JP6932151B2 - Tablet printing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet printing apparatus that performs a printing process on a tablet having a mark for identifying a direction only on the front surface of the front and back surfaces.

Conventionally, a code for identifying a drug is often printed on a tablet of a drug. Typically, the identification code printed on the tablet is, for example, a company code representing the manufacturer or a product code for distinguishing products. Such identification codes are mainly used for dispensing in medical institutions and pharmacies. In addition, in order to prevent accidental ingestion of tablets (for example, prevention of accidental ingestion of antihypertensive agents and pressor agents), tablets may be labeled so that they can be clearly recognized by patients. There is also a desire to number tablets for the purpose of drug traceability.

Such an identification code or the like may be engraved on the surface of the tablet, but there is an increasing need for printing directly on the tablet due to problems in visibility. Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a technique for printing tablets using an inkjet printer.

In Patent Document 1, it is possible to image a plurality of randomly supplied workpieces (tablets) to detect information such as the position and posture of each workpiece, and create a print pattern for each workpiece based on the workpiece information. It is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a plurality of randomly supplied tablets are imaged by a line sensor camera, and print data corresponding to the direction of the dividing line of the tablets is created based on the image data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-20325 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-121432

In the tablet printing technique disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, printing processing is performed only on one side of the tablet (for example, the side on which the dividing line is formed in Patent Document 2), but the front and back surfaces of the tablet are printed. It is also expected to perform printing processing. When printing is performed on both the front and back surfaces of a tablet, it is desirable to print on the front surface and the back surface in the same direction from the viewpoint of preventing forgery of chemicals.

In addition, tablets (particularly uncoated uncoated tablets) are often engraved with a score line for splitting in half. Patent Document 2 discloses that printing is performed in the direction of the score line, but when printing is performed in different directions on the front surface and the back surface of the tablet, the tablet is divided in half by the score line. Occasionally, the printed information on the back side is divided and the information value is lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tablet printing apparatus capable of performing a printing process on the back surface of a tablet provided with a mark.

In order to solve the above problem, in the invention of claim 1, a mark for identifying a direction is provided only on the front surface of the front and back surfaces, and a printing process is performed on a tablet not provided with the mark on the back surface. In the tablet printing apparatus to be performed, the transport mechanism for transporting the tablet, the first imaging unit for imaging one surface of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism, and the other surface of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism are imaged. 2 A second printing unit, which is provided downstream of the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit along the transport direction by the transport mechanism and performs printing processing on one side of the tablet, the first imaging unit and the above. A print control unit that controls the first print unit and the second print unit based on the image data acquired by the second image pickup unit is provided, and the print control unit includes the print control unit of the tablet based on the image data. The direction of the mark on each front surface is specified, and the first printing unit and the second printing unit are controlled so that the back surface of the tablet is printed along a predetermined direction with respect to the mark, and the printing is performed. The control unit specifies the direction of the mark on each surface of the tablet based on the image data, and prints the surface of the tablet in the same direction as the predetermined direction. It is characterized in that the printing unit and the second printing unit are controlled.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in the tablet printing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, the print control unit uses the surface print data for each tablet whose other side is the surface among the transferred tablets. Based on this, the first printing unit is made to perform the printing process for the front surface along the predetermined direction with respect to the mark on the front surface, and for each tablet whose other surface is the back surface, the back surface is printed based on the printing data for the back surface. The back surface printing process is performed on the first printing unit along the same direction as the predetermined direction, and the printing control unit prints the front surface on each of the conveyed tablets whose front surface is one side. Based on the data, the second printing unit is made to perform the printing process for the front surface along the predetermined direction for the mark on the front surface, and for each tablet whose one side is the back surface, based on the printing data for the back surface. The second printing unit is characterized in that the back surface printing process is performed along the same direction as the predetermined direction on the back surface.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the tablet printing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 or 2, the predetermined direction is parallel to the mark.

Further, the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the tablet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the mark is a score line engraved on the surface of the tablet.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is the tablet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first printing unit and the second printing unit are aligned with each other along the transport direction by the transport mechanism. A third imaging unit provided between the printing control units for detecting the misalignment of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism is further provided, and the print control unit is based on the misalignment detected by the third imaging unit. It is characterized in that the printing position for each of the tablets is adjusted by the second printing unit.

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the direction of the mark is specified based on the image data obtained by imaging one side and the other side of the tablet, and the direction of the mark is specified with respect to the back surface of the tablet along a predetermined direction with respect to the mark. Since the printing process is performed, the printing process can also be performed on the back surface of the tablet provided with the mark.

It is a figure which shows the whole schematic structure of the tablet printing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the transfer drum and the first transfer belt. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the processing operation in the tablet printing apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the processing operation in the tablet printing apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of a tablet. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging result by the 10th secant camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging result by the 20th secant camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the print processing result by the 1st inkjet head. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging result by the 30th secant camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the print processing result by the 2nd inkjet head.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a tablet printing apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The tablet printing device 1 is a device that performs printing processing on both the front and back surfaces of a tablet. In addition, in order to clarify the directional relationship between FIGS. 1 and 2, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system in which the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction and the XY plane is the horizontal plane is appropriately attached. Further, in FIG. 1 and the subsequent drawings, the dimensions and numbers of each part are exaggerated or simplified as necessary for easy understanding.

The tablet printing apparatus 1 has, as main elements, a hopper 8, a transport drum 10, a first transport belt 20, a second transport belt 30, a third transport belt 40, a 10th secant camera 51, a 20th secant camera 52, and a 30th secant. It includes a camera 53, a first inkjet head 61, and a second inkjet head 62. Further, the tablet printing device 1 includes a control unit 3 that controls each drive unit provided in the device to advance the printing process on the tablet.

