JP6951294B2 - Tablets and tablet printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to tablets and tablet printing devices.

In recent years, devices for printing on tablets have rapidly become widespread, and the number of tablets on which drug names and the like are printed to improve identification is increasing. Especially these days, taking advantage of the inkjet method, which does not require a printing plate and can print a different image for each tablet, not only the drug name but also the lot number of the tablet, the expiration date, and the expiration date. Attempts have been made on a trial basis to variably print information such as a security code for preventing placebo for each tablet. It has also been proposed to print this information on a tablet with a two-dimensional bar code (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-712

In order to increase the amount of information to be printed on the tablet, it is effective to print the two-dimensional bar code in a larger size. By the way, a score line may be formed on the surface of the tablet. A secant line is a groove for splitting a tablet in half. When a large-sized two-dimensional bar code is printed on the surface of such a tablet, the two-dimensional bar code and the score line may overlap. When reading such a two-dimensional bar code on a tablet with a reading device, it becomes difficult to focus on the entire two-dimensional bar code, which in turn makes it difficult to read. Further, in the captured image, the two-dimensional bar code may be distorted in the region overlapping the score line. In this case as well, it becomes difficult to read the two-dimensional bar code.

Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a tablet on which a code having a larger amount of information is printed while avoiding a score line, and a tablet printing device capable of printing the tablet.

The first aspect of the tablet is a tablet body in which a dividing line is formed on the surface and an ink layer fixed in one of the first compartment regions of the surface partitioned by the dividing line, and the first division is multidimensional. A first ink layer showing a barcode and an ink layer fixed in the other second partition region of the surface partitioned by the dividing line, which constitutes original information together with the first divided multidimensional barcode. A second ink layer indicating a second divided multidimensional barcode is provided , and the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode include division information indicating whether or not the barcode is divided .

The second aspect of the tablet is the tablet according to the first aspect, and the first image region in which the first division multidimensional barcode is shown in the first compartment region is the second compartment region. It is symmetric with respect to the secant line with the second image area where the second division multidimensional barcode is shown.

The third aspect of the tablet is the tablet according to the first or second aspect, which is fixed in the third compartment region which overlaps with the first compartment region in a plan view on the back surface of the tablet body, and is described as described above. A fourth ink layer indicating the second divided multidimensional barcode and a fourth ink layer indicating the first divided multidimensional barcode fixed in a fourth compartment region of the back surface that overlaps the second compartment region in a plan view. Further provided with an ink layer.

The first aspect of the tablet printing apparatus is a tablet printing apparatus, which comprises a transport mechanism for transporting a tablet body having a dividing line formed on its surface in a predetermined transport direction, and a first captured image obtained by imaging the tablet body. A first camera to be generated, a first printing unit provided on the downstream side of the first camera in the transport direction and printing on the tablet body, and a first division multidimensional in which the original information is divided according to a predetermined conversion rule. A division code generator that converts a barcode and a second division multidimensional barcode, and the division line on the surface of the tablet body are specified based on the first captured image, and the division line is grasped based on the identified division line. A print control unit that controls the first printing unit so as to print the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode in the first division area and the second division area, respectively, is provided. , The first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode include division information indicating whether or not the barcode is divided .

A second aspect of the tablet printing apparatus is the tablet printing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a second camera and a second printing unit, the transport mechanism transporting a plurality of tablet bodies, and the first aspect. The camera images one side of the plurality of tablet bodies, and the second camera is provided on the upstream side with respect to the first printing unit and images the other side of the plurality of tablet bodies to take a second image. An image is generated, the first printing unit prints on the one side of the tablet body, and the second printing unit is downstream of both the first camera and the second camera. The printing control unit is provided and prints on the other side of the plurality of tablet bodies, and the print control unit performs the split line on the surface of the tablet body based on the first captured image and the second captured image. The first division multidimensional bar code and the second division multidimensional bar code are printed in the first division area and the second division area, which are grasped based on the specified dividing line. In addition, in the third compartment region of the back surface of the tablet body that overlaps with the first compartment region in plan view, the second division multidimensional bar code is placed on the fourth compartment region that overlaps with the second compartment region. The first printing unit and the second printing unit are controlled so as to print the first divided multidimensional bar code in the compartment area.

According to the first aspect of the tablet, the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode are formed avoiding the score line. Therefore, the reading device can easily read the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode. Moreover, since the multidimensional barcode is formed in both the first compartment region and the second compartment region, the original information having a larger amount of information can be displayed on the tablet.

According to the second aspect of the tablet, the reading device can easily read the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode.

According to the third aspect of the tablet, two tablet pieces can be obtained by breaking the tablet with the score line as a boundary. Moreover, the first divided multidimensional barcode and the second divided multidimensional barcode are shown on the front and back of one tablet piece, respectively. Therefore, the original information can be restored with only the one tablet piece.

According to the first aspect of the tablet printing apparatus, it contributes to the production of the tablet according to the first aspect.

According to the second aspect of the tablet printing apparatus, it contributes to the production of the tablet according to the third aspect.

The technical objectives, features, aspects and advantages disclosed herein will be further clarified by the detailed description and accompanying drawings set forth below.

It is a top view which shows typically an example of the structure of a tablet. It is a top view which shows typically an example of the structure of the tablet which concerns on a comparative example. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the structure of the tablet printing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the appearance of the transfer drum and the first transfer belt. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of a tablet printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of a tablet printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the image | imaging result by the 1st visual inspection camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the image | imaging result by the 2nd visual inspection camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the printing result by the 1st printing part. It is a figure which shows an example of the image | imaging result by the 3rd appearance inspection camera. It is a figure which shows an example of the print processing result by the 2nd printing part. It is a top view which shows typically an example of the structure of a tablet seen from the back surface side. It is a figure which shows an example of the print processing result by the 1st printing part. It is a figure which shows an example of the print processing result by the 2nd printing part. It is a top view which shows typically an example of the structure of a tablet.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

It should be noted that the drawings are shown schematically, and for convenience of explanation, the configuration is omitted or the configuration is simplified as appropriate. Further, the interrelationship between the sizes and positions of the configurations and the like shown in different drawings is not always accurately described and can be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the description shown below, similar components are illustrated with the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description of them may be omitted to avoid duplication.

Also, in the description described below, terms such as "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "side" or "bottom" may be used to mean a specific position and direction. Even so, these terms are used for convenience to facilitate understanding of the content of the embodiments and have nothing to do with the direction in which they are actually implemented.

Also, even if ordinal numbers such as "first" or "second" may be used in the description described below, these terms should be used to understand the content of the embodiment. It is used for convenience for ease of use, and is not limited to the order that can occur due to these ordinals.

Further, in the drawings referred to below, the XYZ coordinate system may be added as appropriate. Here, the Z-axis is arranged along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and the Y-axis are arranged along the horizontal direction.

The first embodiment.
<Tablet>
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the tablet 9. The tablet 9 is, for example, a tablet such as an OD (Oral Disintegration) tablet, an uncoated tablet, an FC (Film Coating) tablet, or a sugar-coated tablet. The tablet 9 may be a tablet for pharmaceutical use or a tablet for food use. Examples of tablets for food use include health foods such as supplements and tablets such as ramune.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the tablet 9 includes a tablet body 91 and ink layers 921 and 922 fixed on the surface of the tablet body 91.

