JP6884506B2 - Hopper and tablet printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hopper used for supplying an orally administered agent such as tablets and capsules and an edible substance such as food, and a tablet printing apparatus in which the hopper is used.

In recent years, in the medical field, in order to prevent medical accidents such as dispensing mistakes by pharmacists and mistaking by patients, tablet printing devices that print by injecting ink onto the surface of tablets by an inkjet printer are known.

In general, this tablet printing apparatus has a tablet supply unit to which tablets are supplied, a tablet transport unit for transporting tablets, a tablet printing unit for printing on the surface of tablets, and a state such as tablet printing, cracking or chipping. It is composed of a tablet inspection unit for inspection and a tablet discharge unit for discharging tablets. According to this, the printing process can be performed on the tablets in a non-contact manner, and clear printing processing is possible not only for FC tablets and sugar-coated tablets but also for uncoated tablets.

Of these, the tablet supply unit will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 6, it is mainly composed of a funnel-shaped hopper 100, and when a tablet is put into the hopper 100, it drops inside the hopper 100. Many of them pass through and are discharged to the tablet transport unit 2.

However, when a tablet is put into a conventional hopper, the tablet may drop to the tablet transport portion at once, and an impact may be applied to the tablet to cause cracking or chipping. Further, when a large amount of tablets are put in, the tablets are stacked in a lump inside the hopper, and the weight (stacking pressure) of the stacked tablets may cause the tablets to crack or chip.

Therefore, a hopper has been proposed that reduces the impact caused by dropping the tablet and reduces the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips in the tablet due to the impact (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-158461

However, even with this conventional tablet supply device, it is not possible to sufficiently reduce defects such as cracking and chipping of tablets due to the impact of dropping, and in particular, cracking and chipping due to the weight (stacking pressure) of a large number of stacked tablets, etc. Deficiency could hardly be alleviated. Such problems are not limited to tablets, but also occur in oral administration agents such as capsules and edible substances such as foods.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a hopper capable of reducing the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips in the edible bodies due to the impact of dropping and the stacking pressure of the stacked edible bodies. The purpose is to provide.

The hopper according to the present invention is a hopper used for supplying an oral administration agent such as tablets and capsules and an edible body such as food in order to achieve the above object, and extends downward in a predetermined inclination direction. A tubular upper hopper portion provided in the embodiment and a tubular lower hopper portion that is connected to the lower portion of the upper hopper portion and extends downward in an inclination direction different from the inclination direction of the upper hopper portion. The edible body put into the upper hopper portion falls along the inclination direction inside the upper hopper portion, and then bends at the joint portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion. It is characterized in that it passes through the lower hopper portion while falling along different inclination directions and is discharged.

In particular, in the present hopper, the upper hopper portion is inclined in a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction, and the lower hopper portion is 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction. It is preferable that the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion are connected in a continuous manner so as to be inclined within the range and to be bent within the range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees. Further, it is more preferable that the lower hopper portion is configured to have a gentler inclination direction than the upper hopper portion.

According to this, in the joint portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion, the tablet that has fallen from above inside the upper hopper portion is decelerated, so that the impact of dropping the tablet can be reduced. Further, in the continuous portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion, the stacked tablets are supported inside the upper hopper portion, so that the stacking pressure of the stacked tablets can be reduced. Further, since the inclination direction of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion can be gently formed without increasing the overall length of the hopper, the tablet can be gently dropped. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips in the tablets due to the impact of dropping and the stacking pressure of the stacked tablets.

Further, the upper hopper portion may be provided with an upper buffer sheet member that cushions the collision of the edible body that has fallen from above on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion in the inclination direction. According to this, the collision of the edible body falling from above can be buffered.

Further, the upper hopper portion has a stacking pressure reducing gate member inside which reduces the stacking pressure of the edible bodies by sequentially passing a part of the edible bodies while blocking the edible bodies stacked upward. It may be provided. According to this, it is possible to reduce the stacking pressure of the edible bodies stacked upward.