The hopper 8 is provided on the upper side of the ceiling of the housing 5 of the tablet printing device 1. The hopper 8 is a charging unit for charging a large number of tablets into the apparatus at once. The plurality of tablets charged from the hopper 8 are guided to the transport drum 10 by the slider 9. The other elements other than the hopper 8 are provided inside the housing 5 of the tablet printing apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the transport drum 10 and the first transport belt 20. The transport drum (first transport unit) 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is rotated clockwise on the paper of FIG. 1 with a central axis along the Y-axis direction as a rotation center by a rotary drive motor (not shown). NS. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of suction holes 11 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10. In the present embodiment, suction holes 11 are formed in five rows at equal intervals along the central axis of the transport drum 10. Further, a set of suction holes 11 in 5 columns are provided in a plurality of rows at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10.

The shape of the suction hole 11 corresponds to the shape of the tablet to be printed. For example, in this embodiment, since the disk-shaped tablet is processed, the shape of the suction hole 11 is also circular. The size of the suction holes 11 is slightly larger than the size of the tablet. For example, if the diameter of the disk-shaped tablet is about 10 mm, the diameter of the suction hole 11 is about 12 mm.

Small holes smaller than the suction holes 11 are provided at the bottoms of the plurality of suction holes 11, and each of the plurality of suction holes 11 is provided with a suction mechanism inside the transport drum 10 via the small holes (not shown). (Omitted). By operating the suction mechanism, a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to each of the plurality of suction holes 11. As a result, each suction hole 11 of the transport drum 10 can suck and hold one tablet.

Further, inside the transport drum 10, a blow mechanism is provided in the vicinity of a portion facing the first transport belt 20. The blow mechanism blows pressurized air toward the small holes provided at the bottom of the suction holes 11. By blowing air from the blow mechanism, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes 11. As a result, the adsorption state of the tablet by the adsorption hole 11 can be released. In this way, the suction holes 11 in 5 columns and 1 row facing the first transport belt 20 while applying a suction force to the entire plurality of suction holes 11 provided in the transport drum 10 by a suction mechanism. Can be released from adsorption by the blow mechanism.

The first transport belt (second transport unit) 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of holding plates 22 in a belt shape and hanging them on a pair of pulleys. When the pair of pulleys are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), the belt-shaped body composed of the plurality of holding plates 22 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The first transport belt 20 is installed so that a part of a belt-like body composed of a plurality of holding plates 22 is close to and faces the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of holding plates 22 is formed with a plurality of suction holes 21 at equal intervals along the belt width direction (Y-axis direction). In the present embodiment, each holding plate 22 is provided with suction holes 21 in five rows along the Y-axis direction. The shape and size of the suction hole 21 itself of the first transfer belt 20 is the same as that of the suction hole 11 of the transfer drum 10. Further, the distance between the suction holes 21 arranged in five rows on each holding plate 22 is also equal to the distance between the suction holes 11 arranged in five rows along the central axis of the transport drum 10.

Similar to the suction holes 11, small holes smaller than the suction holes 21 are provided at the bottoms of the plurality of suction holes 21, and each of the plurality of suction holes 21 passes through the small holes to the first transport belt 20. It communicates with the suction mechanism provided inside. By operating the suction mechanism, a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to each of the plurality of suction holes 21. As a result, each suction hole 21 of the first transport belt 20 can suck and hold one tablet.

Further, inside the first transport belt 20, a blow mechanism is provided in the vicinity of a portion facing the second transport belt 30, which will be described later. The blow mechanism blows pressurized air toward the small holes provided at the bottom of the suction holes 21. By blowing air from the blow mechanism, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes 21. As a result, the adsorption state of the tablet by the adsorption hole 21 can be released.

Next, the configurations of the second transport belt (third transport section) 30 and the third transport belt (fourth transport section) 40 are substantially the same as those of the first transport belt 20. That is, both the second transport belt 30 and the third transport belt 40 are configured by connecting a plurality of holding plates in a belt shape and hanging them on a pair of pulleys. When the pair of pulleys are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), the second transport belt 30 and the third transport belt 40 rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1, respectively. The second transport belt 30 is installed so that a part of a belt-like body composed of a plurality of holding plates is close to and faces the first transport belt 20. Similarly, the third transport belt 40 is installed so that a part of a belt-like body composed of a plurality of holding plates is close to and faces the second transport belt 30.

A plurality of suction holes (five rows in this embodiment) are formed at equal intervals along the belt width direction (Y-axis direction) on the holding plates of the second transport belt 30 and the third transport belt 40. Similar to the above, a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes of the second transport belt 30 by the suction mechanism provided inside the second transport belt 30. As a result, each suction hole of the second transport belt 30 can suck and hold one tablet. Further, inside the second transport belt 30, a blow mechanism is provided in the vicinity of a portion facing the third transport belt 40. When the blow mechanism blows air, a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is applied to the suction holes of the second transport belt 30, and the suction state of the tablets by the suction holes can be released.

Similarly, a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes of the third transport belt 40 by a suction mechanism provided inside the third transport belt 40. As a result, each suction hole of the third transport belt 40 can suck and hold one tablet. Further, inside the third transport belt 40, blow mechanisms are provided at three locations. When the blow mechanism blows air, a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure is applied to the suction holes of the third transport belt 40, and the suction state of the tablets by the suction holes can be released.

The three blow mechanisms of the third transport belt 40 all blow air downward or diagonally downward. Therefore, of the three blow mechanisms, the blow mechanism provided at the portion facing the non-defective duct 48 releases the adsorbed state of the tablet by the suction hole and discharges the tablet to the non-defective duct 48. be able to. The tablets released into the non-defective duct 48 are collected in the non-defective collection box 58. Further, the blow mechanism provided at the portion facing the uninspected duct 47 blows air to release the adsorbed state of the tablet by the suction hole, and the tablet can be discharged to the uninspected duct 47. The tablets released into the uninspected duct 47 are collected in the uninspected box 57. Further, the blow mechanism provided at the portion facing the defective product duct 46 blows air to release the suction state of the tablet by the suction hole, and the tablet can be discharged to the defective product duct 46. The tablets released into the defective duct 46 are collected in the defective box 56.