<Tablet body>
The tablet body 91 contains an ingredient for exerting the original effect (or taste) of the tablet 9. The tablet body 91 is manufactured by compressing and / or molding a tablet material containing the component into a certain shape. It can be said that the tablet body 91 is a tablet before forming the ink layers 921 and 922. The tablet body 91 has, for example, a disk-shaped shape. However, the tablet body 91 is not necessarily limited to the disk shape, and may have any shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a score line 911 is formed on one first main surface (hereinafter, referred to as a surface) 91a of the tablet body 91. The secant line 911 is a groove formed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 and extends linearly through the center of the surface 91a. That is, the secant 911 extends along the diameter of the surface 91a. The secant 911 makes it easier for the recipient, for example, to split the tablet 9 in two.

Hereinafter, one region of the surface 91a partitioned by the secant 911 is referred to as a first compartment region 91a1, and the other region is referred to as a second compartment region 91a2.

Here, as an example, it is assumed that no dividing line is formed and no ink layer is formed on the second main surface (hereinafter referred to as the back surface) of the tablet body 91.

<Ink layer>
The ink layer 921 is formed in the first section region 91a1 while avoiding the secant line 911. The ink layer 922 is formed in the second partition region 91a2 while avoiding the secant line 911. That is, none of the ink layers 921 and 922 overlap the score line 911. The ink layers 921 and 922 are located opposite to each other with respect to the secant 911, and are separated from each other with the secant 911 in between. In the example of FIG. 1, the arrangement direction (vertical direction of the paper surface) of the ink layers 921 and 922 is substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the secant line 911.

The ink layers 921 and 922 are formed by printing on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91. Specifically, ink is ejected onto the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 by a predetermined tablet printing device, and the ink is fixed on the surface 91a to form ink layers 921 and 922. An example of the tablet printing apparatus will be described in detail later.

The ink contains at least a colorant and a solvent. The coloring material may be a dye that dissolves in the solvent of the ink, or may be a pigment that is dispersed in the solvent of the ink. When a dye is adopted, the ink layers 921 and 922 correspond to a portion where the ink has soaked from the surface 91a of the tablet body 91, and when a pigment is adopted, the ink layers 921 and 922 correspond to the surface 91a of the tablet body 91. Corresponds to the dry film on which the ink has dried. In addition to coloring materials and solvents, inks include dispersants, surface tension modifiers, wetting agents, water-soluble resins, organic amines, surfactants, pH (hydrogen ion index) modifiers, chelating agents, and antiseptic agents. At least one of an agent, a viscosity modifier and an antifoaming agent may be contained.

Since tablets 9 are orally administered to humans, the ink layers 921 and 922 are preferably formed of an edible material. The term "edible" as used herein means that human consumption is permitted, and more specifically, those permitted as pharmaceuticals or pharmaceutical additives by laws such as the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, and / Alternatively, it means a food or a food additive recognized by laws such as the Food Sanitation Law.

<Multidimensional barcode>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ink layer 921 indicates a division multidimensional barcode (hereinafter, referred to as a division code) MC1, and the ink layer 922 indicates a division code MC2. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of cells C1 are set on the plane coordinates in each of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2. The plurality of cells C1 are arranged in a matrix, and each cell C1 has a rectangular shape. In the example of FIG. 1, a broken line is shown along the contour of each cell C1 in order to illustrate the shape of each cell C1, but in reality, this broken line does not need to be printed. Each cell C1 expresses multiple values based on its own state (for example, color). For example, either black or white is appropriately added to each cell C1. In this case, each cell C1 can express a binary value by the white color and the black color added to the cell C1. The division code MC1 and the division code MC2 can express various kinds of information according to the color (black and white) pattern in the plane coordinates of the cell C1. As such a division code, for example, a division code in a QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark) can be adopted.

The division code MC1 and the division code MC2 constitute a set of information (hereinafter referred to as original information). The reading device takes an image of the tablet 9, reads the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, and reproduces the original information by connecting them. The original information includes, for example, at least one of information about the tablet 9 and information about the recipient. Information about the tablet 9 includes, for example, information such as the name (tablet name), lot number, date of manufacture, expiration date, dosage, usage, and placebo prevention security code of the tablet 9. Information about the person taking the drug includes, for example, information such as the name, age, height, weight, and medication history of the person taking the drug.

Each of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 includes division presence / absence information indicating whether or not the division is performed, division number information indicating the number of divisions, and division position information indicating its own division position. For example, when the code string of the original information is divided into two with the position in the middle as a boundary, the division code MC1 converts the code string located at the head side thereof (called the first division information) into a multidimensional barcode. The division code MC2 is a division code obtained by converting a code string (referred to as second division information) located at the end of the division code into a multidimensional bar code. The reading device connects the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 to each other based on the division presence / absence information, the division number information, and the division position information.

Specifically, the reading device includes an image sensor, a display, and a control unit. The image sensor is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, which images a tablet 9 and outputs the captured image to a control unit. The control unit may display this captured image on the display. The display is, for example, a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The control unit extracts the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 based on the captured image. Then, the control unit converts the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 to restore the first division information and the second division information, respectively, according to a predetermined conversion rule, and restores the original information by concatenating them. The control unit displays the restored original information on the display. This allows the user to confirm the original information.

As described above, in the tablet 9, the original information is represented by the division code MC1 and the division code MC2. Therefore, the individual sizes of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the original information is expressed by one multidimensional barcode. Therefore, in the tablet 9, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 can be formed in the first compartment region 91a1 and the second compartment region 91a2, respectively, avoiding the secant line 911. That is, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 can be formed in the regions that do not overlap with the secant line 911, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the tablet 9'according to the comparative example. In the example of FIG. 2, an ink layer 92 is formed in place of the ink layer 921 and the ink layer 922. The ink layer 92 shows a multidimensional barcode MC. In other words, instead of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, a multidimensional barcode MC is printed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91. The multidimensional barcode MC is a code obtained by converting the original information, and the size of the multidimensional barcode MC is larger than the size of either the division code MC1 or the division code MC2. In the example of FIG. 2, a part of the multidimensional barcode MC is printed on the secant line 911.

Since the score line 911 is a groove formed on the surface 91a, when the image sensor of the reading device images the tablet 9', the distance between the image sensor image sensor and the multidimensional barcode MC is the score line. It becomes long in 911 and shortens in the region other than the secant 911. Therefore, it is difficult to focus on the entire multidimensional barcode MC. Further, in the captured image generated by the image sensor, the cell C1 that overlaps with the secant line 911 is likely to be distorted.

On the other hand, in the tablet 9 according to the present embodiment, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are formed in the regions that do not overlap with the secant line 911, respectively. Therefore, it is easy to focus on both the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 at the time of reading, and it is possible to avoid the distortion of the cell C1 due to the secant 911 in the captured image.

Further, since the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 constitute the original information, a large amount of information is expressed as compared with the case where one multidimensional barcode having the same size as each of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 is printed. can.

<Symmetry>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image area in which the division code MC1 is shown in the first section area 91a1 is substantially symmetrical with respect to the score line 911 with the image area in which the division code MC2 is shown in the second section area 91a2. May be good.

According to this, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 can be easily read by the reading device. This is because the position and orientation of the division code MC2 with respect to the division code MC1 are predetermined, so that the reading device can execute the process of detecting the position and the orientation in a shorter time.

<Tablet printing device>
Next, an example of a tablet printing device capable of printing a division code on a tablet will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a tablet printing apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tablet printing device 1 is a device capable of performing printing processing on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet body 91. Here, first, a case where the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed only on the surface 9a of the tablet body 91 will be described.

For example, the tablet printing apparatus 1 includes a hopper 8, a transport mechanism (convey drum 10, a first transport belt 20, and a second transport belt 30), a first visual inspection camera 51, a second visual inspection camera 52, and a third. A visual inspection camera 53, a first printing unit 61, and a second printing unit 62 are provided. Further, the tablet printing device 1 includes a control unit 3 that controls each drive unit provided in the device to proceed with the inspection process and the printing process for the tablet 9.