Further, the upper hopper portion is a deceleration seat member that decelerates the edible body by passing the edible body that has fallen from above while receiving the edible body that has fallen from above inside the portion that is connected to the lower hopper portion. It may be provided. According to this, the edible body that has fallen from above can be decelerated.

Further, the speed reduction sheet member is preferably made of an elastic member capable of bending in the passing direction of the edible body. According to this, since the deceleration sheet member is made of an elastic member, it is possible to absorb and receive the impact of the edible body that has fallen from above. Further, since the deceleration sheet member bends in the passing direction, even a large amount of edible bodies can be smoothly passed.

Further, the lower hopper portion may be provided with a lower buffer sheet member that cushions the collision of the edible body that has fallen from above on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion in the inclination direction. According to this, the collision of the edible body falling from above can be buffered.

Further, the lower hopper portion may be provided with a strip-shaped supply amount adjusting gate member for adjusting the supply amount of the edible body at the discharge port from which the edible body is discharged. According to this, the supply amount of the edible bodies can be adjusted so that the stacking pressure is not applied to the edible bodies stacked inside the lower hopper portion. Further, since the edible body that has fallen inside the lower hopper portion passes through the strip-shaped supply amount adjusting gate member while bending forward, the edible body can be discharged while decelerating.

Further, the tablet printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the hopper is provided.

According to the present invention, in the joint portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion, the tablet that has fallen from above inside the upper hopper portion is decelerated, so that the impact of dropping the tablet can be reduced. Further, especially when a large amount of tablets is used, the tablet that has fallen from above inside the upper hopper portion is supported in the continuous portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion, so that the product pressure of the tablets is reduced. can do. Further, since the inclination direction of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion can be gently formed without increasing the overall length of the hopper, the tablet can be gently dropped. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips in the tablets due to the impact of dropping and the stacking pressure of the stacked tablets. Therefore, for example, when this hopper is applied to a tablet printing apparatus, it is possible to efficiently produce high-quality tablets without defects such as cracks and chips.

It is a block diagram of the block printing apparatus including this hopper. It is a side view of this hopper. It is a side sectional view of this hopper. It is a cross-sectional view of each part of this hopper. It is a side sectional view which shows the flow of a tablet in this hopper. It is a side sectional view of the conventional hopper.

Next, an embodiment of the hopper according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the hopper 10) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In this embodiment, a case where the hopper 10 is applied to a tablet printing apparatus will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, this tablet printing apparatus includes a tablet supply unit 1 to which the tablet T is supplied, a tablet transport unit 2 for transporting the tablet T, and a tablet printing unit 3 for printing on the front surface and the back surface of the tablet T. It is composed of a tablet inspection unit 4 for inspecting a state such as printing, cracking or chipping of the tablet T, and a tablet discharge unit 5 for discharging the tablet T.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tablet supply unit 1 includes the hopper 10 at the upper part of the base 6. Therefore, when a large amount of tablets T are put into the hopper 10, the tablets T pass through the inside of the hopper 10 and then are discharged to the tablet transport unit 2. The specific configuration of the hopper 10 will be described in detail later.

The tablet transport unit 2 includes an upper conveyor 21 provided on the upper side of the device, an inversion drum 22 provided at the end of the upper conveyor 21 in the transport direction, and a lower conveyor 23 provided on the lower side of the device. And. Therefore, when the tablet T is discharged from the tablet supply unit 1, the tablet T is conveyed in a predetermined direction by the upper conveyor 21, the front and back surfaces are inverted by the reversing drum 22, and then the tablet T is conveyed in the opposite direction by the lower conveyor 23. Will be done.