Next, the 10th secant camera (1st imaging unit) 51, the 2nd secant camera (2nd imaging unit) 52, and the 30th secant camera (3rd imaging unit) 53 all capture images for capturing a predetermined area. It is a unit, for example, a CCD camera. The 10th secant camera 51 is installed facing the outer peripheral surface so that the imaging area is the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10. Further, the 10th secant camera 51 is provided at a position where the image can be taken from the slider 9 on the downstream side of the transport drum 10 along the transport direction. The first secant camera 51 captures a plurality of tablets that are sucked and held in the suction holes 11 of the transport drum 10 and transported. The size of the imaging area of the 10th secant camera 51 can be appropriately adjusted, but since the image is taken on the peripheral surface of the cylinder of the transport drum 10, focus is applied over a wide range of the peripheral surface of the cylinder. It is difficult. Therefore, the imaging area of the 10th secant camera 51 may be at least large enough to image tablets in 5 columns and 1 row facing the 10th secant camera 51.

The 20th secant camera 52 is installed facing the transport surface so that the imaging area is the transport surface of the first transport belt 20. The second secant camera 52 is provided at a position downstream of the position facing the transport drum 10 along the transport direction of the first transport belt 20 and at a position capable of photographing the upstream side of the first inkjet head 61. Has been done. The second secant camera 52 captures a plurality of tablets that are attracted and held by the first transport belt 20 and transported. The size of the imaging area of the second secant camera 52 can be appropriately adjusted, and it is sufficient as long as it can image at least a tablet in 5 columns and 1 row facing the 20th secant camera 52. .. Since the transport surface of the first transport belt 20 is substantially flat unlike the transport drum 10, it is relatively easy to focus on the entire surface of the 20th secant camera 52 even if the imaging area is wide.

The 30th secant camera 53 is installed facing the transport surface so that the imaging area is the transport surface of the second transport belt 30. The third secant camera 53 is located on the downstream side of the position facing the first transport belt 20 along the transport direction of the second transport belt 30, and is capable of capturing an image on the upstream side of the second inkjet head 62. It is provided in. The third secant camera 53 captures a plurality of tablets that are attracted and held by the second transport belt 30 and transported. The size of the imaging area of the 30th secant camera 53 can be appropriately adjusted, and it is sufficient as long as it can capture at least 5 columns and 1 row of tablets facing the 30th secant camera 53. .. Since the transport surface of the second transport belt 30 is substantially flat as in the case of the second secant camera 52, it is relatively easy to focus on the entire surface of the third secant camera 53 even if the imaging area is wide. ..

The first inkjet head 61 and the second inkjet head 62 include a plurality of ejection nozzles, and eject ink droplets from these ejection nozzles by an inkjet method. The inkjet method may be a piezo method in which a voltage is applied to a piezo element (piezoelectric element) to deform it to eject ink droplets, or an ink droplet is generated by energizing a heater to heat the ink. The thermal method may be used. In the present embodiment, since the printing process is performed on the tablet of the pharmaceutical product, the ink ejected from the first inkjet head 61 and the second inkjet head 62 is an edible ink produced from a raw material approved by the Food Sanitation Law. use. Further, the first inkjet head 61 and the second inkjet head 62 can eject four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), and these are mixed. Color printing is possible.

The first inkjet head 61 is provided on the downstream side of the second secant camera 52 along the transport direction of the first transport belt 20. The first inkjet head 61 performs a printing process on a plurality of tablets that are attracted and held by the first transport belt 20 and transported. Further, the second inkjet head 62 is provided on the downstream side of the 30th secant camera 53 along the conveying direction of the second conveying belt 30. The second inkjet head 62 performs a printing process on a plurality of tablets that are attracted and held by the second transport belt 30 and transported. The first inkjet head 61 and the second inkjet head 62 are preferably full-line heads that cover the entire width direction of the first transport belt 20 and the second transport belt 30, respectively.

Further, the tablet printing device 1 includes a first inspection camera 71 and a second inspection camera 72. As the first inspection camera 71 and the second inspection camera 72, for example, a CCD camera can be used in the same manner as the above-mentioned secant camera. The first inspection camera 71 is installed facing the transport surface so that the imaging area is the transport surface of the second transport belt 30. The first inspection camera 71 is provided at a position where an image can be taken on the downstream side of the second inkjet head 62 along the conveying direction of the second conveying belt 30. The first inspection camera 71 images a plurality of tablets that are sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 and transported. As shown in FIG. 1, the first inspection camera 71 is provided below the second transport belt 30, but since the second transport belt 30 sucks and holds the tablet and transports the tablet, the tablet moves to the lower side. The tablet is transported without falling even when it is facing (the suction hole is opened downward).

The second inspection camera 72 is installed facing the transport surface so that the imaging area is the transport surface of the third transport belt 40. The second inspection camera 72 images a plurality of tablets that are sucked and held by the third transport belt 40 and transported.

Further, the tablet printing apparatus 1 includes a first heater 76 and a second heater 77. As the first heater 76 and the second heater 77, for example, a hot air drying type heater that blows hot air to heat and dry the tablets can be used. The first heater 76 is provided on the downstream side of the first inkjet head 61 along the transport direction of the first transport belt 20. The first heater 76 blows hot air onto the tablets printed by the first inkjet head 61 to dry them.

The second heater 77 is provided on the downstream side of the second inkjet head 62 along the transport direction of the second transport belt 30. The second heater 77 blows hot air onto the tablets printed by the second inkjet head 62 to dry them. The first heater 76 and the second heater 77 are provided below the first transfer belt 20 and the second transfer belt 30, respectively, but the first transfer belt 20 and the second transfer belt 30 are similar to those described above. Since the tablet is adsorbed and held and transported, the tablet is transported without falling even when the tablet is facing downward.

Further, the tablet printing apparatus 1 includes four cleaning mechanisms 81, 82, 83, 84. Powder generated from tablets may adhere to the transfer drum 10, the first transfer belt 20, the second transfer belt 30, and the third transfer belt 40. The cleaning mechanisms 81, 82, 83, and 84 clean the powder adhering to the transfer drum 10, the first transfer belt 20, the second transfer belt 30, and the third transfer belt 40, respectively. As the cleaning mechanism 81, 82, 83, 84, for example, one that blows air to suck and recover the surrounding atmosphere can be adopted.