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 tablet bodies 91 (tablets before printing) into the apparatus at once. The plurality of tablet bodies 91 introduced from the hopper 8 flow into the straight feeder 122 along the inclined surface of the hopper 8. The plurality of tablet bodies 91 supplied to the straight feeder 122 are conveyed to the rotary feeder 123 side by the vibration of the vibration trough. Then, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotary table in the rotary feeder 123 gathers in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table. Then, the tablet body 91 gathered near the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table is supplied to the transport drum 10 by the supply feeder 124 extending vertically downward from the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table to the transport drum 10.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the appearance of the transport drum 10 and the first transport belt 20. The transport drum 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is rotated clockwise by a rotary drive motor (not shown here) about a central axis along the Y-axis direction as a rotation center. As illustrated in FIG. 4, 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 object to be inspected and printed. For example, in the present embodiment, since the disk-shaped tablet body 91 is processed, the shape of the suction hole 11 is also circular. The size of the suction hole 11 is slightly larger than the size of the tablet body 91. For example, if the diameter of the disk-shaped tablet body 91 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 bottom 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 (here). (Not shown). 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 body 91.

Although the plurality of tablet bodies 91 are transported in five rows, it is random whether the surface 91a of each tablet body 91 faces the inside (center side of the transport drum 10) or the outside of the transport drum 10. Is. Further, the orientation of the secant 911 of each tablet body 91 transported by the transport drum 10 is also random.

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 into the small holes by the blow mechanism, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes 11. As a result, the suction state of the tablet body 91 by the suction holes 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 tablet body 91 that has been released from adsorption falls on the first transport belt 20 and is delivered. Therefore, the tablet body 91 is transported on the first transport belt 20 in a posture in which the front and back sides are reversed from the posture on the transport drum 10. Further, at the time of this delivery, the tablet body 91 hardly rotates, so that the orientation of the secant line 911 is maintained.

The first transport belt 20 transports the tablet body 91. The first transport belt 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of holding plates 22 in a belt shape and hanging them on a pair of pulleys 10A. When the pair of pulleys 10A are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown here), the belt-shaped body composed of the plurality of holding plates 22 moves in the direction of 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 illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the plurality of holding plates 22 is formed with a plurality of suction holes 21 at equal intervals along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the belt. In the present embodiment, the holding plates 22 are formed 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 of the first transport belt 20 passes through the small holes. 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 body 91.

By rotationally driving the pulley 10A, the tablet body 91 adsorbed in the adsorption hole 21 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. As will be described later, during the transfer by the first transfer belt 20, printing is performed by the first printing unit 61 on the tablet body 91 whose surface 91a faces outward. When printing is also performed on the back surface, printing is also performed on the tablet body 91 with the back surface 91b facing outward during transportation by the first transport belt 20. A specific example of printing on the back surface will be described in the second embodiment.

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 into the small holes by the blow mechanism, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure can be applied to the suction holes 21. As a result, the suction state of the tablet body 91 by the suction holes 21 can be released. The tablet body 91 is released from adsorption in a vertically downward posture, and is dropped onto the second transport belt 30 and delivered. Therefore, the tablet body 91 is transported on the second transport belt 30 in a posture in which the front and back sides are reversed from the posture on the first transport belt 20. Further, at the time of this delivery, the tablet body 91 hardly rotates, so that the orientation of the secant line 911 is maintained.

The configuration of the second transport belt 30 is substantially the same as that of the first transport belt 20. That is, the second transport belt 30 is configured by connecting a plurality of holding plates in a belt shape and hanging them on a pair of pulleys 10B. When the pair of pulleys 10B are rotationally driven by the drive motor, the second transport belt 30 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 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.

The holding plate of the second transport belt 30 is also formed with a plurality of suction holes (five rows in the present embodiment) at equal intervals along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the belt.

Similar to the above, the suction hole of the second transport belt 30 can be subjected to a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure 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 body 91.

As will be described later, during the transfer by the second transfer belt 30, printing is performed by the second printing unit 62 on the tablet body 91 whose surface 91a faces outward. When printing is also performed on the back surface, printing is also performed on the tablet body 91 whose back surface faces outward during transportation by the second transport belt 30. A specific example of printing on the back surface will be described in the second embodiment.

Further, inside the second transport belt 30, for example, blow mechanisms are provided at three locations. When the blow mechanism blows air, a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure is applied to the suction holes of the second transport belt 30, and the suction state of the tablet 9 by the suction holes can be released.

All three blow mechanisms of the second transport belt 30 blow air downward or diagonally downward. Therefore, of the three blow mechanisms, the blow mechanism provided at the portion facing the good product duct 48 blows air to release the suction state of the tablet 9 by the suction hole and put the tablet 9 into the good product duct 48. Can be released. The tablets 9 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 defective product duct 47 blows air to release the suction state of the tablet 9 by the suction hole and discharge the tablet 9 to the poor appearance duct 47. can. The tablets 9 released into the defective product duct 47 are collected in the defective product box 57.

Further, the blow mechanism provided at the portion facing the defective print product duct 46 blows air to release the suction state of the tablet 9 by the suction hole and discharge the tablet 9 to the defective print product duct 46. can. The tablets 9 released into the defective print duct 46 are collected in the defective print box 56.

The first visual inspection camera 51 is an imaging unit for imaging a predetermined area, and is, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) camera or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera.

The first visual inspection camera 51 is installed facing the outer peripheral surface so that the imaging area is the outer peripheral surface of the transport drum 10.

The first visual inspection camera 51 takes an image of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 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 first visual inspection camera 51 can be appropriately adjusted, but since the image is taken on the peripheral surface of the cylinder of the transport drum 10, the focus is focused on a wide range of the peripheral surface of the cylinder. That is difficult. Therefore, the imaging area of the first visual inspection camera 51 may be at least large enough to image the tablet body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row facing the 1st visual inspection camera 51. A plurality of first visual inspection cameras 51 may be provided, and each of them may sequentially image one tablet body 91.

The second visual inspection camera 52 is located 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 capturing an image of the upstream side of the first printing unit 61. It is provided. The second visual inspection camera 52 images the tablet body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row. A plurality of second visual inspection cameras 52 may be provided, and each of them may sequentially image one tablet body 91.

The third visual inspection camera 53 can take an image on the downstream side of the position facing the first transport belt 20 along the transport direction of the second transport belt 30 and on the upstream side of the second printing unit 62. It is provided at the position. The third visual inspection camera 53 images the tablet body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row. A plurality of third visual inspection cameras 53 may be provided, and each of them may sequentially image one tablet body 91.

The first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 62 include a plurality of inkjet heads, and eject ink droplets from the inkjet heads by an inkjet method. The inkjet method may be a piezo method in which ink droplets are ejected by applying a voltage to the piezo element (piezoelectric element) to deform it, or an ink liquid by energizing a heater to heat the ink. It may be a thermal method that ejects drops.

In the present embodiment, since the printing process is performed on tablets such as pharmaceuticals, it is desirable to use edible ink as the ink discharged from the first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 62. Further, each of the first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 62 can eject four color inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K), and these are mixed. Color printing is possible by doing so.

That is, the first printing unit 61 supplies the inkjet head 61a to which cyan ink is supplied, the inkjet head 61b to which magenta ink is supplied, the inkjet head 61c to which yellow ink is supplied, and black ink. It has an inkjet head 61d to be printed. The inkjet head 61a has a discharge port formed on the lower surface thereof. The ejection ports of the inkjet head 61a are arranged at intervals along an arrangement direction (for example, a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction) intersecting with the transfer direction of the tablet 9. The ejection ports of the inkjet head 61a may be arranged in a matrix with the arrangement direction as the row direction and the transport direction as the column direction. The same applies to the inkjet heads 61b to 61d corresponding to other colors.

