JP7300696B2 - Part transfer module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a module capable of carrying out optical inspection while transporting a molded product.

Die holes are provided in the table of the turntable, and upper and lower punches are slidably held above and below each die hole. 2. Description of the Related Art A rotary powder compression molding machine is known that compresses (or tablets) a powder filled in a die hole when a powder passes between an upper roll and a lower roll. This type of powder compression molding machine is used to manufacture pharmaceutical tablets, foods, electronic parts, and the like.

The molded product is inspected for abnormalities on its outer surface, inspected for contained components, and inspected for inclusion of foreign matter. In recent years, devices (or equipment) for inspecting molded products and other post-processing are connected to the downstream of the powder compression molding machine, and the molding of the molded product to the post-processing are collectively executed. (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Also, a module has been developed that can transport molded products in an aligned state while maintaining the order in which molded products are molded in a powder compression molding machine (see, for example, Patent Document 2 below). This product has a large number of holes in the outer periphery of a transfer body (rotating body) that horizontally rotates around a vertical axis. transport along. If an inspection device is attached to a predetermined position on the rotation track, which is the trajectory of the movement of the molded product, it is possible to sequentially inspect the individual molded products that are conveyed.

A quality inspection device that inspects the composition and other qualities of a molded product receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product, or light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded product with a sensor, obtains the spectral spectrum, and determines the quality of the target molded product. Get to know the characteristics. In particular, near-infrared spectroscopic analysis using near-infrared light is less likely to destroy active ingredients and the like contained in the molded article than when visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, or the like is used. Therefore, the molded product that has undergone quality inspection does not lose its commercial value, and can be supplied to the market as it is as a product. Also, ultraviolet rays and radiation are harmful to the human body and require protection, but near-infrared light has no such disadvantages.

A foreign matter inspection apparatus for inspecting whether foreign matter is mixed in a molded product also has a sensor for receiving light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product or light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded product. The use of near-infrared light makes it possible to easily detect foreign substances derived from living organisms such as hair and insects.

JP 2017-164786 A JP 2017-104902 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An intended object of the present invention is to efficiently perform a quality inspection and a foreign substance inspection of a molded product while the molded product is being conveyed.

In the present invention, a molded product molded by compressing powder by a rotary powder compression molding machine is sequentially taken out from the molding machine and conveyed while maintaining the order of arrangement in the molding machine. a conveying module, which has a catching section for catching a molded article and transfers the molded article while maintaining the arrangement order in the rotary powder compression molding machine through a movement of displacing the catching section; Molding through a sensor that receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by a molded product that passes through a predetermined area in the trajectory of movement of the molded product that is captured by the capturing part of the body and transported, or light or electromagnetic waves that pass through the molded product. The molded article through a first inspection device that inspects the components contained in the article, and a sensor that receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded article passing through the predetermined area or light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded article. A second inspection device that inspects for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product, and at least information on the inspection result of the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product inspected by the second inspection device. a control device for storing and storing in a storage device in association with an ID number indicating which die hole in the rotary powder compression molding machine the product was molded, wherein the control device stores the components contained in the molded product Information related to the inspection results of the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product inspected by the first inspection device is used to determine the number of die holes in the rotary powder compression molding machine that the inspected molded product is molded. A molded product transfer module is configured to store and store in the storage device in association with an ID number indicating whether the molded product has been processed. With such a configuration, the quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded product can be performed at the same time during transportation in the molded product transportation module.

The sensor, which is an element of the first inspection device and the second inspection device, receives, for example, near-infrared light reflected by the molded article or near-infrared light transmitted through the molded article. That is, the first inspection device and the second inspection device use near-infrared light to perform quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded product. As already mentioned, near-infrared light is less likely to destroy active ingredients and the like contained in molded articles than visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and the like. Therefore, the molded product that has undergone inspection does not lose its commercial value, and can be supplied to the market as it is as a product. Also, ultraviolet rays and radiation are harmful to the human body and require protection, but near-infrared light has no such disadvantages.

If the sensor of the first inspection device receives the light or electromagnetic wave reflected by the molded product, and the sensor of the second inspection device receives the light or electromagnetic wave transmitted through the molded product, each of them By arranging the sensors so as to face each other so as to sandwich the molded product, the quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded product can be performed at the same time or substantially at the same time.

The capturing part has a through hole vertically penetrating the transfer body, and the light or electromagnetic wave that has passed through the molded product passing through the predetermined area passes through the through hole that captures the molded product. If incident on the sensor, the signal light transmitted through the molded article is properly received by the sensor through the through-hole, while stray light other than the signal light, i.e., light not transmitted through the molded article, is blocked by the transfer body and reaches the sensor. Injection is suppressed. As a result, the accuracy of inspection is further improved.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, quality inspection of a molded product and foreign substance inspection can be implemented efficiently, conveying the molded product.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary powder compression molding machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the powder compression molding machine and the molded product take-out device of the same embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cylindrical view of the powder compression molding machine of the same embodiment. The principal part top view of the take-out apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the take-out device of the same embodiment; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the take-out device of the same embodiment; FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of main parts of the take-out device and the dust removing device of the same embodiment; The principal part top view of the molded product conveying apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the conveying device of the same embodiment; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of main parts of the conveying device and the inspection device of the same embodiment; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of main parts of the conveying device and the inspection device of the same embodiment; The principal part top view of the molded product conveying apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the conveying device of the same embodiment; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of main parts of the conveying device and the inspection device of the same embodiment; FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of main parts of the conveying device and the excluding device of the same embodiment;

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an overall outline of a rotary powder compression molding machine (hereinafter referred to as "molding machine") A in this embodiment will be described. In the molding machine A, an upper punch 5 and a lower punch 6 are vertically slidably held above and below a die hole 4 penetrating vertically. By compressing with , a molded article P, such as a pharmaceutical tablet, is molded. Here, the powder is an aggregate of minute solids, and is a concept including an aggregate of particles such as so-called granules and an aggregate of powder smaller than the particles. The die hole 4 and the upper and lower punches 5 and 6 serve as a mold for molding the molded product P.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vertical shaft 2 serving as a rotating shaft is established in a frame 1 of the molding machine A, and a turntable 3 is attached to the top of the vertical shaft 2 via a connecting portion.

The rotating disk 3 rotates horizontally around the axis of the vertical shaft 2, that is, rotates on its own axis. The turntable 3 comprises a table (mortar disk) 31 , an upper punch holding portion 32 and a lower punch holding portion 33 . As shown in FIG. 2, the table 31 has a substantially disk-like shape when viewed from above in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating disk 3, that is, in the vertical direction. A plurality of die holes 4 are provided on the outer periphery at predetermined intervals along the direction of rotation (circumferential direction). The mortar hole 4 vertically penetrates the table 31 . The table 31 may be divided into a plurality of plates. In addition, instead of forming the mortar hole 4 directly in the table 31 itself, a plurality of mortar members separate from the table 31 and detachable from the table 31 are attached to the table 31, and these mortar members are mounted on the table 31. A configuration in which a mortar hole penetrating vertically may be provided in each of them.

An upper punch 5 and a lower punch 6 are arranged above and below each die hole 4 . The upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6 are individually held by an upper punch holding portion 32 and a lower punch holding portion 33 so as to be vertically slidable in the die hole 4, respectively. A tip 53 of the upper punch 5 moves in and out of the die hole 4 . A tip 63 of the lower punch 6 is always inserted into the die hole 4 . The upper punch 5 and the lower punch 6 horizontally rotate, that is, revolve around the vertical shaft 2 together with the rotating disk 3 and the die hole 4 .

A worm wheel 7 is attached to the lower end side of the vertical shaft 2 . A worm gear 10 meshes with the worm wheel 7 . A worm gear 10 is fixed to a gear shaft 9 driven by a motor 8 . The driving force output by the motor 8 is transmitted to the gear shaft 9 by the belt 11, and rotates the vertical shaft 2, the rotating disk 3, and the punches 5 and 6 through the worm gear 10 and the worm wheel 7.

The raw material of the molded article P, that is, the powder that is the constituent material is filled into the die hole 4 through the feed shoe X. As shown in FIG. The types of the feed shoe X include an agitating feed shoe and an open feed shoe, and any of them may be adopted. A powder supply device is used to supply the powder to the feed shoe X. As shown in FIG. Powder is supplied from the hopper 19 to the powder supply device. The hopper 19 can be attached to and detached from the molding machine A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the revolving orbit around the axis of the vertical shaft 2 of the punches 5 and 6, a preloaded upper roll 12 and a preloaded lower roll 13 are vertically paired with the punches 5 and 6 therebetween. There is a main pressure upper roll 14 and a main pressure lower roll 15 . The preload upper roll 12 and the preload lower roll 13 as well as the main pressure upper roll 14 and the main pressure lower roll 15 are arranged vertically to compress the powder filled in the die hole 4 with the tip end surfaces of the punch tips 53 and 63 . Both punches 5 and 6 are urged in a direction to approach each other.