The control unit 3 controls the various operation mechanisms provided in the tablet printing device 1. The configuration of the control unit 3 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. That is, the control unit 3 stores a CPU that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM that is a read-only memory that stores basic programs, a RAM that is a read / write memory that stores various information, and control software and data. It is configured with a magnetic disk. When the CPU of the control unit 3 executes a predetermined processing program, the processing of the tablets in the tablet printing apparatus 1 proceeds. The control unit 3 also has a function as a print control unit that controls the first inkjet head 61 and the second inkjet head 62 based on the image data acquired by the first secant camera 51, the second secant camera 52, and the like. doing.

Next, the processing operation in the tablet printing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the processing operation in the tablet printing apparatus 1. First, a plurality of tablets are collectively charged into the hopper 8 of the tablet printing apparatus 1 (step S1). The batch loading of tablets may be performed manually by an operator using a bucket or the like, or may be automatically performed by a transport mechanism or the like separate from the tablet printing device 1. However, the plurality of tablets that are put in at once are all of the same type.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of disk-shaped tablets 2 are charged into the hopper 8. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tablet 2. A secant line 7 for splitting in half is engraved on one side of the tablet 2. The secant line 7 is a groove carved along the radial direction of the disk-shaped tablet 2. The secant line 7 is engraved on only one side of the tablet 2.

In the present embodiment, the surface on the side where the secant line 7 is provided is the surface of the tablet 2. The secant line 7 is not engraved on the back surface of the tablet 2. It should be noted that there is no difference in the properties of the drug between the front surface and the back surface of the tablet 2, and the surface on the side where the secant line 7 is provided is merely the front surface for convenience of distinction.

The plurality of tablets 2 put into the hopper 8 are guided to the transport drum 10 by the slider 9, and the plurality of tablets 2 are sucked and held in the suction holes 11 of the transport drum 10 one by one. The transfer drum 10 is provided with suction holes 11 in five rows in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction (circumferential direction of the transfer drum 10), that is, along the central axis direction of the transfer drum 10. Therefore, the transport drum 10 transports a plurality of tablets 2 in five rows in which five tablets are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. In the present specification, a unit in which five tablets are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport drum 10 is referred to as a “row”. That is, the transport drum 10 sucks and holds the tablets 2 individually in each suction hole 11, and transports the plurality of tablets 2 in a state of being arranged in 5 columns and a plurality of rows (step S2). In addition, the hopper 8 is provided with an alignment mechanism for aligning and feeding a plurality of tablets 2 by 5 so that the transport drum 10 can smoothly adsorb and hold the tablets 2 charged from the hopper 8. You may. As such an alignment mechanism, for example, a ball folder type mechanism can be adopted.

Next, the first secant camera 51 takes an image of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the transport drum 10 (step S3). The plurality of tablets 2 are held in the suction holes 11 of the transfer drum 10 and are conveyed clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 1 along the circumferential direction of the transfer drum 10. Although the plurality of tablets 2 are transported in five rows, it is completely random whether the surface of each tablet 2 faces the inside (center side of the transport drum 10) or the outside of the transport drum 10. .. Further, since the circular tablet 2 is held by the circular suction hole 11, the direction of the tablet 2 is arbitrary, and the direction of the score line 7 of each tablet 2 transported by the transport drum 10 is also completely random. The first secant camera 51 takes an image of the tablet 2 from the outside of the transport drum 10. Therefore, the plurality of tablets 2 imaged by the 10th secant camera 51 randomly include one having the front surface facing the 10th secant camera 51 and one having the back surface facing the 10th secant camera 51.

In other words, the 10th secant camera 51 captures one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the transport drum 10. Here, the "one side" is a surface facing the outside of the tablet 2 transported by the transport drum 10, regardless of whether it is the front surface or the back surface of the tablet 2.

Further, the 10th secant camera 51 takes an image for each row in which five tablets are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport drum 10. The reason for doing so is that it is difficult to focus the first secant camera 51 over a plurality of lines because the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10 is cylindrical.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an imaging result by the 10th secant camera 51. The first secant camera 51 captures one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the transport drum 10. Since it is random whether each tablet 2 faces outward or inward when being adsorbed and held by the transport drum 10, a score line 7 is formed on one surface of the plurality of tablets 2 imaged by the first score camera 51. The front surface on which the is formed and the back surface opposite to the surface are randomly included. In the example of FIG. 6, of the tablets 2 arranged in five rows, the front surface of the left end and the center tablet 2 is imaged, and the back surface of the other tablets 2 is imaged by the 10th secant camera 51. The image data as shown in FIG. 6, which is the result captured by the first secant camera 51, is transmitted to the control unit 3.

Next, the tablet 2 in 5 columns and 1 row imaged by the 10th secant camera 51 is further conveyed by the transfer drum 10 to reach a position close to the first transfer belt 20. At this time, the blow mechanism of the transport drum 10 releases the suction state of the tablet 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row by blowing air into the 5 suction holes 11 in which the tablet 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row is sucked and held. do. On the other hand, a negative pressure acts on the suction hole 21 of the holding plate 22 of the first transport belt 20 at a position close to the transport drum 10. Therefore, the tablet 2 in 5 columns and 1 row, which has been released from the suction state by the transfer drum 10, is delivered from the suction hole 11 of the transfer drum 10 to the suction hole 21 of the first transfer belt 20 and is sucked and held. .. In order to reliably deliver such tablets 2, the control unit 3 makes the transport speed of the transport drum 10 equal to the transport speed of the first transport belt 20, and the suction holes 11 and the suction holes 21 are accurately aligned. Control is performed to synchronize the operations of both transport units so as to face each other.

When the tablet 2 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the tablet 2 moves as it is without rotating or the like. That is, each tablet 2 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20 while maintaining the direction of the score line 7.