The second printing unit 62 also has a plurality of inkjet heads 62a to 62d corresponding to each color. The configuration of the second printing unit 62 is the same as the configuration of the first printing unit 61.

The color of the ink ejected by each of the first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 62 is not limited to this. Further, the colors of the inks ejected by the respective heads do not have to be all different colors, and the colors of the inks ejected by some heads may be the same color.

The first printing unit 61 is provided on the downstream side of the second visual inspection camera 52 along the transport direction of the first transport belt 20. The first printing unit 61 is located vertically above the first transport belt 20 and faces the first transport belt 20 in the Z-axis direction. The first printing unit 61 performs a printing process on a plurality of tablet bodies 91 that are attracted and held by the first transport belt 20 and transported.

Further, the second printing unit 62 is provided on the downstream side of the third visual inspection camera 53 along the conveying direction of the second conveying belt 30. The second printing unit 62 is located vertically above the second transport belt 30 and faces the second transport belt 30 in the Z-axis direction. The second printing unit 62 performs a printing process on a plurality of tablet bodies 91 that are attracted and held by the second transport belt 30 and transported.

The first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 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 product inspection camera 71 and a product inspection camera 72. As the product inspection camera 71 and the product inspection camera 72, for example, a CCD camera can be used. The product inspection camera 71 is provided at a position where an image can be taken on the downstream side of the first printing unit 61 along the conveying direction of the first conveying belt 20. For example, the product inspection camera 71 is installed facing the outer peripheral surface so that the imaging area is the outer peripheral surface of the pulley 10A. The product inspection camera 71 captures images of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 that are attracted and held by the first transport belt 20 and transported.

The product inspection camera 72 is provided at a position where an image can be taken on the downstream side of the second printing unit 62 along the conveying direction of the second conveying belt 30. For example, the product inspection camera 72 is installed facing the outer peripheral surface so that the imaging area is the outer peripheral surface of the pulley 10B. The product inspection camera 72 images a plurality of tablets 9 that are sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 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 9 can be used. The first heater 76 is provided on the downstream side of the first printing unit 61 along the transport direction of the first transport belt 20. The first heater 76 blows hot air onto the tablet body 91 that has been printed by the first printing unit 61. As a result, the solvent of the ink on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 printed by the first printing unit 61 dries to form the ink layers 921 and 922. The ink layers 921 and 922 are, for example, a dry film in which the ink is dried.

The second heater 77 is provided on the downstream side of the second printing unit 62 along the transport direction of the second transport belt 30. The second heater 77 blows hot air onto the tablet body 91 that has been printed by the second printing unit 62. As a result, the solvent of the ink on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 printed by the second printing unit 62 dries to form the ink layers 921 and 922.

The first heater 76 and the second heater 77 are provided vertically downward with respect to 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 tablet bodies. Since the tablet body 91 is sucked and held and transported, the tablet body 91 is transported without falling even when the tablet body 91 is facing vertically downward.

Further, it is not always necessary to use a heater for the drying treatment of the tablet body 91, and it may be desirable to dry the tablet body 91 by natural drying depending on the type of the tablet body 91. In that case, the first heater 76 and the second heater 77 may not be provided.

Further, the tablet printing device 1 includes a cleaning mechanism 83 and a cleaning mechanism 84. The powder generated from the tablet body 91 may adhere to the first transport belt 20 and the second transport belt 30. The cleaning mechanism 83 and the cleaning mechanism 84 remove the powder adhering to the first transport belt 20 and the second transport belt 30, respectively. As the cleaning mechanism 83 and the cleaning mechanism 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, 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. Note that some or all of the various functions executed by the control unit 3 may be executed by a dedicated hardware circuit.

<Function of control unit>
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit 3 includes a division code generation unit 31 and a print control unit 32. The original information is input to the division code generation unit 31. The original information is the source information of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, and includes, for example, at least one of the information about the tablet 9 and the information about the taking person.

The tablet printing apparatus 1 may be provided with a user interface (not shown) for inputting the original information. This user interface has, for example, a display and an input unit. As the display, for example, a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display can be adopted. As the input unit, for example, an input unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch panel can be adopted. The worker can input the original information using the input unit. The input unit outputs the original information input by the user to the control unit 3.

The division code generation unit 31 converts the original information into the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 according to the conversion rules set in advance. For example, the division code generation unit 31 divides the original information into the first division information and the second division information, and converts the first division information and the second division information into the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, respectively. More specifically, the division code generation unit 31 divides the original information into the division code MC1 according to the QR code conversion rules specified by, for example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO / IEC18004) or the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS-X-0510). And may be converted to the division code MC2. The division code generation unit 31 generates the image information IM1 indicating the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, and outputs the image information IM1 to the print control unit 32.

By the way, as described above, the orientation of the secant line 911 during transportation is random for each tablet body 91. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the orientation of the secant line 911 for each tablet body 91 and adjust the orientations of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 in the image information IM1 according to the orientation of the secant line 911.

Therefore, the print control unit 32 identifies the secant 911 on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 based on the images taken from the first visual inspection camera 51 and the second visual inspection camera 52, and based on the identified secant 911. The first printing unit 61 and the second printing unit 62 are controlled so as to print the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 in the first division area 91a1 and the second division area 91a2 to be grasped, respectively. Hereinafter, an example of a specific operation of the tablet printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart.

<Operation of tablet printing device>
5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the processing operation in the tablet printing apparatus 1. Here, the control unit 3 (division code generation unit 31) has already generated the image information IM1 indicating the division code MC1 and the division code MC2.

First, a plurality of tablet bodies 91 (tablets before printing) are collectively charged into the hopper 8 of the tablet printing device 1 (step S1). The batch loading of the tablet body 91 may be performed manually by the 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 tablet bodies 91 that are collectively charged are all of the same type.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of disk-shaped tablet bodies 91 are charged into the hopper 8. The plurality of tablet bodies 91 charged into the hopper 8 are guided to the transfer drum 10 via the straight feeder 122, the rotary feeder 123, and the supply feeder 124, and the plurality of tablet bodies 91 are adsorbed one by one into the suction holes 11 of the transfer drum 10. Be retained. The transport drum 10 sucks and holds the tablet body 91 individually in each suction hole 11, and transports the plurality of tablet bodies 91 in a state of being aligned in 5 columns and a plurality of rows (step S2). The hopper 8 is provided with an alignment mechanism for aligning and feeding a plurality of tablet bodies 91, so that the transport drum 10 can smoothly adsorb and hold the tablet bodies 91 loaded from the hopper 8. You may do so. As such an alignment mechanism, for example, a ball feeder type mechanism can be adopted.

Next, the first visual inspection camera 51 takes an image of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 being conveyed by the transfer drum 10 (step S3). The first visual inspection camera 51 images one surface of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the transport drum 10. Here, the "one side" is a surface of the tablet body 91 that faces the outside, regardless of whether it is the front surface 91a or the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image capture result (hereinafter, also referred to as an image captured image G1) by the first visual inspection camera 51. The first visual inspection camera 51 images one surface of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the transport drum 10. Since it is random whether the surface 91a faces outward or inward when each tablet body 91 is attracted and held by the transport drum 10, one surface of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 imaged by the first visual inspection camera 51. Randomly includes a front surface 91a on which the score line 911 is formed and a back surface 91b which is the opposite surface thereof. In the example of FIG. 7, the tablet bodies 91A to 91E are shown as the tablet bodies 91 arranged in five rows. The tablet body 91A to the tablet body 91E are arranged in this order from the left. In the example of FIG. 7, of the five tablet bodies 91, the front surface 91a is imaged for the leftmost tablet body 91A and the center tablet body 91C, and the back surface 91b of the other tablet bodies 91 is captured by the first visual inspection camera 51. It has been imaged. The captured image G1 as shown in FIG. 7, which is the result captured by the first visual inspection camera 51, is transmitted to the control unit 3. Although the Y-axis is shown in FIG. 7, this is for showing the direction and is not actually imaged.