The tablet printing unit 3 includes a front surface printing unit 31 provided on the upper conveyor 21 and a back surface printing unit 32 provided on the lower conveyor 23, both of which print the tablet T by a non-contact method such as an inkjet method. It is something to do. Therefore, in the process of transporting the tablet T by the upper conveyor 21, predetermined information is printed on the front surface by the front surface printing unit 31, and in the process of being transported by the lower conveyor 23, the tablet T is predetermined by the back surface printing unit 32. Information is printed on the back side. Shape position detection units 33 and 34 for detecting the shape and position of the tablet T are provided at positions immediately before the front surface printing unit 31 and the back surface printing unit 32, respectively.

The tablet inspection unit 4 includes a back surface inspection unit 41 provided above the lower conveyor 23 and a surface inspection unit 42 provided on the tablet discharge unit 5, and is in a state of the tablet T (cracking or chipping of the tablet T). , Print misalignment / bleeding, no printing, etc.). Therefore, after the back surface of the tablet T is printed by the back surface printing unit 32 of the tablet printing unit 3, the state of the back surface of the tablet T is inspected by the back surface inspection unit 41, and the front surface inspection unit 42 in the subsequent tablet discharge unit 5 is inspected. The surface condition of the tablet T is inspected.

The tablet discharge unit 5 includes a suspension transport unit 51 that sucks and suspends the tablet T and transports the tablet T, a non-defective tablet discharge unit 52 that transports the non-defective tablet T, and a defective tablet discharge unit that discharges the defective tablet T. It includes 53. Therefore, in the process of being transported while being suspended by the hanging transport unit 51, the defective tablet T is discharged to the defective tablet discharge unit 53 based on the inspection result by the tablet inspection unit 4. On the other hand, the non-defective tablet T is discharged to the non-defective tablet discharging unit 52 and transported.

Next, the hopper 10 used in the tablet supply unit 1 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 10 has a funnel-shaped first hopper portion 11 provided outside the base 6 in the tablet supply portion 1 and a rectangular tubular shape provided on the upper side inside the base 6. It is composed of a second hopper portion 12 (upper hopper portion) and a rectangular tubular third hopper portion 13 (lower hopper portion) also provided on the lower side in the base 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first hopper portion 11 has a large-diameter tablet loading port 111 formed at the upper end portion and a lower end portion connected to an opening 61 formed in the base 6. .. Therefore, when a large amount of tablets T are charged into the tablet inlet 111 of the first hopper portion 11, the tablets T fall to the opening 61 inside the first hopper portion 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second hopper portion 12 has an upper end portion connected to an opening 61 formed in the base 6 of the tablet supply portion 1, and is inclined rearward of the device along the transport direction H. It is provided so as to extend downward in the direction L.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the inclination direction L of the second hopper portion 12 is an angle α within a range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction H. Therefore, the tablet T that has fallen from the first hopper portion 11 gently falls from the opening 61 of the base 6 along the predetermined inclination direction L inside the second hopper portion 12. The angle α of the inclination direction L of the second hopper portion 13 is set to 30 degrees or more with respect to the transport direction H in order to smoothly drop the tablet T. On the other hand, the angle α of the inclination direction L of the second hopper portion 12 is set to 60 degrees or less with respect to the transport direction H in order to prevent the tablet T from dropping at once.

Further, the second hopper portion 12 is provided with a peephole 121 on the side surface, and the state of the tablet T inside the second hopper portion 12 can be observed from the peephole 121.