Further, when the tablets 2 are delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, each tablet 2 is turned upside down. That is, in the transport drum 10, the tablet 2 on which the front surface on which the score line 7 is formed is attracted and held outward is sucked and held in the suction hole 21 of the first transport belt 20 with the back surface facing outward. On the contrary, the tablet 2 which was sucked and held with the back surface facing outward in the transport drum 10 is sucked and held by the first transport belt 20 with the front surface facing outward. Therefore, each tablet 2 transported by the transport drum 10 is turned upside down while maintaining its direction, and is delivered to the first transport belt 20 and transported (step S4).

Subsequently, the second secant camera 52 images a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20 (step S5). The first transport belt 20 transports a plurality of tablets 2 received from the transport drum 10 by turning them upside down in five rows in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The second secant camera 52 takes an image of the tablet 2 from the outside of the first transport belt 20. Therefore, the plurality of tablets 2 imaged by the 20th secant camera 52 also randomly include one having the front surface facing the 20th secant camera 52 and one having the back surface facing the 20th secant camera 52. However, since the front and back sides are reversed when each tablet 2 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the front and back sides of each tablet 2 captured by the first secant camera 51 correspond to the images captured by the second secant camera 52. The front and back of the tablet 2 are completely reversed.

In other words, the 20th secant camera 52 captures the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20. Here, the "other surface" means a surface opposite to the above-mentioned one surface, and is conveyed by the first transfer belt 20 regardless of whether it is the front surface or the back surface of the tablet 2. This is the side facing the outside of the tablet 2.

Since the transport surface of the first transport belt 20 is substantially flat, the second secant camera 52 can image the tablet 2 over a plurality of lines, but in the present embodiment, it matches the imaging range of the first secant camera 51. As such, the second secant camera 52 also takes an image for each row in which five tablets are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the first transport belt 20.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an imaging result by the 20th secant camera 52. The second secant camera 52 images the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20. The other side is the side opposite to one side of the plurality of tablets 2 imaged by the first secant camera 51. Therefore, the back surface of the tablet 2 whose front surface is imaged by the 10th secant camera 51 is imaged by the 20th secant camera 52. On the contrary, the front surface of the tablet 2 whose back surface is imaged by the 10th secant camera 51 is imaged by the 20th secant camera 52.

In the example of FIG. 7, contrary to FIG. 6, of the tablets 2 arranged in five rows, the back surface of the tablet 2 at the left end and the center is imaged, and the front surface of the other tablets 2 on which the secant line 7 is formed. Is imaged by the 20th secant camera 52. The image data as shown in FIG. 7, which is the result captured by the second secant camera 52, is transmitted to the control unit 3. In FIG. 7, the dotted line shows the secant line 7 on one side of the tablet 2 imaged and recognized by the first secant camera 51, and is directly imaged by the second secant camera 52. is not it.

Next, the tablet 2 imaged by the second secant camera 52 is further conveyed by the first conveying belt 20 and reaches a position facing the first inkjet head 61. Then, the first inkjet head 61 performs a printing process on the tablet 2 (step S6). Here, the control unit 3 controls the printing process by the first inkjet head 61 based on the image data acquired by the first secant camera 51 and the second secant camera 52. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the first inkjet head 61.

As described above, the first secant camera 51 captures one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the transport drum 10. When the tablets 2 are delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the front and back sides of all the tablets 2 are reversed. Then, the second secant camera 52 images the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20. Therefore, for all the tablets 2, both the front and back surfaces are imaged by the 10th secant camera 51 and the 20th secant camera 52, and image data is acquired. Specifically, the back surface of the tablet 2 whose front surface is imaged by the first secant camera 51 is imaged by the second secant camera 52 (in the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, the left end and the center tablet 2). Conversely, for the tablet 2 whose back surface is imaged by the first secant camera 51, the front surface is imaged by the second secant camera 52 (in the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, the second, fourth, and fifth tablets 2 from the left). ).

The first inkjet head 61 prints on the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20. The control unit 3 is a tablet 2 having the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20 (the second, fourth, and fifth tablets 2 from the left in the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8). The first inkjet head 61 is made to perform the surface printing process based on the surface printing data. Here, as the surface print data, for example, the character data of "ABCD" is used.

Further, the control unit 3 causes the first inkjet head 61 to perform surface printing processing on the surface of the tablet 2 along a predetermined direction with respect to the secant line 7 engraved on the surface of the tablet 2. In the present embodiment, the first inkjet head 61 performs a printing process along a direction parallel to the score line 7 on the surface of the tablet 2. The direction of the secant 7 in the tablet 2 whose surface is the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20 is controlled by performing image processing on the image data acquired by the second score camera 52. Part 3 can recognize (the direction of the secant line 7 shown by the solid line in FIG. 8). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20, the tablet 2 whose other surface is the surface is along the direction parallel to the score line 7 engraved on the surface. The character string "ABCD" is printed on the surface of the tablet 2 by the first inkjet head 61.

On the other hand, the control unit 3 has a back surface with respect to the tablet 2 having the back surface on the other side (the left end and the center tablet 2 in the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8) among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20. The first inkjet head 61 is subjected to the back side printing process based on the printing data for the back side. Here, the back side print data is, for example, character data of "1234".

Further, the control unit 3 causes the first inkjet head 61 to perform the back surface printing process on the back surface of the tablet 2 along the same direction as the predetermined direction with respect to the secant line 7 engraved on the front surface of the tablet 2. .. In the present embodiment, the printing process is performed on the front surface of the tablet 2 along the direction parallel to the secant line 7, and the back surface of the tablet 2 is also printed along the direction parallel to the secant line 7 on the front surface side. The first inkjet head 61 performs the printing process. Regarding the direction of the secant 7 on the front surface side of the tablet 2 whose other surface is the back surface among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20, image processing is performed on the image data acquired by the first secant camera 51. As a result, the control unit 3 can recognize it (the direction of the secant line 7 shown by the dotted line in FIG. 8). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20, the tablet 2 whose other surface is the back surface is along the direction parallel to the score line 7 engraved on the front surface. The character string "1234" is printed on the back surface of the tablet 2 by the first inkjet head 61.