Next, the tablet body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row imaged by the first visual inspection 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 blows air onto the five suction holes 11 in which the tablet body 91 in the 5 columns and 1 row is sucked and held, so that the tablet body 91 in the 5 columns and 1 row is sucked. To cancel. 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 body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row, which has been released from the suction state by the transfer drum 10, is transferred 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. Become. In order to reliably deliver the tablet body 91 in this way, 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 accurate. Control is performed to synchronize the operations of both transport units so as to face each other.

When the tablet body 91 is delivered from the transfer drum 10 to the first transfer belt 20, the tablet body 91 moves as it is without rotating or the like. That is, each tablet body 91 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20 while maintaining the direction of the score line 911.

Further, when the tablet body 91 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, each tablet body 91 is turned upside down. That is, in the transport drum 10, the tablet body 91 in which the front surface 91a on which the score line 911 is formed is sucked and held outward is sucked and held in the suction hole 21 of the first transport belt 20 with the back surface 91b facing outward. On the contrary, in the transport drum 10, the tablet body 91, which has been sucked and held with the back surface 91b facing outward, is sucked and held by the first transport belt 20 with the front surface 91a facing outward. Therefore, each tablet body 91 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 visual inspection camera 52 takes an image of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the first transport belt 20 (step S5). The first transport belt 20 transports a plurality of tablet bodies 91 received from the transport drum 10 by turning them upside down in five rows in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The second visual inspection camera 52 images the tablet body 91 from the outside of the first transport belt 20. Therefore, the plurality of tablet bodies 91 imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52 also randomly include one with the front surface 91a and one with the back surface 91b facing the second visual inspection camera 52. ing. However, since the front and back sides of each tablet body 91 are inverted when the tablet body 91 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the front and back sides of each tablet body 91 and the second visual inspection camera 52 imaged by the first visual inspection camera 51 The front and back of the imaged corresponding tablet body 91 are reversed.

In other words, the second visual inspection camera 52 captures the other surface of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 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 the tablet body 91 is the front surface 91a or the back surface 91b. It is a surface facing the outside of the tablet body 91.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image capture result (hereinafter, also referred to as an image captured image G2) by the second visual inspection camera 52.

For the tablet body 91 whose front surface 91a is imaged by the first visual inspection camera 51, the back surface 91b is imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52. On the contrary, for the tablet body 91 whose back surface 91b is imaged by the first visual inspection camera 51, the front surface 91a is imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52.

Therefore, in the example of FIG. 8, contrary to FIG. 7, the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91A at the left end and the tablet body 91C at the center of the tablet bodies 91 arranged in five rows is imaged, and the other tablet bodies 91 are imaged. The surface 91a on which the secant 911 is formed is imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52. The captured image G2 as shown in FIG. 8, which is the result captured by the second visual inspection camera 52, is transmitted to the control unit 3.

Further, in FIG. 8, the dotted line shows the score line 911 on one side of the tablet body 91 imaged and recognized by the first visual inspection camera 51, and is imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52. It's not a thing. Although the orientation of the secant 911 is maintained during delivery from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the left and right sides of the captured image G1 and the captured image G2 are reversed, so that the captured image G2 is virtual on the back surface 91b. The score line (dotted line) is horizontally inverted with respect to the score line 911 of the captured image G1.

Next, the tablet body 91 imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52 is further conveyed by the first conveying belt 20 to reach a position facing the first printing unit 61. Then, the first printing unit 61 performs a printing process on the tablet body 91 (step S6).

Specifically, first, the print control unit 32 first captures the tablet body 91 whose surface 91a is shown in the captured image G2 (hereinafter referred to as the first print target: in FIG. 8, the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91). The direction of the split line 911 of 91E) is specified by image processing on the captured image G2. Next, the print control unit 32 sets the image information IM1 in the range of -90 degrees to 90 degrees, for example, so that the arrangement direction of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 is substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the specified dividing line 911. Rotate to generate a print image for each of the first print targets.

Further, the print control unit 32 fine-tunes (corrects) the print position for each first print target by the first print unit 61 based on the captured image G2 acquired by the second appearance inspection 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 body 91, when the tablet body 91 is delivered from the transport drum 10 to the first transport belt 20, the directionality of each tablet body 91 is Although it is maintained, there is some variation in the position within the range of the suction holes 21. The print control unit 32 detects the deviation of the position of each first print target in the suction hole 21 from the captured image G2 acquired by the second appearance inspection camera 52, and based on the detection result, the division code in the print image. The positions of the MC1 and the division code MC2 are finely adjusted.

The print control unit 32 controls the printing process by the first printing unit 61 so that the printed image is printed on the surface 91a of the first printing target. That is, the print control unit 32 controls the printing process by the first printing unit 61 so that the division code MC1 is printed in the first section area 91a1 and the division code MC2 is printed in the second section area 91a2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the first printing unit 61. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E.

Next, the tablet body 91 subjected to the printing process is further conveyed by the first conveying belt 20 to reach a position facing the product inspection camera 71. The product inspection camera 71 images the other side of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the first transport belt 20, and captures the result of the printing process (for example, FIG. 9) by the first printing unit 61. The product inspection camera 71 transmits the acquired captured image to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 confirms the print processing result of the first printing unit 61 on the surfaces 91a of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 based on the captured image acquired by the product inspection camera 71 (step S7).

Next, the tablet body 91 that has been subjected to the confirmation process is further conveyed by the first conveying belt 20 to reach a position facing the first heater 76.

The first heater 76 blows hot air onto the plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the first transport belt 20 to dry the plurality of tablet bodies 91 (step S8). By performing such a drying process, the ink ejected from the first printing unit 61 to the plurality of tablet bodies 91 can be quickly dried to prevent bleeding. Although the tablet body 91 for which printing on the surface 91a has been completed should be referred to as the tablet 9, the name of the tablet body 91 is maintained until the description in step S14.

Next, the tablet body 91 in 5 columns and 1 row dried by the first heater 76 is 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 tablet body 91 in the 5 columns and 1 row is sucked and held, so that the tablet body 91 in the 5 columns and 1 row is blown. Release the adsorption state. 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 body 91 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. The Rukoto. In order to reliably deliver the tablet body 91 in this way, 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 provided. Control is performed to synchronize the operations of both transport belts so that they face each other accurately.

When the tablet body 91 is delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30, the tablet body 91 moves as it is without rotating or the like. That is, each tablet body 91 is delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30 while maintaining the direction of the score line 911.

Further, when the tablet body 91 is delivered from the first transport belt 20 to the second transport belt 30, each tablet body 91 is turned upside down. That is, in the first transport belt 20, the tablet body 91 in which the front surface 91a on which the score line 911 is formed is attracted and held outward is sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 with the back surface 91b facing outward. On the contrary, the tablet body 91, which has been sucked and held with the back surface 91b facing outward in the first transport belt 20, is sucked and held by the second transport belt 30 with the front surface 91a facing outward. Therefore, each tablet body 91 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 S9).