Further, the second hopper portion 12 is provided with an upper cushioning sheet member 122, a load pressure reducing gate member 123, and a tablet deceleration sheet member 124, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper cushioning sheet member 122 is a sheet-shaped elastic member formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is spread on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion of the second hopper portion 12 in the inclined direction. Has been done. As a result, the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the first hopper portion 11 can be buffered.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the product pressure reducing gate member 123 is a plate-shaped member formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is orthogonal to the inclination direction L at the upper portion of the second hopper portion 12 in the inclination direction. It is provided so that it can move in the direction. As a result, when a predetermined gap is created between the inner and lower surfaces of the second hopper portion 12 by moving the load pressure reducing gate member 123 upward, the tablet T is blocked while blocking the tablet T stacked upward. Since a part of the tablets T is sequentially passed through a predetermined gap, the stacking pressure of the tablets T stacked upward can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 is a sheet-shaped elastic member formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is provided inside a portion connected to the third hopper portion 13. ing. Specifically, the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 is provided so as to extend downward from the inner upper surface of the lower portion of the second hopper portion 12 in the inclination direction and to leave a predetermined gap from the inner and lower surfaces of the third hopper portion 13. ing. As a result, the tablet T that has fallen from above can be decelerated because the tablet T that has fallen from above is passed downward through a predetermined gap while receiving the tablet T that has fallen from above inside the second hopper portion 12.

In particular, in the present embodiment, since the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 is made of an elastic member, it can receive the impact of the tablet T falling from above while absorbing it. Further, since the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 bends in the passing direction, even a large amount of tablets T can be smoothly passed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the third hopper portion 13 is continuously provided at the lower end portion of the second hopper portion 12 and is provided so as to extend downward in the inclined direction M in front of the apparatus along the transport direction H. In both cases, the discharge port 133 is formed at the lower end portion.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the inclination direction M of the third hopper portion 13 is set to an angle β within the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction H. Therefore, the tablet T that has fallen from the second hopper portion 12 passes through the joint portion of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 while bending, and then passes through the inside of the third hopper portion 13. , It gently falls to the discharge port 133 along the opposite inclination direction. The angle β of the tilt direction M of the third hopper portion 13 is set to 30 degrees or more with respect to the transport direction H in order to smoothly drop the tablet T. On the other hand, the angle β of the tilt direction M of the third hopper portion 13 is set to 60 degrees or less with respect to the transport direction H in order to prevent the tablet T from dropping at once.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inclination direction M of the third hopper portion 13 is configured to be gentler than the inclination direction L of the second hopper portion 12 (angle α of the inclination direction L> angle of the inclination direction M). β), the tablet T can be smoothly discharged from the discharge port 133 of the third hopper unit 13 toward the tablet transfer unit 2 at an appropriate falling speed.

In this way, the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 are connected in a bent state, so that the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 are connected to each other in a second state. Since the tablet T that has fallen from above inside the hopper portion 12 of the hopper decelerates, the impact of dropping the tablet T can be reduced. Further, particularly when the amount of tablets T is large, the tablets T stacked inside the second hopper portion 12 are supported in the continuous portion of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13. , The stacking pressure of the stacked tablets T can be reduced. Further, since the inclination direction of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 can be gently formed without increasing the overall length of the hopper, the tablet T can be gently dropped. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of defects such as cracks and chips in the tablets T due to the impact of dropping and the stacking pressure of the stacked tablets T.

In particular, in the present embodiment, since the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 are connected in a manner of bending at an angle (α + β) of 60 degrees to 90 degrees, the tablet T that has fallen from above is placed. It can be dropped more gently, and the stacking pressure of the tablet T can be further reduced. The angle (α + β) at which the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 bend is set to 60 degrees or more in this way because the inclinations of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 are respectively inclined. This is because the directions L and M need to have an angle of 30 degrees or more. On the other hand, the bending angle (α + β) of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 is set to 90 degrees or less in the joint portion of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13. This is to enhance the effect of decelerating the tablet T and to enhance the effect of reliably bearing the tablet T and reducing the stacking pressure.

Further, the third hopper portion 13 is provided with a lower cushioning sheet member 131 and a supply amount adjusting gate member 132, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the lower cushioning sheet member 131 is a sheet-shaped elastic member formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and extends on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion of the third hopper portion 13 in the inclined direction. It is installed. As a result, the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the second hopper portion 12 can be buffered. The position of the lower cushioning sheet member 131 can be adjusted by moving the third hopper portion 13 in the length direction.