Further, the control unit 3 finely adjusts (corrects) the printing position of each tablet 2 by the first inkjet head 61 based on the image data acquired by the 20th secant camera 52. Since the size of the suction hole 21 of the first transport belt 20 is slightly larger than the size of the tablet 2, the directionality of each tablet 2 is maintained when the tablet 2 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20. However, there is some variation in the position within the range of the suction holes 21. The control unit 3 detects the deviation of the position of each tablet 2 in the suction hole 21 from the image data acquired by the second secant camera 52, and executes fine adjustment of the printing position based on the detection result. In this way, the printing process on the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 is executed.

Next, the tablet 2 whose other surface has been printed is further conveyed by the first conveying belt 20 to reach a position facing the first heater 76. As shown in FIG. 1, the first heater 76 is installed below the first transport belt 20, and when the tablet 2 reaches a position facing the first heater 76, the tablet 2 is placed on the first transport belt 20. Will be held downwards. Since the first transport belt 20 sucks and holds the tablet 2 by applying a negative pressure to the suction hole 21, it is also possible to hold the tablet 2 downward.

The first heater 76 blows hot air onto the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the first transport belt 20 to dry the plurality of tablets 2 (step S7). By performing such a drying process, the ink ejected from the first inkjet head 61 onto the plurality of tablets 2 can be quickly dried to prevent bleeding.

Next, the tablets 2 in 5 columns and 1 row dried by the first heater 76 are further conveyed by the first transfer belt 20 to reach a position close to the second transfer belt 30. At this time, the blow mechanism of the first transport belt 20 blows air onto the five suction holes 21 in which the tablets 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row are adsorbed and held, so that the tablets 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row are adsorbed. To cancel. On the other hand, a negative pressure acts on the suction holes of the second transport belt 30 at a position close to the first transport belt 20. Therefore, the tablet 2 in 5 columns and 1 row whose suction state by the first transport belt 20 is released is transferred from the suction hole 21 of the first transport belt 20 to the suction hole of the second transport belt 30 and is sucked and held. It will be. In order to reliably deliver such tablets 2, the control unit 3 makes the transport speed of the first transport belt 20 equal to the transport speed of the second transport belt 30, and the suction holes of both transport belts are accurate. Control is performed to synchronize the operations of both transport belts so as to face each other.

When the tablet 2 is delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30, the tablet 2 moves as it is without rotating or the like. That is, each tablet 2 is delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30 while maintaining the direction of the score line 7.

Further, when the tablets 2 are delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30, each tablet 2 is turned upside down. That is, in the first transport belt 20, the tablet 2 on which the front surface on which the score line 7 is formed is attracted and held outward is sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 with the back surface facing outward. On the contrary, the tablet 2 which was sucked and held with the back surface facing outward in the first transport belt 20 is sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 with the front surface facing outward. Therefore, each tablet 2 transported by the first transport belt 20 is turned upside down while maintaining its direction, and is delivered to the second transport belt 30 and transported (step S8).

Subsequently, the third secant camera 53 takes an image of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30 (step S9). The second transport belt 30 transports a plurality of tablets 2 received from the first transport belt 20 by turning them upside down in five rows in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The third secant camera 53 takes an image of the tablet 2 from the outside of the second transport belt 30. Therefore, the front and back of each tablet 2 imaged by the 30th secant camera 53 is completely opposite to the front and back of the corresponding tablet 2 imaged by the 20th secant camera 52, while the correspondence imaged by the 10th secant camera 51. It completely matches the front and back sides of the tablet 2 to be used. That is, the 30th secant camera 53, like the 10th secant camera 51, captures one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30.

Since the transport surface of the second transport belt 30 is substantially flat, the 30th secant camera 53 can image the tablet 2 over a plurality of lines, but in the present embodiment, it matches the imaging range of the 10th secant camera 51. As such, the 30th secant camera 53 also takes an image for each row in which five tablets are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the second transport belt 30.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an imaging result by the 30th secant camera 53. The third secant camera 53, like the first secant camera 51, captures one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30. Therefore, the image pickup result by the 30th secant camera 53 is substantially the same as the image pickup result by the 10th secant camera 51. In particular, with respect to the respective directions of the plurality of tablets 2, the imaging result by the 30th secant camera 53 and the imaging result by the 10th secant camera 51 completely match.

In the example of FIG. 9, among the tablets 2 arranged in five rows, the front surface on which the score line 7 is formed is imaged for the tablet 2 at the left end and the center, and the back surface is captured for the other tablets 2 as in FIG. The image is taken by the third secant camera 53. The image data as shown in FIG. 9, which is the result captured by the third secant camera 53, is transmitted to the control unit 3. In FIG. 9, the dotted line shows the secant line 7 on the other side of the tablet 2 imaged and recognized by the second secant camera 52, and is directly imaged by the 30th secant camera 53. is not it.

However, the control unit 3 does not recognize the direction of the secant 7 engraved on the surface of the tablet 2 from the image data acquired by the 30th secant camera 53. This is because the direction of the secant 7 is already recognized from the image data acquired by the first secant camera 51 for the tablet 2 whose one side is the front surface, and there is no need to perform it again. Rather, if the control unit 3 recognizes the direction of the secant 7 from the image data acquired by the secant camera 53, it may print 180 ° in reverse during the printing process by the second inkjet head 62, which will be described later. There is.

The imaging by the third secant camera 53 is performed in order to detect the variation in the positions of the plurality of tablets 2 that are attracted and held by the second transport belt 30. The control unit 3 detects the displacement of the position of each tablet 2 in the suction hole of the second transport belt 30 from the image data acquired by the 30th secant camera 53.

Next, the tablet 2 imaged by the 30th secant camera 53 is further conveyed by the second conveying belt 30 to reach a position facing the second inkjet head 62. Then, the second inkjet head 62 performs a printing process on the tablet 2 (step S10). Here, the control unit 3 controls the printing process by the second inkjet head 62 based on the image data acquired by the first secant camera 51 and the second secant camera 52. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the second inkjet head 62.