The upper and lower punches 5 and 6 respectively have heads 51 and 61 to be pressed by the rolls 12, 13, 14 and 15, and body parts 52 and 62 smaller in diameter than the heads 51 and 61, respectively. The upper punch holding part 32 of the rotary table 3 holds the body part 52 of the upper punch 5 so as to slide vertically, and the lower punch holding part 33 holds the body part 62 of the lower punch 6 so that it can slide vertically. do. The tip portions of the barrels 52 and 62, ie, the tips 53 and 63, are narrower than the other portions and have a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the die bore 4 so that they can be inserted into the die bore 4. As shown in FIG. Due to the revolution of the punches 5 and 6, the rolls 12, 13, 14 and 15 approach the heads 51 and 61 of the punches 5 and 6, ride on the heads 51 and 61, and come into contact with each other. Further, the rolls 12, 13, 14 and 15 push the upper punch 5 downward and push the lower punch 6 upward. While the rolls 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 are in contact with the flat surfaces of the punches 5 , 6 , the punches 5 , 6 continue to apply constant pressure to the powder in the die bore 4 .

A delivery position 16 for the molded product P exists at a position advanced along the rotational direction of the rotary plate 3 and the punches 5 and 6 from the pressure position by the main pressure upper roll 14 and the main pressure lower roll 15 . By the transfer position 16, the lower punch 6 rises until the upper end surface of the tip 63 of the lower punch 6 is approximately the same height as the upper end of the die hole 4, that is, the upper surface of the table 31, and the molded product P in the die hole 4 is placed. is pushed out from the mortar hole 4. The molded product P extruded from the die hole 4 is transferred to a molded product processing system (hereinafter referred to as “processing system”) S connected to the molding machine A at the delivery position 16 .

The control device responsible for controlling the molding machine A and the processing system S (each module B, C, D) of this embodiment includes a processor, a main memory that is a storage device, and an auxiliary storage device (eg, flash memory, hard disk drive, etc.). ), a microcomputer system having an input/output interface, etc., a personal computer or work station, or a programmable controller. This control device loads a program stored in an auxiliary storage device in advance into a processor through a memory, decodes the program in the processor, and controls the molding machine A and the processing system S. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8 and 12, the processing system S attached to the molding machine A in this embodiment includes modules B, C, A plurality of D's are arranged.

A module B directly connected downstream of the molding machine A has a take-out device B1 for taking out the molded products P from the molding machine A sequentially while maintaining the order in which the molded products P were molded in the molding machine A. The take-out device B1 takes out the molded article P at the delivery position 16, and conveys the molded article P toward the processing device B2 that performs the next process. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, the take-out device B1 includes a rotating body 17 as a transfer body that rotates horizontally around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating disk 3 and the table 31 of the molding machine A; a holding body 18 directly below and facing the rotating body 17; a plurality of projections 171 protruding downward toward the holding body 18 from the lower surface facing the holding body 18 in the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17; and an outer guide 20 that closes the gap between the protrusions 171 from the outer side and is located inside the outer periphery of the rotating body 17 and between the protrusions 171 and 171. An inner guide 21 that closes the gap from the inside is used as a main component.

The rotor 17 rotates clockwise in the drawing with respect to the table 31 rotating counterclockwise in the drawing. In order to synchronize the rotation of the table 31 and the rotation of the rotating body 17, the motor for rotating the rotating body 17 is a servo motor or a stepping motor, and an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder is used to rotate the rotating disk 3 and the rotating body. 17 are detected, and the rotation speed of the motor is feedback-controlled so that both rotations are synchronized. Alternatively, the rotating disk 3 and the rotating body 17 may be mechanically connected and interlocked via a gear transmission mechanism, a winding transmission mechanism, or the like.

The rotating body 17 has a substantially disk-like shape when viewed from above in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating body 17, that is, in the vertical direction. A plurality of protrusions 171 provided on the rotating body 17 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 17, that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 17. there is Needless to say, these protrusions 171 rotate integrally with the rotor 17 . A molded product P molded by the molding machine A is captured by the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 and transported while being accommodated in the gaps between the projections 171 .

The size W of the gap between the projections 171 adjacent to each other along the circumferential direction is larger than the longest outer dimension of the molded product P molded by the molding machine A. The longest outer dimension referred to here means that the molded article P extends from a certain point on the outer edge (contour) of the molded article P in plan view toward the center of gravity or the geometric center of the molded article P, and is molded by passing through the center of gravity or the geometric center. It refers to the longest line segment that reaches another point on the outer edge of the product P. When the molded product P has an elliptical shape in plan view, the major axis or major diameter corresponds to the longest outer dimension.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the holding body 18 face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween in the vertical direction. The lower surface of the rotating body 17 is positioned higher than the upper surface of the table 31 of the molding machine A. As shown in FIG. Further, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 overlaps the table 31 of the molding machine A from above. The tip of the protrusion 171 protruding from the lower surface of the rotor 17 is very close to the upper surface of the holder 18 and the upper surface of the table 31 . As the table 31 and the rotating body 17 rotate synchronously, the die holes 4 and the gaps between the projections 171 temporarily overlap at the molded product P delivery position 16 .

Unlike the rotating body 17, the holding body 18 does not rotate and is arranged so as to overlap the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 from below. The holder 18 is adjacent to the table 31 of the molding machine A, and its upper surface is at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the table 31 . The molded product captured in the gaps between the protrusions 171 of the rotating body 17 slides or slides on the upper surface of the holder 18 while horizontally rotating together with the protrusions 171 . In other words, the holder 18 supports the transferred molded product from below. In order to avoid interference with the table 31 , a portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the delivery position 16 where the table 31 and the rotating body 17 overlap in plan view is notched in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the table 31 . The end edge of the corresponding portion of the holder 18 is very close to the outer peripheral edge of the table 31, so that the molded product P is smoothly transferred from the upper surface of the table 31 of the molding machine A to the upper surface of the holder 18 of the take-out device B1. be able to.

The separation distance H between the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the holding body 18 is about the same as or larger than the vertical thickness of the molded article P molded by the molding machine A, and is the shortest of the molded article P. Make it smaller than the outer dimensions. The shortest outer dimension referred to here means the distance from a certain point on the outer edge of the molded product P in plan view to the center of gravity or the geometric center of the molded product P, passing through the center of gravity or the geometric center of the molded product P. The shortest length of a line segment that reaches another point on the outer edge. When the molded product P has an elliptical shape in plan view, the minor axis or minor diameter corresponds to the shortest outer dimension. The thickness of the molded product P is along the vertical direction between the tip 53 of the upper punch 5 and the tip 63 of the lower punch 6 when the powder filled in the die hole 4 is completely compressed in the molding machine A. approximately equal to the distance.

The outer guide 20 is adjacent to the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 17 and extends to form a substantially arcuate shape surrounding the rotating body 17 in a plan view. The guide 20 closes the gap between the protrusions 171 that are open outward along the radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating body 17 from the outside, and the molded product P moves outward from the gap due to centrifugal force. prevent it from jumping out. The starting end 201 of the outer guide 20 protrudes toward the table 31 of the molding machine A and is positioned directly above the locus of horizontal rotation of the die hole 4 so as to overlap the table 31 from above. It plays a role as a damper (or scraper) for taking the molded article P extruded to the transfer position 16 into the scraping and removing device B1.

The inner guide 21 is adjacent to the radially inner edge of the protrusion 171 of the rotating body 17 and extends inside the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 so as to form a substantially arc shape in plan view. there is The guide 21 closes a gap opening radially inwardly of the rotating body 17 from the inner side, thereby preventing unintentional inward displacement of the molded product. The inner guide 21 may be fixed relative to the holder 18 or integral with the holder 18 . In addition, the lower surface of the portion of the rotor 17 facing the upper surface of the inner guide 21 is slightly above the lower surface of the rotor 17 facing the gap in the outer peripheral portion (that is, the portion where the protrusion 171 is not provided). concave. The upper surface of the inner guide 21 is slightly higher than the lower surface facing the gap of the outer circumference of the rotating body 17, except for the area where the dust removing device B2, which will be described later, is provided. This prevents the molded product P from entering the gap between the lower surface of the rotor 17 and the upper surface of the inner guide 21 .

As already described, in the molding machine A, the lower punch 6 rises to push the molded product P out of the die hole 4 before the die hole 4 containing the molded product P reaches the transfer position 16 . The extruded molded product P comes into contact with the outer guide 20 as the table 31 rotates at the delivery position 16, moves along the outer guide 20, and transitions from the table 31 to the holder 18. . At this time, the molded product P is caught by the projections 171 protruding downward from the rotor 17 and enters the gaps between the projections 171 in the region between the rotor 17 and the holder 18 . The molded products P are accommodated one by one in each void. As a result, the moldings P are arranged one by one in each gap in the order in which the die holes 4 of the table 31 of the molding machine A are arranged, in other words, without disturbing the order in which the moldings P are compression-molded in the molding machine A. can accommodate. Moreover, in the process of transferring the molded product P from the table 31 of the molding machine A to the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 of the module B, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

The molded product P captured in the gaps between the projections 171 abuts on the projections 171 behind along the rotation direction of the rotating body 17, and while being pushed by the projections 171, moves along the locus of rotation of the projections 171. , is transported while sliding or sliding on the holder 18 . Each molded product P has a substantially constant relative position with respect to the protrusion 171 in each gap. The molded product P is subjected to centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 17, and is displaced from the inner side to the outer side along the radial direction of the rotating body 17 within the gap. However, the molded product P abuts against the inner edge of the outer guide 20 and is prevented from being displaced any further, so that it does not jump outward from the gap. In addition, since the upper part of the gap is closed by the rotating body 17, the molded article P captured in the gap does not jump unexpectedly and escape from the gap.