As shown in FIG. 4 (e), the supply amount adjusting gate member 132 is a sheet-shaped elastic member whose overall shape is formed into a rectangular shape in a plan view, and in the present embodiment, a plurality of members notched in the vertical direction. It is formed in the shape of a strip of. As a result, when a predetermined gap is created between the inner and lower surfaces of the third hopper portion 13 by moving the supply amount adjusting gate member 132 upward, the tablet T passes through the predetermined gap. The supply amount of the tablet T can be adjusted so that the product pressure is not applied to the tablet T stacked inside the hopper portion 13 of 3. Further, since the tablet T that has fallen inside the third hopper portion 13 passes through the strip-shaped supply amount adjusting gate member 132 while bending forward, the tablet T can be discharged while decelerating.

Next, the flow of the tablet T in the hopper 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a flow when the amount of tablet T is small when the tablet T is added.

When a small amount of the tablet T is put into the first hopper portion 11, the tablet T falls to the upper part of the second hopper portion 12 in the inclined direction L through the opening 61. At this time, the upper buffer sheet member 122 can buffer the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the first hopper portion 11.

Then, the tablet T gently drops inside the second hopper portion 12 along the inclination direction L. At this time, the tablet T passes through a predetermined gap below the product pressure reducing gate member 123 as it is.

Then, the tablet T passes through the continuous portion of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 while bending. At this time, since the tablet T that has fallen from above inside the second hopper portion 12 decelerates, the impact of dropping the tablet T can be reduced. Further, since the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 receives the tablet T that has fallen from above inside the second hopper portion 12 and passes it downward through a predetermined gap, the tablet T that has fallen from above is decelerated more reliably. Can be made to.

Then, the tablet T falls on the upper part of the third hopper portion 13 in the inclination direction M. At this time, the lower buffer sheet member 131 can buffer the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the second hopper portion 12.

Then, the tablet T gently falls inside the third hopper portion 13 along the inclination direction M, and is discharged from the tablet discharge port 133. At this time, the tablet T that has fallen inside the third hopper portion 13 passes through the strip-shaped supply amount adjusting gate member 132 while bending forward, so that the tablet T can be discharged while decelerating.

FIG. 5B shows a flow when a large amount of tablet T is used.

When a large amount of the tablet T is put into the first hopper portion 11, the tablet T falls to the upper part of the second hopper portion 12 in the inclined direction L through the opening 61. At this time, the upper buffer sheet member 122 can buffer the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the first hopper portion 11.

Then, the tablet T gently drops inside the second hopper portion 12 along the inclination direction L. At this time, the stacking pressure reducing gate member 123 sequentially passes a part of the tablet T through a predetermined gap while blocking the tablet T stacked upward, so that the stacking pressure of the lumpy tablet T stacked upward is applied. It can be mitigated.

Then, the tablet T passes through the continuous portion of the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 while bending. At this time, since the stacked tablets T are supported inside the second hopper portion 12, the stacking pressure of the stacked tablets T can be reduced. Further, since the tablet deceleration sheet member 124 bends in the passing direction, even a large amount of tablets T can be smoothly passed.

Then, the tablet T falls on the upper part of the third hopper portion 13 in the inclination direction M. At this time, the lower buffer sheet member 131 can buffer the collision of the tablet T that has fallen from the second hopper portion 12.

Then, the tablet T gently falls inside the third hopper portion 13 along the inclination direction M, and is discharged from the tablet discharge port 133. At this time, the supply amount adjusting gate member 132 can adjust the supply amount of the tablets T to the extent that the product pressure is not applied to the tablets T stacked inside the third hopper portion 13.

In the present embodiment, both the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion 13 are provided along the transport direction H, but either or either of them is provided in a direction different from the transport direction. May be good. However, even in this case, it is preferable that the second hopper portion 12 and the third hopper portion are connected in succession in a manner of bending within a range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees.