The second inkjet head 62 performs a printing process on one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30. The control unit 3 prints on the surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30 on the tablet 2 having one surface on one side (the left end and the center tablet 2 in the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10). The second inkjet head 62 is subjected to surface printing processing based on the data. Here, the surface print data is the same character data of "ABCD" as described above.

In addition, the control unit 3 causes the second inkjet head 62 to perform surface printing processing on the surface of the tablet 2 along the predetermined direction with respect to the score line 7 engraved on the surface of the tablet 2. In the present embodiment, the second inkjet head 62 performs the printing process along the direction parallel to the dividing line 7 on the surface of the tablet 2. The direction of the secant 7 in the tablet 2 having one surface of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30 is controlled by performing image processing on the image data acquired by the first score camera 51. Part 3 can recognize (the direction of the secant line 7 shown by the solid line in FIG. 10). As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30, the tablet 2 having one surface as the surface is along the direction parallel to the score line 7 engraved on the surface. The character string "ABCD" is printed on the surface of the tablet 2 by the second inkjet head 62.

On the other hand, the control unit 3 is the tablet 2 having one side of the back surface of the plurality of tablets 2 conveyed by the second transfer belt 30 (the second, fourth, and fifth tablets from the left in the examples of FIGS. 9 and 10). For 2), the second inkjet head 62 is made to perform the back side printing process based on the back side print data. Here, the back side print data is the same character data of "1234" as described above.

Further, the control unit 3 causes the second inkjet head 62 to perform the back surface printing process on the back surface of the tablet 2 along the same direction as the predetermined direction with respect to the secant line 7 engraved on the front surface of the tablet 2. .. In the present embodiment, the printing process is performed on the front surface of the tablet 2 along the direction parallel to the secant line 7, and the back surface of the tablet 2 is also printed along the direction parallel to the secant line 7 on the front surface side. The second inkjet head 62 performs the printing process. Regarding the direction of the front side dividing line 7 of the tablet 2 having one side of the back surface of the plurality of tablets 2 conveyed by the second conveying belt 30, image processing is performed on the image data acquired by the second dividing line camera 52. As a result, the control unit 3 can recognize it (the direction of the secant line 7 shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10). As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, among the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30, the tablet 2 having one surface on the back surface is along the direction parallel to the score line 7 engraved on the front surface. The character string "1234" is printed on the back surface of the tablet 2 by the second inkjet head 62.

Further, the control unit 3 finely adjusts (corrects) the printing position of each tablet 2 by the second inkjet head 62 based on the image data acquired by the 30th secant camera 53. Similar to the above, when the tablets 2 are delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30, the directionality of each tablet 2 is maintained, but there is a slight variation in the position within the range of the suction holes. Occurs. The control unit 3 detects the displacement of the position of each tablet 2 in the suction hole of the second transport belt 30 from the image data acquired by the 30th secant camera 53, and fine-tunes the printing position based on the detection result. Do it. In this way, the printing process on one side of the plurality of tablets 2 is executed.

Next, the tablet 2 printed on one side is further conveyed by the second conveying belt 30 to reach a position facing the first inspection camera 71. The first inspection camera 71 images one side of a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30, and images the result of printing processing on one side of the plurality of tablets 2 by the second inkjet head 62. The first inspection camera 71 transmits the acquired image data to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 confirms the print processing result of the second inkjet head 62 on one side of the plurality of tablets 2 based on the image data acquired by the first inspection camera 71 (step S11).

Subsequently, the tablet 2 whose printing process result on one side is inspected is further conveyed by the second conveying belt 30 to reach a position facing the second heater 77. The second heater 77 blows hot air onto one side of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the second transport belt 30 to dry the plurality of tablets 2 (step S12). By performing such a drying process, the ink ejected from the second inkjet head 62 onto the plurality of tablets 2 can be quickly dried to prevent bleeding.

Next, the tablets 2 in 5 columns and 1 row dried by the second heater 77 are further conveyed by the second transfer belt 30 to reach a position close to the third transfer belt 40. At this time, the blow mechanism of the second transport belt 30 blows air onto the five suction holes in which the tablets 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row are adsorbed and held, so that the adsorption state for the tablets 2 in the 5 columns and 1 row is determined. unlock. On the other hand, a negative pressure acts on the suction hole of the third transport belt 40 at a position close to the second transport belt 30. Therefore, the tablet 2 in 5 columns and 1 row whose suction state by the 2nd transport belt 30 is released is transferred from the suction hole of the 2nd transport belt 30 to the suction hole of the 3rd transport belt 40 and held by suction. It becomes. In order to reliably deliver such tablets 2, the control unit 3 makes the transport speed of the second transport belt 30 equal to the transport speed of the third transport belt 40, and the suction holes of both transport belts are accurate. Control is performed to synchronize the operations of both transport belts so as to face each other.

When the tablet 2 is delivered from the second transport belt 30 to the third transport belt 40, the tablet 2 moves as it is without rotating or the like. That is, each tablet 2 is delivered from the second transport belt 30 to the third transport belt 40 while maintaining the direction of the score line 7.

Further, when the tablets 2 are delivered from the second transport belt 30 to the third transport belt 40, the respective tablets 2 are turned upside down. That is, in the second transport belt 30, the tablet 2 on which the front surface on which the score line 7 is formed is attracted and held outward is sucked and held by the third transport belt 40 with the back surface facing outward. On the contrary, the tablet 2 which was sucked and held with the back surface facing outward in the second transport belt 30 is sucked and held by the third transport belt 40 with the front surface facing outward. Therefore, each tablet 2 transported by the second transport belt 30 is turned upside down while maintaining its direction, and is delivered to the third transport belt 40 and transported (step S13).

Subsequently, the second inspection camera 72 images a plurality of tablets 2 transported by the third transport belt 40. Similar to the first transport belt 20, the third transport belt 40 attracts and holds the plurality of tablets 2 with the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 facing outward. Therefore, the second inspection camera 72 images the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 transported by the third transport belt 40, and captures the result of the printing process on the other surface of the plurality of tablets 2 by the first inkjet head 61. .. The second inspection camera 72 transmits the acquired image data to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 confirms the print processing result of the first inkjet head 61 on the other side of the plurality of tablets 2 based on the image data acquired by the second inspection camera 72 (step S14).