The molded article P captured by the protrusion 171 of the rotating body 17 is transferred to the transfer position 23, which is the terminal position of the transfer. A portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the delivery position 23 is notched in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 to avoid interference with the rotating body 24, which will be described later. That is, at the transfer position 23, the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 17 and the holding body 18 do not overlap each other in plan view. Accordingly, each molded product P that has reached the delivery position 23 loses its support from below by the holder 18, drops out of the gaps between the protrusions 171, and is transported to the transport device C1 of the module C directly downstream of the module B. It is delivered without disturbing the order.

In a part of the transport section of the molded product P from the delivery position 16 to the delivery position 23 on the outer periphery of the rotating body 17, a processing device in the module B removes dust adhering to the molded product P. A dust removal device B2 is installed.

The rotor 17 is pre-drilled with communication holes 172 for communicating the gaps between the projections 171 to the outside. The communication hole 172 is an elongated hole located radially inward of the rotor 17 relative to each of the gaps, penetrates the rotor 17 in the vertical direction, and expands along the circumferential direction of the rotor 17 . be. The number of communication holes 172 is the same as the number of voids. The dust remover B2 covers the communication holes 172, the gaps between the projections 171, and the boundary between the rotating body 17 and the outer guide 20 from above, and extends along the circumferential direction of the rotating body 17. .

As shown in FIG. 7, the dust removing device B2 includes an ejection nozzle 221 which is positioned directly above the communication hole 172 and ejects compressed air K supplied from a pump (not shown) downward toward the communication hole 172, and a rotating nozzle 221. It has a dust collection port 222 which is located right above the boundary between the body 17 and the outer guide 20 and sucks air K upward by a pump (not shown). The compressed air K may be ionized in advance by a static eliminator, or may be jetted in pulses. Compressed air K supplied from the jet nozzle 221 reaches the space between the protrusions 171 through the space between the lower surface of the rotating body 17 and the upper surface of the inner guide 21, and reaches the outer surface of the molded product P accommodated in this space. Dust adhering to the outer surface of the molded product P is blown away from the molded product P and removed. The air K containing dust that has blown against the molded product P leaks upward from the gap between the rotor 17 and the outer guide 20 and is sucked into the dust collection port 222 .

The transport device C1 of the module C following the module B receives the molded product P from the take-out device B1 at the delivery position 23 of the molded product P, and the processing devices C21 and C22 that perform the next process on the molded product P. Transport to C3. The order in which the molded products P are molded in the molding machine A is still maintained even when the molded products P are transferred between the take-out device B1 and the conveying device C1. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the conveying device C1 is mainly composed of a rotating body 24, which is a transporting body that rotates horizontally around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1.

The rotating body 24 rotates counterclockwise in the figure with respect to the rotating body 17 rotating clockwise in the figure. In order to synchronize the rotation of the rotating body 17 and the rotation of the rotating body 24, for example, the rotating shaft of the rotating body 17 and the rotating shaft of the rotating body 24 are connected to each other through a gear transmission mechanism, a winding transmission mechanism, or the like. to be connected and interlocked. Alternatively, a servo motor or a stepping motor may be used as the motor for rotating the rotating body 24, and an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder may be used to detect the rotation angle and rotation speed of each of the rotating bodies 17 and 24. The rotation speed of the motors may be feedback-controlled so that the rotations are synchronized.

The rotating body 24 has a substantially disk shape when viewed from above in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating body 24, that is, in the vertical direction. More specifically, the rotating body 24 consists of two discs 240 and 241 having different outer diameters, the disc 240 having a smaller outer diameter, and the disc 241 having a larger outer diameter. It is configured by superimposing them on top of each other and rigidly connecting both 240 and 241 to integrate them. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion 242 of the lower disc member 241 extends outward along the radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor member 24 from the base of the rotor 24 , that is, the outer peripheral edge of the upper disc member 240 . put out. This outer peripheral portion 242 serves as a flange of the rotating body 24 .

The outer peripheral surface of the base portion 240 of the rotating body 24 is formed with a pocket 243 which is recessed inward along the radial direction and opened outward. The outer peripheral edge of the base portion 240 has a generally circular shape, but is recessed in a direction approaching the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 by the portion of the pocket 243 . A suction hole 244 with a closed peripheral edge is formed in the flange 242 at a position facing the pocket 243 from one side along the direction of the rotation axis, that is, from below. The suction hole 244 functions as a capturing portion that captures the molded article P on the rotating body 24 . At least a part of the suction hole 244 overlaps the pocket 243 and opens upward toward the pocket 243 when the rotating body 24 is viewed from above and below. In plan view, the inner peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 is along the inner wall surface of the pocket 243 . Moreover, the suction hole 244 is a through hole penetrating through the flange 242 in the vertical direction.

The pockets 243 and the suction holes 244 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outside of the rotor 24 , that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotor 24 . Needless to say, these pockets 243 and suction holes 244 rotate integrally with the rotor 24 . The molded article P transferred from the take-out device B1 of the module B to the transfer device C1 of the module C engages with the pockets 243 and the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 and is transferred while being captured by the suction holes 244 .

As shown in FIG. 9, the upper surface of the outer peripheral flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the transfer device C1 is positioned lower than the lower surface of the rotating body 17 of the unloading device B1 of the module B, and is approximately the same as the upper surface of the holder 18. at the same height. The outer circumference of the base portion 240 of the rotating body 24 and the pocket 243 are positioned at substantially the same height as the gap between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 so as to face the space in the horizontal direction. In addition, a portion of the flange 242 of the planar view rotating body 24 overlaps a portion of the rotating body 17 from below, and the two face each other in the vertical direction. The tip of the projection 171 protruding from the lower surface of the rotating body 17 comes very close to the upper surface of the holder 18 and the upper surface of the flange 242 . With the synchronous rotation of the rotating bodies 17 and 24 , the gaps between the projections 171 and the suction holes 244 temporarily overlap at the transfer position 23 .

In order to avoid interference with the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 , a portion of the holding body 18 corresponding to the transfer position 23 where the flange 242 and the rotating body 17 overlap in plan view is cut in an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the flange 242 . is missing. The end edge of the corresponding part of the holder 18 is very close to the outer peripheral edge of the flange 242, and the molded product P moves from the upper surface of the holder 18 of the take-out device B1 to the upper surface of the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the transfer device C1. It is possible to transfer smoothly.

At the delivery position 23, the molded product P, which was housed in the gap between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 and transferred while being pushed by the projections 171, moves from the holding body 18 to the rotating body 24 as the rotating body 17 rotates. onto the flange 242 of the . At this time, the molded product P enters the pocket 243 formed in the rotating body 24 and is captured by the suction hole 244 . The molded product P is accommodated in each suction hole 244 one by one. As a result, the moldings P are placed one by one in each suction hole 244 in the order in which the gaps between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 are arranged, in other words, without changing the order in which the moldings P are compression-molded in the molding machine A. P can be engaged in sequence. In the process of transferring the molded product P from the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 to the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn over.

The molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 is transferred along the locus of rotation of the suction holes 244 as the rotating body 24 rotates. In each suction hole 244 , each molded product P has a substantially constant relative position with respect to the rotating body 24 and the suction hole 244 . The molded product P receives the action of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 24, but is attracted to the suction holes 244 and its displacement is prevented, so that it does not protrude outward. In addition, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn inside out during the transfer process of the molded product P.

Finally, the molded article P captured by the suction holes 244 is transferred to the transfer position 27, which is the terminal position of the transfer. The molded product P that has reached the transfer position 27 is transferred from the transfer device C1 of the module C to the transfer device D1 of the module D that is directly connected downstream of the module C.

Hereinafter, a mechanism for sucking the molded article P to the pockets 243 and the suction holes 244 of the rotor 24 will be described. Negative pressure is supplied to the inside of the pocket 243 and the inside of the suction hole 244 , so that the molded product P can be sucked into the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 . As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, suction passages 2451 and 2452 for supplying negative pressure to the inside of the pocket 243 are bored in the rotor 24 in advance. The suction passages 2451 and 2452 have their starting ends opened at the innermost portion of the inner wall surface of the pocket 243, and an internal passage 2451 extending from there inside the rotor 24 toward the rotation axis of the rotor 24. and a suction hole 2452 for opening the internal passage 2451 to the bottom surface of the rotating body 24 by digging upward from the bottom surface of the rotating body 24 toward the terminal end of the internal passage 2451 . Specifically, the internal passage 2451 is a downwardly opening groove formed in the lower surface of the upper disc body 240 that is the base of the rotating body 24 . This groove 245 is closed from below by a disc body 241 joined to the lower surface of the disc body 240 . The suction port 2452 is a through hole vertically penetrating a portion of the lower disc body 241 located directly below the terminal end of the internal passage 2451 . The suction passages 2451 and 2452 allow the inside of the pocket 243 to communicate with the position of the suction port 2452 on the lower surface of the rotating body 24 that is biased inward from the pocket 243 . The number of suction passages 2451 and 2452 is the same as the number of pairs of pockets 243 and suction holes 244 .