Subsequently, the third visual inspection camera 53 takes an image of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the second transport belt 30 (step S10). The second transport belt 30 transports a plurality of tablet bodies 91 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 visual inspection camera 53 images the tablet body 91 from the outside of the second transport belt 30. Therefore, the front and back of each tablet body 91 imaged by the third visual inspection camera 53 is opposite to the front and back of the corresponding tablet body 91 imaged by the second visual inspection camera 52, while the first visual inspection camera 51 It matches the front and back of the corresponding tablet body 91 that has been imaged. That is, the third visual inspection camera 53, like the first visual inspection camera 51, captures one surface of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the second transport belt 30.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image capture result (hereinafter, also referred to as an image captured image G3) by the third appearance inspection camera 53. The image pickup result by the third appearance inspection camera 53 is substantially the same as the image pickup result by the first appearance inspection camera 51. In particular, with respect to the respective directions of the plurality of tablet bodies 91, the imaging result by the third visual inspection camera 53 and the imaging result by the first visual inspection camera 51 are substantially the same. On the other hand, the position of the tablet body 91 (position with respect to the suction hole) may differ between the image pickup result by the third appearance inspection camera 53 and the image pickup result by the first appearance inspection camera 51.

In the example of FIG. 10, among the tablet bodies 91 arranged in five rows, the surface 91a on which the score line 911 is formed is imaged for the tablet body 91A at the left end and the tablet body 91C at the center, as in FIG. The back surface 91b of the tablet body 91 is imaged by the third visual inspection camera 53. The captured image G3 as shown in FIG. 10, which is the result captured by the third visual inspection camera 53, is transmitted to the control unit 3. Also in FIG. 10, the upper side of the paper surface is the upstream side of the second transport belt 30 in the transport direction. Further, in FIG. 10, the dotted line shows the secant line 911 on the other side of the tablet body 91 imaged and recognized by the second visual inspection camera 52, and is imaged by the third visual inspection camera 53. It's not a thing.

Next, the tablet body 91 imaged by the third visual inspection camera 53 is further conveyed by the second conveying belt 30 to reach a position facing the second printing unit 62. Then, the second printing unit 62 performs a printing process on the tablet body 91 (step S11).

Specifically, first, the print control unit 32 first captures the tablet body 91 on which the surface 91a is captured in the captured image G1 or the captured image G3 (hereinafter referred to as a second print target: in FIGS. 7 and 10, the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91A and The direction of the dividing line 911 of the tablet body 91C) is specified by image processing on the captured image G1 or the captured image G3. Next, the print control unit 32 sets the image information IM1 in the range of -90 degrees to 90 degrees, for example, so that the arrangement direction of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 is substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the specified dividing line 911. Rotate to generate a print image for each of the second print targets.

Further, the print control unit 32 fine-tunes (corrects) the print position for each second print target by the second print unit 62 based on the captured image G3 acquired by the third appearance inspection camera 53. Specifically, the print control unit 32 detects a deviation in the position of each second print target in the suction hole from the captured image G3 acquired by the third appearance inspection camera 53, and prints an image based on the detection result. The positions of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are finely adjusted.

The print control unit 32 controls the printing process by the second printing unit 62 so that the printed image is printed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91. That is, the print control unit 32 controls the printing process by the second printing unit 62 so that the division code MC1 is printed in the first section area 91a1 and the division code MC2 is printed in the second section area 91a2. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the second printing unit 62. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C.

Next, the tablet body 91 subjected to the printing process is further conveyed by the second conveying belt 30 to reach a position facing the product inspection camera 72. The product inspection camera 72 images one side of a plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the second transport belt 30, and captures the result of the printing process (for example, FIG. 11) by the second printing unit 62. The product inspection camera 72 transmits the acquired captured image to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 confirms the print processing result of the second printing unit 62 on the surfaces 91a of the plurality of tablet bodies 91 based on the captured image acquired by the product inspection camera 72 (step S12).

Next, the tablet body 91 subjected to the printing process 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 the plurality of tablet bodies 91 transported by the second transport belt 30 to dry the plurality of tablet bodies 91 (step S13). By the above processing, printing can be performed on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 in five rows, and the tablet 9 can be produced.

Finally, the sorting process of the tablets 9 for which the inspection of both the front and back surfaces has been completed is performed (step S14). The tablets 9 having no problem in the inspection results on both the front and back surfaces in steps S7 and S12, that is, the non-defective tablets 9, are put into the non-defective duct 48 by air blowing from the blow mechanism. The tablets 9 released into the non-defective duct 48 are collected in the non-defective collection box 58. Further, the tablet 9 having a problem in the appearance shape of the tablet 9, that is, the tablet 9 having a poor appearance, is thrown into the defective product duct 47 by air blowing from the blow mechanism. The tablets 9 released into the defective product duct 47 are collected in the defective product box 57. Further, the tablet 9 having a problem in the printing result, that is, the tablet 9 having a printing defect, is put into the printing defective product duct 46 by air blowing from the blow mechanism. The tablets 9 released into the defective print duct 46 are collected in the defective print box 56. As described above, the printing process on the tablet body 91 in the tablet printing apparatus 1 is completed.

The second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are also printed on the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91. FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the tablet 9A as seen from the back surface 91b side. An example of the configuration of the tablet 9A viewed from the surface 91a side is the same as that of the tablet 9 in FIG.

The tablet 9A includes a tablet body 91, an ink layer 921,922 (FIG. 1), and an ink layer 923,924 (FIG. 12) fixed on the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91. The ink layers 923 and 924 are formed by ejecting ink onto the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91, similarly to the ink layers 921 and 922. The ink layers 923 and 924 are formed in the third compartment region 91b1 and the fourth compartment region 91b2 of the back surface 91b described below, respectively.

The third compartment area 91b1 is a region within the back surface 91b, which is a region overlapping the first compartment region 91a1 of the front surface 91a of the tablet body 91 in a plan view (that is, when viewed along the thickness direction of the tablet body 91). be. The fourth compartment area 91b2 is a region within the back surface 91b and is a region that overlaps with the second compartment region 91a2 in a plan view. That is, the third compartment region 91b1 and the fourth compartment region 91b2 are partitioned by a virtual secant line obtained by projecting the secant line 911 on the back surface 91b along the thickness direction of the tablet body 91.

The ink layer 923 is formed in the first section region 91b1 while avoiding a virtual score line. The ink layer 924 is formed in the second partition region 91b2 while avoiding a virtual score line.

The ink layer 923 shows the division code MC2 like the ink layer 922, and the ink layer 924 shows the division code MC1 like the ink layer 921.

According to this tablet 9A, the split code MC1 and the split code MC2 are also formed on the back surface 91b. Therefore, the original information can be restored from both the front surface 91a and the back surface 91b of the tablet 9A.

According to the tablet 9A, the division code MC2 is printed on the third compartment region 91b1 (FIG. 12) on the back surface side of the first compartment region 91a1 (FIG. 1) on which the division code MC1 is printed on the front surface 91a. Similarly, the division code MC1 is printed in the fourth division area 91b2 on the back surface side of the second division region 91a2 on which the division code MC2 is printed on the front surface 91a.

According to this, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are displayed on the front and back of each of the two tablet pieces obtained by dividing the tablet 9 along the secant line 911. Therefore, by reading the division code MC1 on one side of one tablet piece and the division code MC2 on the other side of the one tablet piece with a reading device, the original information can be restored by connecting them. .. According to this, for example, when the tablet 9 is divided into two tablet pieces, one of which is taken and the other is stored, the original information can be restored only from the other tablet piece.