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

1 ... Tablet supply part 10 ... Main hopper 11 ... First hopper part 111 ... Tablet inlet 12 ... Second hopper part (upper hopper part)
121 ... Peep window 122 ... Upper cushioning sheet member 123 ... Stack pressure reduction gate member 124 ... Tablet deceleration sheet member 13 ... Third hopper part (lower hopper part)
131 ... Lower buffer sheet member 132 ... Supply amount adjustment gate member 2 ... Tablet transport section 21 ... Upper conveyor 22 ... Reversing drum 23 ... Lower conveyor 3 ... Tablet printing Part 31 ... Front side printing part 32 ... Back side printing part 4 ... Tablet inspection part 41 ... Backside inspection part 42 ... Front side inspection part 5 ... Tablet discharge part 51 ... Suspended transport part 52 ・ ・ ・ Good tablet discharge part 53 ・ ・ ・ Defective tablet discharge part 6 ・ ・ ・ Base 61 ・ ・ ・ Opening 61

Claims (9)

A hopper used to supply tablets, oral preparations and edible substances.
A tubular upper hopper portion provided so as to extend downward in a predetermined inclination direction, and
It is provided with a tubular lower hopper portion that is connected to the lower portion of the upper hopper portion and is provided so as to extend downward in an inclination direction different from the inclination direction of the upper hopper portion.
The tablet, the oral administration agent, and the edible substance charged into the upper hopper portion fall in the inside of the upper hopper portion along the inclination direction, and then at the joint portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion. It passes while bending, falls inside the lower hopper portion along different inclination directions, and is discharged, and the upper hopper portion is inclined in a range of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction. In addition, the lower hopper portion is inclined in a range of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the transport direction, and the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion are within a range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees. It is connected in a bending manner,
In the continuous portion of the upper hopper portion and the lower hopper portion, the stacking pressure is reduced by supporting tablets, oral administration agents and edible bodies stacked inside the upper hopper portion.
A transport unit is provided below the lower hopper portion, and the tablets, the oral administration agent, and the edible substance discharged from the discharge port of the lower hopper portion are transported in a predetermined direction by the transport unit. hopper. The hopper according to claim 1, wherein the lower hopper portion is configured to have a gentler inclination direction than the upper hopper portion. According to claim 1 or 2, the upper hopper portion is provided with an upper cushioning sheet member that cushions a collision between a tablet, an oral administration agent, and an edible substance that has fallen from above on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion in the inclined direction. The listed hopper. The upper hopper portion is formed by sequentially passing a part of the tablets, the oral administration agent and the edible body while blocking the tablets, the oral administration agent and the edible body stacked on the upper side, thereby forming the tablets, the oral administration agent and the edible body. The hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a stacking pressure reducing gate member for reducing the stacking pressure of the food body is provided inside. The upper hopper portion is passed downward while receiving the tablet, the oral administration agent, and the edible substance that have fallen from above inside the portion connected to the lower hopper portion, so that the tablet, the oral administration agent, and the oral administration agent and the edible substance are passed. The hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a speed reduction sheet member for decelerating the edible body is provided. The hopper according to claim 5, wherein the deceleration sheet member is composed of a tablet, an oral administration agent, and an elastic member capable of bending in the passing direction of an edible body. Claims 1 to claim 1 to claim 1, wherein the lower hopper portion is provided with a lower cushioning sheet member that cushions a collision between a tablet, an oral administration agent, and an edible substance that has fallen from above on the inner and lower surfaces of the upper portion in the inclined direction. The hopper according to any one of 6. The lower hopper portion has a strip-shaped supply amount adjusting gate member for adjusting the supply amount of the tablet, the oral administration agent and the edible body at the discharge port where the tablet, the oral administration agent and the edible body are discharged. The hopper according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is provided. A tablet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the hopper is provided.

Images