In order to supply the negative pressure inside the pocket 243 , the atmosphere inside the internal passage 2451 and the pocket 243 may be sucked from the suction port 2452 . A duct 25 for supplying negative pressure is installed below the rotating body 24 so as to extend along the outer periphery of the rotating body 24 in a plan view so as to form a semicircular arc. The duct 25 has a top wall 251 very close to the lower surface of the rotating body 24, side walls 252 hanging down from the inner and outer ends of the top wall 251, and a bottom wall 253 connecting the lower ends of the side walls 252. It is a cylindrical body surrounding the inner space. The internal space of the duct 25 is sucked by a pump (not shown) to have a negative pressure.

Two slot holes 254 and 256 are formed in the top wall 251 of the duct 25 at a position directly below the suction port 2452 and are partially arcuate around the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 in plan view. Both the slot holes 254 and 256 vertically penetrate the top wall 251 . Each slot hole 254 , 256 expands along the trajectory along which each suction port 2452 moves as the rotating body 24 rotates. The expansion range of the former slot hole 254 is a range from the upstream side of the transfer position 23 that receives the molded product P from the take-out device B1 to a predetermined position downstream of the transfer position 23 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24. over. The extension range of the latter slot hole 254 is a range from the upstream side of the transfer position 27 where the molded product P is transferred to the take-out device D1 to a position immediately before the transfer position 27 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24. over.

The negative pressure is supplied to the pocket 243 , that is, the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked because the suction ports 2452 of the suction passages 2451 and 2452 connected to the pocket 243 are directly above one of the slot holes 254 and 256 . It is limited to the time when it is present, that is, the time when the internal space of the duct 25 and the inside of the pocket 243 are in communication with each other. When the suction port 2452 is located at a position where the slot holes 254 and 256 do not exist, the top wall 251 intervenes between the inner space of the duct 25 and the suction port 2452 to isolate the inner space of the duct 25 from the pocket 243. , the inside of the pocket 243 is not sucked.

The duct 25 also plays a role of supplying a negative pressure inside the suction hole 244 . A slot hole 255 having a partial circular arc shape around the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 in a plan view is formed in a portion of the top wall 251 of the duct 25 located directly below the suction hole 244 . A slotted hole 255 also extends vertically through the top wall 251 . The slot hole 255 expands along the trajectory along which each suction hole 244 moves as the rotating body 24 rotates. The expansion range of the slot hole 255 extends along the rotation direction of the rotating body 24 from a position immediately after the delivery position 23 that receives the molded product P from the take-out device B1 to a delivery position 27 that delivers the molded product P to the take-out device D1. It spans the range up to the previous position.

The suction hole 244 is supplied with a negative pressure, that is, the inside of the suction hole 244 is sucked, when the suction hole 244 is located directly above the slot hole 255, that is, when the internal space of the duct 25 is negatively pressured. and the inside of the suction hole 244 are in communication. When the suction hole 244 is located at a position where the slot hole 255 does not exist, the suction hole 244 is isolated from the internal space of the duct 25 by the top wall 251, and the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked.

In the process of transferring the molded article P caught in the gap between the protrusions 171 of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 to the set of the pockets 243 and the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1, first, the delivery position 23 The set of pockets 243 and suction holes 244 that are upstream and do not hold the molded product P move toward the delivery position 23 . Then, when they reach the position immediately before the transfer position 23, the suction port 2452 connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451 reaches just above the slot hole 254, and the duct for supplying negative pressure is reached. 25 starts sucking inside the pocket 243 . At this point, the suction hole 244 paired with the pocket 243 has not yet reached directly above the slot hole 255, and the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked.

Of the set of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 reaching the transfer position 23 of the molded product P, the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked, but the inside of the suction hole 244 is not sucked. Therefore, the molded article P that has been caught in the gaps between the projections 171 of the rotating body 17 and has arrived at the transfer position 23 is sucked toward the pocket 243 toward the inside of the rotating body 24 toward the rotating shaft, and the pocket 243 to engage. As a result, the molded article P is positioned at a constant relative position with respect to the suction holes 244 .

When the pocket 243 sucking the molded product P and the suction hole 244 paired with it move downstream from the delivery position 23, the suction hole 244 reaches just above the slot hole 255, and the duct 25 for supplying the negative pressure is applied. Suction inside the suction hole 244 is started. As a result, the molded product P sucked to the pocket 243 is also sucked to the suction hole 244 . At this point, the suction port 2452, which is connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451, is still positioned directly above the slot hole 254, and both the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 are supplied with negative pressure.

When the rotating body 24 rotates and the pocket 243 sucking the molded article P and the suction hole 244 move further downstream, the suction port 2452 connected to the pocket 243 via the internal passage 2451 moves from directly above the slot hole 254. Due to the detachment, the inside of the pocket 243 is no longer sucked, and the molded article P is no longer attracted to the pocket 243 . On the other hand, since the suction hole 244 sucking the molded product P is still located directly above the slot hole 255 , the molded product P continues to be captured while being sucked by the suction hole 244 .

When the suction hole 244 sucking the molded product P moves downstream and approaches the transfer position 27 where the molded product P is transferred to the take-out device D1, the pocket 243 paired with the suction hole 244 and the internal passage 2451 are opened. The suction port 2452 connected through the slot 256 reaches just above the slot hole 256, the suction inside the pocket 243 by the negative pressure supply duct 25 is started, and the molded product P is temporarily in the pocket 243. will also be adsorbed.

After that, when the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 sucking the molded product P reach the position immediately before the delivery position 27, the suction hole 244 is separated from the slot hole 255, and the inside of the suction hole 244 is no longer sucked. , the molded article P is no longer attracted to the suction holes 244 . Approximately at the same time or immediately thereafter, the suction port 2452, which is connected to the pocket 243 that has sucked the molded product P via the internal passage 2451, is separated from directly above the slot hole 256, and the inside of the pocket 243 is sucked. As a result, the molded article P no longer sticks to the pocket 243 either. In this state, the molded article P is transferred from the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 to the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1.

In a part of the transport section of the molded product P from the delivery position 23 to the delivery position 27 on the outer periphery of the rotating body 24, a processing device in the module C is used to check whether foreign matter is mixed into the molded product P. A foreign matter inspection device C21 for inspection, a quality inspection device C22 for inspecting the components of the molded product P and other quality, and an outer surface inspection device C3 for inspecting the state of the outer surface of the molded product P are installed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the contaminant inspection apparatus C21 includes a set of a sensor 262 and a light source 261, which are light-receiving elements installed at a position overlapping the locus of movement of the molded product P conveyed by the conveying apparatus C1 in a plan view. The sensor 262 and the light source 261 are arranged to face each other along the vertical direction, which is the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body 24, with the molded article P and the rotating body 24 conveying the molded article P interposed therebetween. Then, out of the light or electromagnetic wave (which may be a laser) emitted from the light source 261, the transmitted light L1 that has passed through the molded product P is made incident on the sensor 262 as signal light, and the signal light L1 is analyzed. It is inspected whether foreign matter is mixed in the molded product P. As for the specific method of inspection, it is possible to adopt a known method. For example, in the transmitted light image obtained by receiving the transmitted light L1 with the sensor 262, if the foreign matter appears as a shadow of a color or pixel value different from that of the molded product P, by detecting this by image analysis, The presence of foreign matter mixed in the molded article P can be sensed.

The quality inspection device C22 is located in the same area as the foreign matter inspection device C21. The quality inspection apparatus C22 has as elements a set of a sensor 263 and a light source 261, which are light receiving elements installed at a position overlapping the locus of movement of the molded product P conveyed by the conveying apparatus C1 in a plan view. The light source 261 of the quality inspection device C22 may be the same as the light source 261 of the foreign matter inspection device C21, or may be separate from the light source 261 of the foreign matter inspection device C21. I am assuming. The quality inspection device C22 detects, as a signal light, the reflected light L2 reflected by a predetermined surface, for example, the upper surface of each molded product P captured and transported by the suction holes 244 among the light or electromagnetic waves emitted from the light source 261. 263 and analyzing the signal light L2, it is inspected whether the components and other qualities of the molded product P are appropriate. As for the specific method of inspection, it is possible to adopt a known method. For example, the spectroscopic spectrum of the reflected light L2 received by the sensor 263 is obtained, the spectroscopic spectrum is referred to, in other words, the absorption and/or scattering of light by the molded product P is measured, and the effective light contained in the molded product P is measured. The concentration of the component (or main agent, main agent), the additives added to the active ingredient (excipients, lubricants, binders that bind powders together, and the absorption of moisture will cause the molded product P to collapse. disintegrant, etc.), the ratio of the active ingredient and the additive, the degree of mixing of the active ingredient and the additive (uniformity of the powder, whether or not segregation has occurred), the density of the molded product P, The hardness of the molded product P and other qualitative or quantitative analyzes are performed.

As the wavelength of the light or electromagnetic wave to be used, that is, the light or electromagnetic wave supplied from the light source 261, for example, a wavelength band having a specific absorption peak of the active ingredient without peaks of excipients and lubricants is used. This light or electromagnetic waves may be near-infrared light. In that case, the quality inspection device C22 can analyze the quality of the molded product P by near-infrared spectroscopic analysis. In addition, in the foreign matter inspection device C21, it becomes easy to detect living body-derived foreign matter such as hair and insects mixed in the molded product P. Of course, this does not preclude detection of metal or other foreign matter by the foreign matter inspection device C21. Near-infrared light is less likely to destroy active ingredients and the like contained in the molded product P than visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and the like. Therefore, the molded article P that has undergone the quality inspection does not lose its commercial value, and can be supplied to the market as it is as a product. Ultraviolet light and radiation are harmful to the human body and require protection, but near-infrared light has no such demerits.

