section belt 513 can be dried more reliably. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the drying part belt 513 is formed in a mesh shape, the total area of the circulation holes 513b of the drying part belt 513 becomes large, so that the printing surface of the tablets T on the drying part 5 is It can be dried more reliably.

Further, since the heater 8 is provided inside the drying unit belt 513, it is not necessary to separately provide an installation space for the heater 8, and the apparatus can be downsized. Further, since the heater 8 blows a gas at a predetermined temperature onto the tablets on the drying section belt 513 through the circulation holes 513b, the printing surface of the tablets T on the drying section belt 513 can be dried more reliably.

A discharging unit 7 is provided in front of the drying unit 5 in the conveying direction, and the non-defective tablets T conveyed while being dried by the drying unit 5 are discharged from the discharging unit 7 to the outside of the apparatus.

The upstream transport unit 3 includes a first image pickup unit 101 arranged below the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32 and a second image pickup unit 102 arranged above the rear portion of the upstream mountable conveyor 33. A first printing unit 201 disposed above the intermediate portion of the upstream side placement type conveyor 33, and a first inspection imaging unit 301 disposed above the front side of the upstream side placement type conveyor 33. Are provided respectively.

The first image capturing unit 101 captures an image of one surface of the tablet T, which is conveyed by the ceiling-suspended conveyor 32 in a suspended state, exposed below the tablet T.

The second image capturing unit 102 captures an image of the other surface of the tablet T that is conveyed by the mounting conveyor 33 in a mounted state and that is exposed to the upper side of the tablet T.

The first printing unit 201 prints predetermined identification information on the other surface of the tablet T based on a command from the control unit 6. Specifically, the first printing unit 201 uses the image data of one surface and the other surface of the tablet T captured by the first image capturing unit 101 and the second image capturing unit 102, based on the other surface of the tablet T. Is printed on the front surface of the tablet T, the front surface identification information (for example, ABC) is printed along the secant direction, and the other surface of the tablet T is on the back surface. , 123) is printed along the same direction as the score line on the surface of the tablet T.

The first inspection imaging unit 301 images the other surface of the tablet T for the tablet T on which the predetermined identification information is printed by the first printing unit 201, and controls the image data of the other surface of the tablet T. It is sent to the part 6. The image data of the other surface of the tablet T by the first inspection imaging unit 301 is used by the control unit 6 to inspect the printing state of the identification information on the other surface of the tablet T.

The downstream transfer unit 4 includes a third imaging unit 103 disposed above the rear portion of the downstream mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41 and an intermediate portion of the downstream mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41. And a second inspection image pickup unit 302 arranged above the front portion of the loading/ceiling-type conveyor 41 on the downstream side.

The third image capturing unit 103 re-images one surface of the plurality of tablets T received from the upstream conveying unit 3 in the inverted state in the downstream mounting/ceiling-type conveyor 41, and The image data of one surface of the tablet T is transmitted to the control unit 6. The imaged data by the third imager 103 is used by the controller 6 for re-recognizing the position of the tablet T, the direction of the secant, and the front and back. As a result, when the downstream transport unit 4 receives a plurality of tablets T from the upstream transport unit 3 in a reversed state, even if the position or direction of the tablets T is slightly changed, By re-imaging the one surface of the tablet T by the imaging unit 103, it is possible to accurately recognize the position of the tablet T, the direction of the secant, and the front and back.

The second printing unit 202 prints predetermined identification information on one surface of the tablet T based on a command from the control unit 6. Specifically, the second printing unit 202 uses one side of the tablet T based on the image data of the one side and the other side of the tablet T captured by the first image capturing unit 101 and the second image capturing unit 102. Is printed on the front surface of the tablet T, the front surface identification information (for example, ABC) is printed along the secant direction, and the back surface of the tablet T having one surface is the back surface identification information (for example, ABC). , 123) is printed along the same direction as the score line on the surface of the tablet T.

The second inspection imaging unit 302 images one surface of the tablet T of the tablet T on which the predetermined identification information is printed by the second printing unit 202, and controls the image data of the one surface of the tablet T. It is sent to the part 6. The image data of the one surface of the tablet T by the second imaging unit for inspection 302 is used by the control unit 6 to inspect the printing state of the identification information on the one surface of the tablet T.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same scope as the present invention or within an equivalent scope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Base 2... Injecting part 21... Hopper 3... Upstream side transport part 31... Multi-row distribution trough 32... Ceiling suspension type conveyor 33... Stationary type conveyor 4・・・Transfer section on the downstream side 41 ・・・Mounting/ceiling type conveyor 5 ・・・Drying section 51 ・・・Mesh type conveyor 6 ・・・Control section 7 ・・・Discharging section 8 ・・・Heater 101・・・First imaging unit 102 ・・・Second imaging unit 103 ・・・Third imaging unit 201 ・・・First printing unit 202 ・・・Second printing unit 301 ・・・First Imaging unit for inspection 302... Second imaging unit for inspection T... Tablet

Claims (5)

A tablet printing apparatus for drying predetermined tablets after printing predetermined identification information on the tablets,
A charging unit for charging a plurality of tablets,
A conveying unit for feeding transportable multiple tablets inserted from the insertion portion,
A printing unit that prints predetermined identification information on the tablets transported by the transport unit;
While feeding transportable tablets predetermined identification information is printed by the printing unit, and a drying unit for drying the printed surface of the tablet,
The drying unit is for a drying unit that is endlessly wound around a drive shaft or a driven shaft provided in the front in the transport direction, a driven shaft or a drive shaft provided in the rear in the transport direction, and the drive shaft or the driven shaft. A belt, the belt for the drying unit is formed with a flow hole through which gas can flow in the thickness direction, and a heater is provided inside the belt for the drying unit,
The tablet printing apparatus , wherein the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature onto the tablets on the drying section belt through the flow holes of the drying section belt . The transport unit includes a reversing drum provided in the front in the transport direction, a driven shaft provided in the rear in the transport direction, and a transport unit belt endlessly wound around the reversing drum and the driven shaft. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tablets on the work belt are turned upside down according to the rotation of the turning drum, and are transferred to the drying unit on the same plane. The transport unit reverses the tablets on the transport unit belt according to the rotation of the reversing drum, and then transports the tablets for a predetermined distance under the transport unit belt in a suspended state, and then on the same plane to the drying unit. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tablet printing apparatus is delivered. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transport unit drops a defective tablet downward in the process of transporting the tablet in a suspended state. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying unit belt is formed in a mesh shape.