Finally, the sorting process of the tablets 2 for which the inspection of both the front and back surfaces has been completed is performed (step S15). The tablets 2 having no problem in the inspection results on both the front and back surfaces in steps S11 and S14, that is, the non-defective tablets 2, are put into the non-defective duct 48 by air blowing from the blow mechanism. The tablet 2 released into the non-defective product duct 48 is collected in the non-defective product collection box 58. On the other hand, the tablet 2 having a problem in the inspection result on either the front or the back surface, that is, the defective tablet 2, is thrown into the defective duct 46 by air blowing from the blow mechanism. The tablet 2 released into the defective product duct 46 is collected in the defective product box 56. As described above, the printing process on the tablet 2 in the tablet printing apparatus 1 is completed.

In the present embodiment, based on the image data on both the front and back surfaces of the plurality of tablets 2 acquired by the first dividing line camera 51 and the second dividing line camera 52, the surface of the tablet 2 is in a predetermined direction with respect to the dividing line 7 on the surface. The back surface printing process is performed along the same direction as the above-mentioned predetermined direction of the back surface of the tablet 2, and the back surface printing process is performed on the back surface of the tablet 2. Therefore, the printing process can be performed on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet 2 in the same direction with respect to the secant line 7.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the printing process is performed on the front and back surfaces along the direction parallel to the score line 7 of the tablet 2, but the printing process is not limited to this, and printing is performed on the front and back surfaces of the tablet 2 in the same direction. If, the printing process can be performed in any direction with respect to the secant line 7.

Further, the reference of the printing processing direction is not limited to the score line 7, but may be a mark for identifying the direction, for example, an arrow engraved on the surface of the tablet 2. You may. If the mark can identify the direction, the same printing process as in the above embodiment can be performed along a predetermined direction with respect to the mark.

Further, in the above embodiment, the secant line 7 is engraved on the surface of the tablet 2, but as described above, the surface on the side where the secant line 7 is provided is merely the surface, and the secant line 7 is used. The surface on the provided side may be the back surface.

Further, the shape of the tablet 2 is not limited to the disk shape, and may be another shape such as a substantially elliptical shape or a rod shape. In this case, the suction holes of each transport portion correspond to the shape of the tablet 2.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tablet 2 is transported in units of 5 columns and 1 row, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the tablet 2 may be transported in 1 column. The tablets 2 may be transported in a plurality of rows of two or more rows.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tablet 2 is sorted into a non-defective product or a defective product based on the inspection results by the 10th secant camera 51 and the 20th secant camera 52, but the tablet printing apparatus 1 performs the inspection. It is also possible to select a mode in which only the printing process is performed without performing the printing process. When such a mode is selected, all the tablets 2 that have been printed are charged from the third transport belt 40 into the uninspected duct 47. The tablet 2 put into the uninspected duct 47 is collected in the uninspected box 57. Further, the tablet printing apparatus 1 may be set to a mode in which only the inspection process for the uninspected tablet 2 is performed.

The tablet printing apparatus according to the present invention can be suitably used for printing on both the front and back surfaces of a pharmaceutical tablet or the like on which a score line is engraved.

1 Tablet printing device 2 Tablets 3 Control unit 7 Secant line 8 Hopper 10 Conveyance drum 20 1st transfer belt 30 2nd transfer belt 40 3rd transfer belt 51 10th line camera 52 20th line camera 53 30th line camera 61 1st inkjet Head 62 2nd inkjet head 71 1st inspection camera 72 2nd inspection camera 76 1st heater 77 2nd heater

Claims (5)

A tablet printing device in which a mark for identifying a direction is provided only on the front surface of the front and back surfaces, and a printing process is performed on a tablet on which the mark is not provided on the back surface.
A transport mechanism for transporting the tablets and
A first imaging unit that images one side of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism, and
A second imaging unit that images the other surface of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism, and
A first printing unit provided downstream of the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit along the transport direction by the transport mechanism and performing a printing process on the other surface of the tablet.
A second printing unit provided downstream of the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit along the transport direction by the transport mechanism and performing a printing process on one side of the tablet.
A print control unit that controls the first printing unit and the second printing unit based on the image data acquired by the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.
With
The print control unit specifies the direction of the mark on each surface of the tablet based on the image data, and prints the back surface of the tablet along a predetermined direction with respect to the mark. Control the 1st printing unit and the 2nd printing unit,
The print control unit specifies the direction of the mark on each surface of the tablet based on the image data, and prints the surface of the tablet along the same direction as the predetermined direction. A tablet printing apparatus characterized by controlling a first printing unit and the second printing unit. In the tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The print control unit performs the surface printing process on each tablet whose surface is the other side of the transferred tablets in the predetermined direction with respect to the mark on the surface based on the surface printing data. In addition to having the printing unit perform the printing process for the back surface, the back surface printing process is performed on the first printing unit along the same direction as the predetermined direction on the back surface based on the back surface printing data for each tablet whose other surface is the back surface. Let me
The print control unit performs a surface printing process on each of the conveyed tablets having one side of the surface in the predetermined direction with respect to the mark on the surface based on the surface printing data. In addition to having the printing unit perform the printing process for the back surface, the second printing unit performs the printing process for the back surface along the same direction as the predetermined direction on the back surface based on the printing data for the back surface for each tablet whose one side is the back surface. A tablet printing device characterized by being able to print. In the tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
A tablet printing apparatus, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction parallel to the mark. In the tablet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The mark is a tablet printing apparatus characterized by being a score line engraved on the surface of the tablet. In the tablet printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A third imaging unit provided between the first printing unit and the second printing unit along the transport direction by the transport mechanism and detecting the misalignment of the tablet transported by the transport mechanism is further provided.
The tablet printing apparatus is characterized in that the print control unit adjusts the printing position of the tablet with respect to each of the tablets by the second printing unit based on the positional deviation detected by the third imaging unit.

Images