As shown in FIG. 10, in a side view or side cross-sectional view, the sensor 262 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 and the sensor 263 of the quality inspection device C22 move the molded article P and the rotating body 24 that conveys the molded article P. They are arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction so as to be sandwiched between them. Then, at the same time or substantially at the same time when one sensor 262 receives the transmitted light L1 from the molded product P passing through a specific position on the trajectory of the movement of the molded product P, the other sensor 263 passes through the same position. Another molded product P that receives the reflected light L2 from the molded product P or that passes through a position immediately upstream or downstream of the position along the trajectory of movement of the molded product P (especially, passing through the position from a molded product P adjacent to the molded product P, i.e., a molded product P that is engaged with a suction hole 244 that is adjacent to or in the vicinity of the suction hole 244 that is engaged by the molded product P passing through the position , the reflected light L2 is received. Then, at the same time or substantially at the same time that the foreign matter inspection device C21 inspects the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product P passing through the position, the quality inspection device C22 detects the same molded product P or a nearby molded product P Inspect the ingredients and other quality of

As shown in FIG. 11, the outer surface inspection device C3 has a camera that captures a predetermined surface, for example, the upper surface of each molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 and transferred, and acquires the image. The acquired image can be used to inspect the condition of the outer surface of the molded article P. That is, by analyzing the photographed image or comparing it with an image of a normal molded product P, it is possible to determine whether the external surface condition of the molded product P is normal or defective.

The camera of the appearance inspection device C3 is not limited to photographing the upper surface of the molded article P, and may photograph the lower surface of the molded article P as well. It is also possible to measure the width, length, diameter, area, etc. of the molded product P by analyzing the image of the upper surface/lower surface of the molded product P. It is also possible to photograph the side surface of the molded product P and determine whether the condition is normal or defective. It is also possible to measure the height (thickness) of the molded article P by analyzing an image of the side surface of the molded article P. Alternatively, if a three-dimensional measuring device using a light section method is adopted as the appearance inspection device C3, three-dimensional data of the molded product P can be acquired, and the acquired data can be analyzed to determine whether the outer surface of the molded product P is normal. It can be determined whether it is good or bad. The processing in the visual inspection apparatus C3 is not limited to adopting any one of these, and a plurality of processing may be combined.

The suction hole 244 for capturing the molded product P penetrates vertically through the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 , and one of the light source 261 and the sensor 262 is positioned directly above the flange 242 and the other is positioned directly below the flange 242 . are doing. Furthermore, in a plan view from the top and bottom, the peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 is continuously closed all around, and has a size and a shape in which the peripheral edge fits inside the outer edge of the molded product P to be sucked by it. . When the suction hole 244 for capturing the molded article P passes through the area where the foreign matter inspection device C21, the quality inspection device C22, and the outer surface inspection device C3 are located, a negative pressure is supplied from the duct 25 into the suction hole 244. Therefore, the molded article P is tightly attached to the suction hole 244, and no gap is generated between the peripheral edge of the suction hole 244 and the outer edge of the molded article P.

Therefore, in the foreign matter inspection apparatus C21, the signal light L1 that has passed through the molded product P is appropriately incident on the sensor 262 through the suction hole 244, while the stray light other than the signal light L1, that is, the light that has not passed through the molded product P is It is shielded by the rotating body 24 and the flange 242 and is suppressed from entering the sensor 262 . The molded product P sucked and held by the suction holes 244 is conveyed along the rotation direction of the rotor 24 while maintaining a constant position relative to the rotor 24 and the suction holes 244 . This includes the process of irradiating the molded article P with light or electromagnetic waves and analyzing the signal light L1 transmitted through the molded article P, the process of analyzing the reflected light L2 reflected by the molded article P, and the process of analyzing the molded article P with a camera. This is effective for the process of photographing and inspecting the outer surface.

The table 31 of the molding machine A, the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1 of the module B, and the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 of the module C rotate in synchronization with each other. The control device of the molding machine A and the processing system S of the present embodiment includes an angular position sensor (such as a rotary encoder) associated with the rotary plate 3 of the molding machine A, the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1, or the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1. By referring to the signal output by , it is possible to know the current position of each of the suction holes 244 arranged along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 24 . In other words, it is possible to know the current position in the module C of the molded product P compression-molded in the die hole 4 of the table 31 of the molding machine A. This is because the molded product P that has passed in front of the sensors 262 and 263 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 and the quality inspection device C22, or has passed in front of the camera of the outer surface inspection device C3, is inspected for foreign matter, quality, or This means that it is possible to know in which molar hole 4 the molded product P whose outer surface was inspected was molded. The control device receives information related to the results of inspection of the molded product P via the foreign matter inspection device C21, the quality inspection device C22, or the outer surface inspection device C3 (whether or not foreign matter is mixed in the target molded product P, the target The determination result of whether there is no abnormality in the quality of the molded product P, whether the external surface condition of the target molded product P is normal or defective, etc.) It is stored in a storage device in association with an ID number indicating whether it has been molded.

The transport device D1 of the module D following the module C receives the molded product P from the transport device C1 at the transfer position 27 of the molded product P, and transfers the molded product P to the processing device D2 that performs the next process. transport. The order in which the molded products P are molded in the molding machine A is still maintained even when the molded products P are transferred between the transport device C1 and the transport device S1. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the conveying device D1 mainly includes a rotating body 28, which is a conveying body that horizontally rotates around a vertical axis in synchronization with the rotating body 28 of the conveying device C1.

The rotating body 28 rotates clockwise in the drawing with respect to the rotating body 28 rotating counterclockwise in the drawing. In order to synchronize the rotation of the rotating body 24 and the rotating body 28, for example, the rotating shaft of the rotating body 24 and the rotating shaft of the rotating body 28 are connected via the gear transmission mechanism 42 or the winding transmission mechanism. To mechanically connect and interlock. Alternatively, a servo motor or a stepping motor may be used as the motor for rotating the rotating body 28, and an angular position sensor such as a rotary encoder may be used to detect the rotation angle and rotation speed of each of the rotating bodies 24 and 28. The rotation speed of the motors may be feedback-controlled so that the rotations are synchronized.

The rotating body 28 has a substantially disk-like shape when viewed from above in the direction of the rotating shaft of the rotating body 28, that is, in the vertical direction. More specifically, the rotating body 28 consists of two discs 280 and 281 having different outer diameters, a disc 281 having a larger outer diameter, and a disc 280 having a smaller outer diameter. It is configured by superimposing them on top of each other and rigidly connecting both 280 and 281 to integrate them. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion 282 of the upper disc member 281 extends outward from the base of the rotor 28, that is, the outer peripheral edge of the lower disc member 280, along the radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotor 28. put out. This outer peripheral portion 282 serves as a flange of the rotating body 28 .

The outer peripheral surface of the base portion 280 of the rotating body 28 is formed with a pocket 283 which is recessed inward along the radial direction and opened outward. The outer peripheral edge of the base portion 280 has a substantially circular shape, but is recessed in a direction approaching the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 by a portion of the pocket 283 . A suction hole 284 with a closed peripheral edge is formed in the flange 282 at a position facing the pocket 283 from the other side along the direction of the rotation axis, that is, from above. The suction holes 284 function as a capturing portion that captures the molded article P on the rotating body 28 . At least a portion of the suction hole 284 overlaps the pocket 283 and opens downward toward the pocket 283 when the rotating body 28 is viewed from above and below. In plan view, the inner periphery of the suction hole 284 is along the inner wall surface of the pocket 283 . Moreover, the suction hole 284 is a through hole penetrating through the flange 282 in the vertical direction.

The pockets 283 and the suction holes 284 are intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals along the outside of the rotating body 28, that is, along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotating body 28. As shown in FIG. Needless to say, these pockets 283 and suction holes 284 rotate integrally with the rotor 28 . The molded product P transferred from the transfer device C1 of the module C to the transfer device D1 of the module D is transferred while being caught in the suction holes 284 by engaging the pockets 283 and the suction holes 284 of the rotating body 28 .

As shown in FIG. 13, the lower surface of the outer peripheral flange 282 of the rotating body 28 of the transfer device D1 is higher than the upper surface of the outer peripheral flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the module C transfer device C1. The outer circumference of the base portion 280 of the rotor 28 and the pocket 283 are at substantially the same height as the base portion 240 and the pocket 243 of the rotor 24 so as to face the base portion 240 and the pocket 243 in the horizontal direction. In addition, a portion of the flange 282 of the rotating body 28 in plan view overlaps a portion of the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 from above, and the two face each other in the vertical direction. As the rotating bodies 24 and 28 rotate synchronously, the suction holes 244 and the suction holes 284 temporarily overlap at the transfer position 27 . The upper surface of the base 240 of the rotating body 24 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the flange 282 of the rotating body 28, and the upper surface of the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the base 280 of the rotating body 28. It does not interfere with the body 28.