<Symmetry>
The image area in which the division code MC2 is shown in the third section area 91b1 may be substantially symmetrical with respect to the virtual score line with the image area in which the division code MC1 is shown in the fourth section area 91b2. According to this, it is easy for the reading device to read the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 on the back surface 91b.

<Tablet printing device>
An example of the configuration of the tablet printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the division code generation unit 31 generates the image information IM2 for the back surface 91b in addition to the image information IM1 for the front surface 91a. In the image information IM1 and the image information IM2, the positional relationship between the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 is opposite to each other. For example, in the image information IM1, the division code MC1 is located above the division code MC2, whereas in the image information IM2, the division code MC2 is located above the division code MC1.

The print control unit 32 identifies the score 911 on the surface 91a of the tablet body 91 based on the captured image G1 and the captured image G2, and is grasped based on the identified score 911 in the first section region 91a1 and in the second section. The division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed in the region 91a2, respectively, and the back surface 91b of the tablet body 91 is divided into the third compartment region 91b1 which overlaps with the first compartment region 91a1 in plan view. The first printing section 61 and the second printing section 62 are controlled so that the division code MC1 is printed in the fourth section area 91b2 that overlaps the code MC2 with the second section area 91a2.

<Operation of tablet printing device>
An example of the operation of the tablet printing apparatus 1 is the same as in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, the specific processing contents of steps S6 and S11 are different from those of the first embodiment.

In step S6, as in the first embodiment, the print control unit 32 prints the printed image for the surface 91a on each of the tablet bodies 91 whose surface 91a is conveyed outward in the first conveying belt 20. To generate.

Further, the print control unit 32 generates a print image for the back surface 91b for each of the tablet bodies 91 whose back surface 91b is conveyed outward in the first transfer belt 20. It will be described in detail below.

First, the print control unit 32 determines the orientation of the score line 911 of the tablet body 91 (tablet body 91A and tablet body 91C in FIG. 8) in which the back surface 91b is conveyed outward in the first transfer belt 20 by the first visual inspection camera. It is specified based on the captured image G1 (FIG. 7) acquired by 51. That is, since the tablet body 91 with the back surface 91b facing outward in the first transport belt 20 is transported with the front surface 91a facing outward in the transport drum 10, the surface 91a is transferred to the image G1 captured by the first visual inspection camera 51. It is reflected. The print control unit 32 specifies the orientation of the score line 911 of the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C based on the captured image G1.

The print control unit 32 obtains the orientation of the virtual secant line on the back surface 91b based on the orientation of the specified secant line 911. Specifically, the specified secant line 911 (FIG. 7) is flipped horizontally to obtain the direction of the virtual secant line (FIG. 8). The print control unit 32 rotates the image information IM2 in the range of −90 degrees to 90 degrees so that the arrangement directions of the division code MC2 and the division code MC1 are substantially orthogonal to the direction of the specified virtual score line. , Generates a printed image for the back surface 91b. By performing this process for each of the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C, a printed image for the back surface 91b is generated for each of the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C.

The print control unit 32 detects the displacement of the position of each tablet body 91 in the suction hole 21 from the captured image G2 acquired by the second visual inspection camera 52, and based on the detection result, the print image for the surface 91a and the print image Fine adjustment of the positions of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 in the printed image for the back surface 91b is executed.

Next, the print control unit 32 prints a printed image for the front surface 91a on the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E, which are transported with the front surface 91a facing outward in the first transport belt 20, and the back surface is printed. The printing process by the first printing unit 61 is controlled so that the printed image for the back surface 91b is printed on the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C in which the 91b is conveyed outward. That is, the print control unit 32 prints the division code MC1 on the front surface 91a in the first partition area 91a1 and the division code MC2 in the second partition area 91a2, and prints the division code MC1 on the back surface 91b. Is printed in the fourth section area 91b2, and the division code MC2 is printed in the third section area 91b1, respectively, so that the printing process by the first printing unit 61 is controlled.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the first printing unit 61. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed on the first compartment region 91a1 and the second compartment region 91a2 of the surface 91a of the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E, respectively. The division code MC2 and the division code MC1 are printed on the third compartment region 91b1 and the fourth compartment region 91b2 of the back surface 91b of the main body 91A and the tablet main body 91C, respectively.

Further, also in step S11, the print control unit 32 generates not only the print image for the front surface 91a but also the print image for the back surface 91b. That is, the print control unit 32 generates a print image for the surface 91a for each of the tablet bodies 91 which are transported with the surface 91a facing outward in the second transport belt 30, as in the first embodiment. Further, a printed image for the back surface 91b is generated for each of the tablet bodies 91 whose back surface 91b is conveyed outward in the second transport belt 30. The generation of the printed image for the back surface 91b will be described in detail below.

The print control unit 32 sets the orientation of the score line 911 of the tablet body 91 (tablet body 91B, tablet body 91D, and tablet body 91E in FIG. 10) to which the back surface 91b is conveyed outward in the second transport belt 30. It is specified based on the captured image G2 (FIG. 8) acquired by the visual inspection camera 52. That is, since the tablet body 91 with the back surface 91b facing outward in the second transport belt 30 is transported with the front surface 91a facing outward in the first transport belt 20, the front surface 91a is an image captured by the second visual inspection camera 52. It is reflected in G2. The print control unit 32 specifies the orientation of the score line 911 of the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E based on the captured image G2.

Next, the print control unit 32 obtains the orientation of the virtual secant on the back surface 91b based on the orientation of the specified secant 911. Specifically, the specified secant line 911 (FIG. 8) is flipped horizontally to obtain the direction of the virtual secant line (FIG. 10). The print control unit 32 rotates the image information IM2 in the range of −90 degrees to 90 degrees so that the arrangement directions of the division code MC2 and the division code MC1 are substantially orthogonal to the direction of the specified virtual score line. , Generates a printed image for the back surface 91b. By performing this process for each of the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E, a printed image for the back surface 91b is generated for each of the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E.

Next, the print control unit 32 prints a printed image for the front surface 91a on the tablet main body 91A and the tablet main body 91C which are conveyed with the front surface 91a facing outward in the second conveying belt 30, and the back surface 91b is outward. The printing process by the second printing unit 62 is controlled so that the printed image for the back surface 91b is printed on the tablet body 91B, the tablet body 91D, and the tablet body 91E that are conveyed toward the tablet body 91B. That is, the print control unit 32 prints the division code MC1 on the front surface 91a in the first partition area 91a1 and the division code MC2 in the second partition area 91a2, and prints the division code MC1 on the back surface 91b. Is printed in the fourth section area 91b2, and the division code MC2 is printed in the third section area 91b1, respectively, so that the printing process by the second printing unit 62 is controlled.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a printing process result by the second printing unit 62. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 are printed on the first compartment region 91a1 and the second compartment region 91a2 of the surface 91a of the tablet body 91A and the tablet body 91C, respectively, and the tablet body 91B and the tablet are printed. The division code MC2 and the division code MC1 are printed on the third compartment region 91b1 and the fourth compartment region 91b2 of the back surface 91b of the main body 91D and the tablet main body 91E, respectively.

<About the modified example in the above-described embodiment>
Although the embodiment has been described above, the tablet 9 and the tablet printing apparatus 1 can be modified in various ways other than those described above as long as the purpose is not deviated.

For example, in the above example, one division code MC1 is printed in the first division area 91a1, and one division code MC2 is printed in the second division area 91a2. However, a plurality of first division codes may be printed in the first division area 91a1, and a plurality of second division codes may be printed in the second division area 91a2. The plurality of first division codes and the plurality of second division codes cooperate with each other to form one original information. In short, the number of divisions is not limited to 2, and can be set arbitrarily.