At the transfer position 27 , the molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 and transferred moves from above the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 to directly below the flange 282 of the rotating body 28 . At this time, the molded product P enters the pocket 283 formed in the rotating body 28 and is captured by the suction hole 284 . The molded product P is accommodated in each suction hole 284 one by one. As a result, the molded products P are placed one by one in each of the suction holes 284 in the order in which the suction holes 244 of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 are arranged, in other words, without disturbing the order in which the molded products P are compression-molded in the molding machine A. They can be engaged in sequence. In the process of transferring the molded article P from the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 to the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded article P do not turn over.

The molded article P captured by the suction holes 284 is transferred along the locus of rotation of the suction holes 284 as the rotating body 28 rotates. Each molded product P has a substantially constant relative position with respect to the rotor 28 and the suction hole 284 in each suction hole 284 . The molded product P receives the action of centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating body 28 , but is attracted to the suction holes 284 and its displacement is prevented, so that it does not protrude outward and does not fall from the suction holes 284 . In addition, the upper surface and the lower surface of the molded product P do not turn inside out during the transfer process of the molded product P.

Ultimately, the molded product P captured by the suction holes 284 is transferred to the end position E of the transfer by the transfer device D1 unless it is removed by the removal device D3, which will be described later. Then, at the end position E, the molded article P is separated from the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 and transferred to an apparatus for performing the next process on the molded article P, or flows downward toward a container or the like for collecting the molded article P. It will be done.

Hereinafter, a mechanism for sucking the molded product P to the pockets 283 and the suction holes 284 of the rotor 28 will be described. Negative pressure is supplied to the inside of the pocket 283 and the inside of the suction hole 284 , so that the molded product P can be sucked into the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 . As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, suction passages 2851 and 2852 for supplying negative pressure to the inside of the pocket 283 are bored in the rotating body 28 in advance. The suction passages 2851 and 2852 have their starting ends opened at the innermost portion of the inner wall surface of the pocket 283, and an internal passage 2851 extending from there inside the rotor 28 toward the rotation axis of the rotor 28. and a suction hole 2852 for opening the internal passage 2851 to the upper surface side of the rotating body 28 by digging the rotating body 28 downward from the upper surface toward the terminal end of the internal passage 2851 . Specifically, the internal passage 2851 is an upwardly opening groove formed in the upper surface of the lower disc body 280 that is the base of the rotating body 28 . This groove 285 is closed from above by a disc body 281 that is joined to the upper surface of the rotating body 280 . The suction port 2852 is a through hole vertically penetrating a portion of the upper disc body 281 located directly above the terminal end of the internal passage 2851 . The suction passages 2851 and 2852 allow the inside of the pocket 283 to communicate with the position of the suction port 2852 on the upper surface of the rotating body 28 that is biased inward from the pocket 283 . The number of suction passages 2851 and 2852 is the same as the number of pairs of pockets 283 and suction holes 284 .

In order to supply the negative pressure inside the pocket 283 , the atmosphere inside the internal passage 2851 and the pocket 283 may be sucked from the suction port 2852 . Above the rotating body 28, a negative pressure supply duct 29 extending along the outer circumference of the rotating body 28 in a semicircular shape is installed. The duct 29 has a bottom wall 291 very close to the upper surface of the rotating body 28, side walls 292 rising from the inner and outer ends of the bottom wall 291, and a top wall 293 connecting the upper ends of the side walls 292. It is a cylindrical body surrounding the inner space. The internal space of this duct 29 is sucked by a pump (not shown) to have a negative pressure.

A slot hole 294 having a partial circular arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 in a plan view is formed in a portion of the bottom wall 291 of the duct 29 located directly above the suction port 2852 . The slot hole 294 vertically penetrates the bottom wall 291 . The slot hole expands along the trajectory along which each suction port 2852 moves as the rotating body 28 rotates. The expansion range of the slot hole 294 extends from the upstream side of the transfer position 27 that receives the molded product P from the transfer device C1 to a predetermined position downstream of the transfer position 27 along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28. .

The negative pressure is supplied into the pocket 283, that is, the inside of the pocket 283 is sucked when the suction ports 2852 of the suction passages 2851 and 2852 connected to the pocket 283 are located directly below the slot hole 294. That is, it is limited to the period when the internal space of the duct 29 which is made negative pressure and the inside of the pocket 283 communicate with each other. When the suction port 2852 is located at a position where the slot hole 294 does not exist, the bottom wall 291 intervenes between the inner space of the duct 29 and the suction port 2852 to isolate the inner space of the duct 29 from the pocket 283, thereby forming a pocket. The inside of 283 is not aspirated.

The duct 29 also plays a role of supplying a negative pressure inside the suction hole 284 . A slot hole 295 having a partial circular arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the rotating body 28 in a plan view is formed in a portion of the bottom wall 291 of the duct 29 located directly above the suction hole 284 . The slot hole 295 also extends vertically through the bottom wall 291 . The slot hole 295 expands along the trajectory along which each suction hole 284 moves as the rotating body 28 rotates. The expansion range of the slot hole 295 is along the rotation direction of the rotating body 28 from the delivery position 27 where the molded product P is received from the transport device C1 to the position just before the end position E of the transport of the molded product P by the transport device D1. range.

The suction hole 284 is supplied with a negative pressure, that is, the inside of the suction hole 284 is sucked, when the suction hole 284 is located directly below the slot hole 295, that is, when the internal space of the duct 29 is negatively pressured. and the inside of the suction hole 284 are in communication. When the suction hole 284 is located at a position where the slot hole 295 does not exist, the bottom wall 291 isolates the inner space of the duct 29 from the suction hole 284, and the inside of the suction hole 284 is not sucked.

In the process of transferring the molded product P captured by the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 to the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1, first, the transfer position 27 The pair of pockets 283 and suction holes 284 which are upstream of and do not hold the molded product P move toward the transfer 27 . When they reach the position immediately before the transfer position 27, the suction port 2852 connected to the pocket 283 via the internal passage 2851 reaches directly below the slot hole 294, and the duct for supplying negative pressure. 29 starts sucking the inside of the pocket 283 . At this point, the suction hole 284 paired with the pocket 283 has not yet reached directly below the slot hole 295, and the inside of the suction hole 284 is not sucked.

On the other hand, in the conveying device C<b>1 , the set of the pocket 243 and the suction hole 244 that is upstream of the delivery position 27 and holds the molded product P moves toward the delivery 27 . Then, when they reach the position immediately before the transfer position 27, the suction hole 244 is separated from the position directly above the slot hole 255 of the duct 25, the inside of the suction hole 244 is no longer sucked, and the molded product P is removed from the suction hole 244. will no longer be adsorbed. Further, substantially at the same time or immediately after that, the suction port 2452 connected to the pocket 243 that has sucked the molded product P via the suction passages 2451 and 2452 is separated from directly above the slot hole 256, and the inside of the pocket 243 is removed. is no longer sucked, and the molded article P is no longer attracted to the pocket 243 either. Therefore, the molded article P that has arrived at the transfer position 27 is placed on the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 and is not restrained by the pocket 243 or the suction hole 244.

In the transport device D1, when the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 not holding the molded product P reaches the transfer position 27 of the molded product P, the suction hole 284 reaches directly below the slot hole 295, Suction inside the suction hole 284 by the duct 29 for pressure supply is started. At this point, the suction port 2852, which is connected to the pocket 283 via the internal passage 2851, is still located directly below the slot hole 294, and both the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 are supplied with negative pressure. As a result, at the transfer position 27, the molded product P on the flange 242 of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1 moves toward the pocket 283 of the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1 toward the inner side of the rotary shaft of the rotating body 28. , transitions under flange 284 and engages pocket 283 . As a result, the molded product P is positioned at a constant relative position with respect to the suction holes 284 . Furthermore, this molded article P is in a state of being attracted not only to the pockets 283 but also to the suction holes 284 .

When the rotating body 28 rotates and the set of the pocket 283 and the suction hole 284 sucking the molded product P moves downstream from the delivery position 27 by a certain amount or more, the suction port 2852 connected to the pocket 283 through the internal passage 2851 is opened. is removed from directly below the slot hole 294 , the inside of the pocket 283 is no longer sucked, and the molded product P is no longer attracted to the pocket 283 . On the other hand, the suction hole 284 sucking the molded product P is still located directly below the slot hole 295 , so the molded product P continues to be captured while being sucked by the suction hole 284 .

After that, when the suction hole 284 that has sucked the molded product P reaches the position immediately before the terminal position E, the suction hole 284 is separated from directly below the slot hole 295, the inside of the suction hole 284 is no longer sucked, and the molded product is removed. P no longer sticks to the adsorption hole 284 . Therefore, the molded product P is separated from the suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 and falls from the flange 282, and is transferred to a device for performing the next process on the molded product P, or a container or the like for collecting the molded product P. flow down towards

In a part of the transport section of the molded product P from the transfer position 27 to the terminal position E on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 28, an outer surface inspection device for inspecting the state of the outer surface of the molded product P is provided as a processing device in the module D. An inspection device D2 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 14, the outer surface inspection device D2 has a camera that captures a predetermined surface, for example, the bottom surface of each molded product P captured by the suction holes 284 and transferred, and acquires the image. The acquired image can be used to inspect the condition of the outer surface of the molded article P. That is, by analyzing the photographed image or comparing it with an image of a normal molded product P, it is possible to determine whether the external surface condition of the molded product P is normal or defective.

The camera of the appearance inspection device D2 is not limited to photographing the bottom surface of the molded article P, and may photograph the upper surface of the molded article P as well. It is also possible to measure the width, length, diameter, area, etc. of the molded product P by analyzing the image of the upper surface/lower surface of the molded product P. It is also possible to photograph the side surface of the molded product P and determine whether the condition is normal or defective. It is also possible to measure the height (thickness) of the molded article P by analyzing an image of the side surface of the molded article P. Alternatively, if a three-dimensional measuring device using a light section method is adopted as the appearance inspection device D2, three-dimensional data of the molded article P can be acquired, and the acquired data can be analyzed to determine whether the outer surface of the molded article P is normal. It can be determined whether it is good or bad. The processing in the appearance inspection device D2 is not limited to adopting any one of these, and a plurality of processing may be combined.

In plan view from the top and bottom, the perimeter of the suction hole 284 is continuously closed, and has a size and shape that allows the perimeter to fit inside the outer edge of the molded product P that is to be sucked by the perimeter. In addition, when the suction hole 284 for capturing the molded product P passes through the area where the outer surface inspection device D2 is located, negative pressure is supplied from the duct 29 into the suction hole 284, so that the molded product P adheres tightly to the suction hole 284, and no gap is generated between the peripheral edge of the suction hole 284 and the outer edge of the molded product P. The molded product P sucked and held by the suction holes 284 maintains a constant position relative to the rotor 28 and the suction holes 284 while being transported along the rotation direction of the rotor 28 . This is effective for the process of photographing the molded article P with a camera and inspecting the outer surface thereof.

The table 31 of the molding machine A, the rotor 17 of the take-out device B1 of the module B, the rotor 24 of the transfer device C1 of the module C, and the rotor 28 of the transfer device of the module D rotate in synchronism with each other. The control device of the molding machine A and the processing system S uses an angular position sensor ( By referring to the signal output by the rotary encoder, etc., it is possible to know the current position of each of the suction holes 284 arranged along the circumferential direction around the rotation axis of the rotor 28. In other words, it is possible to know the current position in the module D of the molded product P compression-molded in the die hole 4 of the table 31 of the molding machine A. This means that it is possible to know in which die hole 4 the molded product P that has just passed in front of the camera of the outer surface inspection device D2, that is, the molded product P whose outer surface has been inspected, was molded. means that The control device transmits information (judgment results such as whether the outer surface condition of the target molded product P is normal or defective) related to the inspection result of the molded product P via the outer surface inspection device D2. The information is stored in a storage device in association with an ID number indicating which die hole 4 the target molded product P was molded with.

The molded article P captured by the suction holes 284 of the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1 is normally transferred to the terminal position E of the transfer. However, there is also a demand for selecting specific molded products P, such as defective products and sampled products, from the group of molded products P transported to the terminal position E to exclude or collect them.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, a specific molded product P is removed in the middle of the trajectory of the rotational movement of the suction hole 284 and the molded product P leading to the terminal position E in the transfer device D1 of the module D. It is also preferable to install an exclusion device D3 for the purpose. The excluding device D3 includes an injection nozzle 301 for injecting compressed air K toward the molded article P engaged with the suction hole 284, and a chute 302 for dropping the molded article P blown away by the compressed air K. and The injection nozzle 301 and the chute 302 are arranged so as to vertically face each other across the suction hole 284 sucking the molded product P, and are held in the suction hole 284 by the compressed air K injected from the injection nozzle 301. The molded product P is detached from the suction hole 284, and the molded product P peeled off from the flange 282 of the rotating body 28 is received by the chute 302 and recovered. The injection amount (flow rate per unit time) and injection pressure of this compressed air K may be small. The position of the injection nozzle 301 relative to the rotating body 28 and the direction in which the compressed air K is injected from the injection nozzle 301 are arbitrary as long as the molded product P can be peeled off the flange 282 .

The control device of the molding machine A and the processing system S determines in which die hole 4 in the molding machine A the molded product P engaged with each suction hole 284 of the rotating body 28 was molded. I understand Then, the control device checks the results of various inspections on the molded product P, that is, whether there is an abnormality in the compression pressure during compression molding, whether there is foreign matter mixed in, whether there is an abnormality in quality, whether there is an abnormality in the outer surface of the molded product P, etc. is stored in association with the ID number indicating which die hole 4 in the molding machine A the molded product P was molded with. Therefore, the control device recognizes whether each molded article P engaged with each suction hole 284 of the rotor 28 is normal or defective, and the defective molded article P is engaged. It is possible to know the current position of the suction hole 284 that is engaged.

The control device has a valve (which may be built in the injection nozzle 301) that controls the circulation of the compressed air K when the suction hole 284 that has captured the defective molded product P passes through the vicinity of the injection nozzle 301. A control signal for opening the valve is given, and the compressed air K is injected from the injection nozzle 301 toward the defective molded product P to drop the molded product P from the rotating body 28 and remove it. The molded product P that has fallen into the chute 302 cannot reach the terminal position E.

The molded product P sucked by the suction holes 284 is conveyed along the direction of rotation of the rotor 28 while maintaining a constant position relative to the rotor 28 and the suction holes 284 . This is also effective for the process of ejecting compressed air K to the molded article P that engages with a specific suction hole 284 to remove or extract it.

In this embodiment, the rotating shaft of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1, the rotating shaft of the rotating body 24 of the conveying device C1, and the rotating shaft of the rotating body 28 of the conveying device D1 are connected via a gear transmission mechanism. , they rotate synchronously. There is one motor for rotating the rotating bodies 17, 24 and 28, and this motor is directly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1. The driving force output by the motor rotates the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B1, and is also transmitted to the rotating shafts of the rotating bodies 24 and 28 of the conveying devices C1 and D1 via the gear transmission mechanism. 28 is rotated.

In the modules C and D that transfer the molded product P, each molded product P is optically inspected. The quality inspection device C22 and the outer surface inspection devices C3 and D2 in the modules C and D are emitted from the illumination light source 261 and reflected from the surface layer of the molded product P captured by the suction holes 244 and 284 of the rotating bodies 24 and 28. A sensor 263 for receiving light or electromagnetic waves L2 and L3 is provided. On the other hand, the foreign matter inspection device C21 in the module C has a sensor 262 that receives the transmitted light or electromagnetic waves L1 emitted from the light source 261 and transmitted through the molded product P caught in the suction hole 244 of the rotating body 24 . In order to improve the accuracy of inspection by these inspection devices C21, C22, C3, and D2, light other than the reflected light L2, L3 or the transmitted light L1 of the molded product P, especially the light irregularly reflected by the rotating bodies 24 and 28, should be inspected. Suppression is required to impinge on the optical sensors 262, 263 that are elements of the devices C21, C22, C3, D2.

Therefore, in this embodiment, at least the surfaces of the portions around the suction holes 244 and 284 (in particular, the inner surfaces of the suction holes 244 and 284) of the rotating bodies 24 and 28, which are the elements of the transport devices C1 and D1 of the modules C and D, are The upper and lower surfaces of the discs 241 and 281 connected to the peripheral surface and the opening edge thereof, the inner peripheral surfaces of the pockets 243 and 283 facing the suction holes 244 and 284, the upper surface of the disc 240 positioned around the pocket 243, and the pocket 283. An anti-reflection layer that suppresses reflection of light or electromagnetic waves is provided on the lower surface of the disc body 280 located on the periphery of the .

The antireflection layer has a known antireflection effect of absorbing light or electromagnetic waves and reducing the reflection thereof on the surfaces of the discs 240, 241, 280, 281, which are members constituting the rotating bodies 24, 28, for example. It can be formed by applying paint or dye (or coating the disks 240, 241, 280, 281 with an antireflective agent). Here, coating includes immersing part or all of the discs 240, 241, 280, 281 in an antireflection paint or dye solution. It is also preferable to apply an antireflection coating or dye to substantially the entire disk bodies 240 , 241 , 280 , 281 to provide an antireflection layer substantially all over the rotors 24 , 28 .

When the disc bodies 240, 241, 280, and 281 are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the treatment for forming an antireflection layer on the surface may be black alumite treatment. As is well known, alumite treatment involves anodizing the surface of aluminum or an aluminum alloy to form an oxide film, in which numerous fine pores are formed. By applying an antireflection paint or dye to this film, the coloring agent (dye, pigment or dye) with an antireflection effect enters and adheres not only to the surface of the film but also to the inside of the micropores. In such alumite coloring, since the fine pores of the film may remain open only by applying paint or dye, it is preferable to perform a separate sealing treatment to close the pores.

Of course, instead of applying an antireflection paint or dye, a known antireflection film or sheet may be applied to the surfaces of the disks 240, 241, 280, 281 to form an antireflection layer. Since antireflection paints, antireflection dyes, antireflection films or sheets are usually black, the outer surfaces of the rotors 24, 28 provided with the antireflection layer are black. In addition, the surface of the antireflection layer has a so-called matte state where the specular reflection of light or electromagnetic waves is suppressed and there is no gloss.