In the above example, the QR code is illustrated as the division code MC1 and the division code MC2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a two-dimensional code such as a data matrix code may be adopted.

Further, in the above example, although each cell C1 expresses a black-and-white binary value, a multi-value of three or more values may be expressed. Each cell C1 can express a multi-value of 3 or more values by, for example, a difference in grayscale density and / or a difference in color (saturation and lightness).

In the above example, the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 have a plurality of cells C1 arranged in a matrix on the plane coordinates, but are not necessarily limited to this. The plurality of cells C1 may be arranged in any way on the plane coordinates. For example, a plurality of cells C1 may be arranged one-dimensionally.

Further, in the above example, although each cell C1 of the division code MC1 and the division code MC2 has a rectangular shape, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Each cell C1 may have an arbitrary shape.

Further, in the above example, the division code is generated by converting the division information obtained by dividing the original information. However, this is not always the case. For example, the division code generation unit 31 converts the original information to generate a multidimensional barcode (hereinafter referred to as an original code), and geometrically divides the original code to generate a plurality of division codes. May be good. Then, the division code generation unit 31 outputs the image information IM1 indicating the division code to the print control unit 32. The print control unit 32 controls the first print unit 61 and the second print unit 62 so that the division code is appropriately printed on the first section area 91a1 and the second section area 91a2.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of tablet 9B. In the example of FIG. 15, the ink layer 921 shows the division code MC11, and the ink layer 922 shows the division code MC12. The division code MC11 and the division code MC12 are barcodes obtained by geometrically dividing one original code (QR code) into two upper and lower parts. These division codes MC11 and division code MC12 also constitute the original information. The number of divisions, the position of the division boundary in the original code, and the arrangement order of the division codes may be set in advance, for example. Alternatively, this information may be separately printed on the surface of the tablet 9B. For example, this information may be separately printed as a micro QR code.

In order to facilitate reading of the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 by the reading device, the distance between the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 may be predetermined to be, for example, an integral multiple of the cell C1.

Further, in the original code, the cell C1 for one row located at the division boundary may be included in both the division code MC11 and the division code MC12. That is, the end of the division code MC11 on the side of the division code MC12 includes the cell C1 for one line, and the end of the division code MC12 on the side of the division code MC11 also includes the cell C1 for the one line. .. According to this, it becomes clear that the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 are connected by the cell C1 for the one line, so that the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 in the reading device can be connected more reliably.

The control unit of the reading device identifies the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 based on the captured image, integrates the division code MC11 and the division code MC12 according to the arrangement order to restore the original code, and determines the original code. The original information is restored by converting according to the conversion rules.

For example, in the above embodiment, the printing process is performed by an inkjet method that ejects ink droplets, but the printing process method is not limited to this, and intaglio printing, intaglio printing including gravure printing, or , Laser printing, etc. may be used.

Further, the shape of the tablet body 91 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 body 91.

Further, in the above example, although the ink layers 921 to 924 are formed of visible ink, ink for a latent image may be adopted. As the ink for the latent image, for example, an ink that is visualized by irradiating invisible light such as ultraviolet light can be adopted. As the color material of such an ink, for example, particles that absorb invisible light (for example, ultraviolet rays) (for example, titanium oxide particles) can be adopted, and a fluorescent material can also be adopted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tablet body 91 is transported in units of 5 columns and 1 row, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the tablet body 91 may be transported in 1 column. However, the tablet body 91 may be transported in a plurality of rows of two or more rows.

Further, in the above example, although printing is performed on the tablet body 91, the printing target may be a capsule. In short, printing may be performed on the main body of the solid preparation. In this case, the main body of the solid preparation and the ink layer fixed on the surface of the main body constitute the solid preparation. The solid-form pharmaceutical product printing apparatus has the same configuration as the tablet printing apparatus 1, and has at least a transport unit for transporting the solid-form pharmaceutical product, an inkjet head for ejecting ink droplets on the solid-form pharmaceutical product, and a division code generation unit. And a print control unit.

As described above, tablets and tablet printing devices have been described in detail, but the above description is exemplary in all aspects and the disclosure is not limited thereto. Further, the various modifications described above can be applied in combination as long as they do not contradict each other. And it is understood that a large number of modifications not illustrated can be assumed without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

1 Tablet printing device 9 Tablets 31 Divided code generator 32 Print control unit 51 First camera (first visual inspection camera)
52 Second camera (second visual inspection camera)
61 1st printing section 62 2nd printing section 91, 91A to 91E Tablet body 91a1 1st section area 91a2 2nd section area 91b1 3rd section area 91b2 4th section area 921-924 Ink layer MC1, MC2, MC11, MC12 Multidimensional barcode

Claims (5)

The tablet body with a score line formed on the surface and
An ink layer fixed in one of the first compartment regions of the surface, which is partitioned by the secant line, and a first ink layer showing a first division multidimensional barcode.
A second division multidimensional barcode which is an ink layer fixed in the other second division region of the surface divided by the secant line and which constitutes original information together with the first division multidimensional barcode. Equipped with 2 ink layers ,
The first-divided multidimensional bar code and the second-divided multi-dimensional bar code are tablets containing division information indicating whether or not they are divided. The tablet according to claim 1.
The first image area in the first compartment area in which the first division multidimensional barcode is shown is the second image area in the second compartment area in which the second division multidimensional barcode is shown, and the secant line. A tablet that is symmetrical with respect to. The tablet according to claim 1 or 2.
Of the back surface of the tablet body, a third ink layer that is fixed in a third compartment region that overlaps the first compartment region in a plan view and shows the second division multidimensional barcode, and a third ink layer.
A tablet further comprising a fourth ink layer that is fixed in a fourth compartment region of the back surface that overlaps the second compartment region in a plan view and exhibits the first division multidimensional barcode. It is a tablet printing device
A transport mechanism that transports the tablet body with a score line formed on the surface in a predetermined transport direction,
A first camera that captures the tablet body and generates a first captured image,
A first printing unit provided on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the first camera and printing on the tablet body,
A division code generator that converts the original information into a first division multidimensional barcode and a second division multidimensional barcode according to a predetermined conversion rule.
The secant line on the surface of the tablet body is specified based on the first captured image, and the first division many are within the first compartment region and the second compartment region grasped based on the identified secant line, respectively. It is provided with a dimensional bar code and a print control unit that controls the first printing unit so as to print the second divided multidimensional bar code .
The tablet printing apparatus, wherein the first-divided multidimensional barcode and the second-divided multidimensional barcode include division information indicating whether or not the barcode is divided. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 4.
Further equipped with a second camera and a second printing unit,
The transport mechanism transports a plurality of tablet bodies and transports the plurality of tablet bodies.
The first camera images one side of the plurality of tablet bodies, and the first camera captures one surface of the plurality of tablet bodies.
The second camera is provided on the upstream side with respect to the first printing unit, and images the other side of the plurality of tablet bodies to generate a second captured image.
The first printing unit prints on the one side of the tablet body, and prints on the one side.
The second printing unit is provided on the downstream side of both the first camera and the second camera, and prints on the other side of the plurality of tablet bodies.
The print control unit
Based on the first captured image and the second captured image, the secant line on the surface of the tablet body is identified.
The first division multidimensional barcode and the second division multidimensional barcode are printed in the first division area and the second division area grasped based on the specified dividing line, respectively. In addition, in the third compartment region of the back surface of the tablet body that overlaps with the first compartment region in a plan view, the second division multidimensional barcode is placed in the fourth compartment region that overlaps with the second compartment region. Is a tablet printing device that controls the first printing unit and the second printing unit so as to print the first divided multidimensional barcode, respectively.

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