Compared to the surfaces of (disks 240, 241, 280, 281 of) rotating bodies 24, 28 not provided with an antireflection layer, the antireflection layer is emitted from the illumination light sources of the outer surface inspection devices C3, D2. It reduces the reflectance of light in the wavelength band to which the illumination light belongs, and reduces the reflectance of light in the wavelength band to which the light emitted from the light source 261 of the foreign matter inspection device C21 or the quality inspection device C22 belongs. In short, antireflection layers reduce the reflectance of visible and/or infrared light. The antireflection layer also functions to absorb environmental light other than the light emitted from the light source 261 of the inspection devices C21, C22, C3, and D2 and suppress the reflection thereof.

Extraction device B1 including rotating body 17 and holding member 18, conveying devices C1 and D1 including rotating bodies 24 and 28 and suction ducts 25 and 29, motors serving as drive sources for ejecting device B1 and conveying devices C1 and D1, dust removal Device B2, foreign matter inspection device C21, quality inspection device C22, outer surface inspection devices C3 and D2, and removal device D3 are supported by a single support 511 to form one unit. This unit is supported by a frame via a slide rail mechanism. Underneath the pedestal, casters are mounted that roll while contacting the floor surface, so that the pedestal can be easily moved together with the unit. In short, module B, module C and module D are integrated via a unit and a frame, and these modules B, C and D are attached to and detached from the molding machine A together.

The dimension of the gap between the protrusions 171 that accommodate the molded article P in the take-out device B1 is larger than the molded article P itself. For this reason, the accuracy of the delivery position of the molded product P from the table 31 of the molding machine A to the rotating body 17 of the take-out device B is not severe. Therefore, even if the mounting positions of the frames of the modules B, C, and D and the units with respect to the molding machine A are not remarkably high, the molded product P can be properly taken out and transferred.

Machine A is housed in a containment vessel. Each module B, C, D of the processing system S is also housed in a containment vessel. The containment vessel of molding machine A and the containment vessels of modules B, C, and D are connected via joints. This joint communicates the internal space of the containment vessel housing the molding machine A with the internal space of the containment vessel housing the modules B, C, and D, and optionally connects the former containment vessel and the latter containment vessel. It can be put on and taken off. A molded product take-out position 16 where the table 31 of the molding machine A and the rotating body 17 of the take-out mechanism B1 overlap in plan view, and its surroundings are accommodated in the joint.

The containment vessel and joints prevent the atmosphere of the internal space housing the molding machine A and each of the modules B, C, and D from unintentionally leaking out of the containment vessel. Molding of the molded product P, delivery of the molded product P between the molding machine A and the module B and between the modules B, C, and D, and post-process processing of the molded product P, such as dust adhering to the molded product P , inspection of the molded product P, etc., are generally carried out within the containment container. It is not necessary to discharge the molded product P out of the system for the implementation of post-process treatments. Therefore, it is possible to realize a containment environment in which the atmosphere containing the powder does not leak to the outside, which is particularly useful in the production of molded article P containing a highly pharmacologically active substance. Also, contamination of the molded article P can be suppressed.

Needless to say, the devices provided in the modules B, C, and D for performing post-process treatments on the molded product P are not limited to the examples described above. Specific examples of such devices include a laser processing machine type printing device that irradiates a laser beam to the molded product P to engrave or laser mark the outer surface of the molded product P, and an inkjet printer that performs inkjet printing on the surface of the molded product P. A printer-type printing device, a packaging device for packaging the molded article P in a PTP (Press Through Pack) packaging sheet, an ESOP (Easy Seal Open Pack) packaging sheet, or the like can be used.

In this embodiment, a transfer body (rotating body) 24 which has a trapping portion (suction hole) 244 for trapping the molded article P and which transfers the molded article P through a movement of displacing the trapping section 244; Inspection of the components contained in the molded article P via a sensor 263 that receives light or electromagnetic waves L2 reflected by the molded article P passing through a predetermined area on the trajectory of movement of the molded article P that is captured by the capture unit 244 and transferred. A first inspection device (quality inspection device) C22 that performs A molded product conveying module C including a second inspection device (foreign matter inspection device) C21 for inspecting the presence or absence of foreign matter is configured. According to this embodiment, the quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded article P can be performed at the same time during transportation in the molded article transportation module C, and the processing time required for each inspection for one molded article P can be shortened. In addition, the entire inspection apparatuses C21 and C22 can be made compact.

The sensors 263 and 262, which are elements of the first inspection device C22 and the second inspection device C21, emit near-infrared light L2 reflected by the molded product P or near-infrared light transmitted through the molded product P. Receive L1. That is, the first inspection device C22 and the second inspection device C21 respectively perform quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded product P using near-infrared light. Compared to visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, etc., near-infrared light does not destroy the active ingredients contained in the molded article P, so the commercial value of the molded article P that has undergone inspection is not lost. It is possible to supply the product to the market as it is. Also, ultraviolet rays and radiation are harmful to the human body and require protection, but near-infrared light has no such disadvantages.

The sensor 263 of the first inspection device C22 receives the light or electromagnetic wave L2 reflected by the molded product P, and the sensor 262 of the second inspection device C21 receives the light or electromagnetic wave L1 transmitted through the molded product P. Therefore, the sensors 263 and 262 are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the molded product P, and the quality inspection and foreign matter inspection of the molded product P can be performed at the same time or substantially at the same time.

The capturing part has a through hole 244 vertically penetrating the transfer body 24, and the light or electromagnetic wave L1 transmitted through the molded product P passing through the predetermined area captures the molded product P. Since it enters the sensor 262 through the through hole 244, the signal light L1 transmitted through the molded product P is properly received by the sensor 262 through the through hole 244, while stray light other than the signal light L1, that is, the molded product P is not transmitted. The missing light is blocked by transport body 24 and is suppressed from entering sensor 262 . As a result, the accuracy of inspection is further improved.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above. In the above embodiment, the first inspection device C22 inspects the components contained in the molded product P based on the light or electromagnetic waves L2 reflected by the molded product P, and the second inspection device C21 inspects the light transmitted through the molded product P. Alternatively, based on the electromagnetic wave L1, the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed into the molded article P is inspected. On the other hand, the first inspection device can inspect the components contained in the molded product based on the light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded product, and the second inspection device can inspect the light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product. Based on this, it is also possible to inspect the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed into the molded product.

In the quality inspection of a molded product that refers to transmitted light, in the same way as the quality inspection that refers to reflected light, the spectral spectrum of the transmitted light received by the sensor is obtained, and the spectral spectrum is referred to, in other words, the light from the molded product By measuring the absorption and / or scattering of the product, the concentration of active ingredients and additives contained in the molded product, the ratio of active ingredients and additives, the degree of mixing of active ingredients and additives, the density of the molded product , hardness of moldings, and other qualitative or quantitative analyzes.

In foreign matter inspection of molded products that refers to reflected light, for example, the molded product is irradiated with light or electromagnetic waves in a wavelength band that can pass through the molded product but is difficult to pass through the foreign matter, typically near-infrared light. A sensor receives the light or electromagnetic wave. In the resulting reflected light image, if the foreign matter appears as a shadow with a characteristic color or pixel value that is different from usual, this can be detected by image analysis, and the presence of the foreign matter mixed in the molded product can be detected. I can sense it. If the direction of polarization of the reflected light that hits the foreign matter changes from that of the light that hits the molded product itself or something other than the foreign matter, the polarization of the reflected light is detected to detect the existence of the foreign matter mixed in the molded product. You can also take a method to

A mode is also conceivable in which both the first inspection device responsible for the quality inspection of the molded product and the second inspection device responsible for the foreign matter inspection refer to the light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product for inspection. Alternatively, it is conceivable that both the first inspection device and the second inspection device perform inspection with reference to light or electromagnetic waves that have passed through the molded product. Therefore, the sensor of the first inspection device and the sensor of the second inspection device for receiving reflected light or transmitted light can be a common sensor. When the sensor is shared, quality inspection by the first inspection device and foreign matter inspection by the second inspection device are performed based on reflected light or transmitted light obtained from the same molded product.

The molded product targeted by the present invention is not limited to the molded product P molded by compressing the powder with the powder compression molding machine A. The present invention can be applied to general molded articles processed into a certain shape by injecting a raw material into a mold or by pressurizing or heating the raw material in the mold.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

24... transfer body (rotating body)
244... Capture part (suction hole)
262, 263... Sensors C... Molded product conveying module C21... Second inspection device (foreign matter inspection device)
C22 ... First inspection device (quality inspection device)
P... Molded product

Claims (4)

A molded article conveying module that sequentially takes out and conveys molded articles molded by compressing powder with a rotary powder compression molding machine while maintaining the arrangement order in the molding machine. hand,
a transfer body that has a catching part for catching a molded product and transfers the molded product while maintaining the arrangement order in the rotary powder compression molding machine through a movement that displaces the catching part;
Via a sensor that receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by a molded article passing through a predetermined area in the trajectory of the movement of the molded article captured by the capturing section of the transfer body and transferred, or light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded article A first inspection device that inspects the components contained in the molded product;
A second inspection for inspecting the presence or absence of foreign matter in the molded product through a sensor that receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product or light or electromagnetic waves that have passed through the molded product passing through the predetermined area. a device;
At least information relating to the inspection result of the presence or absence of contamination of the molded product inspected by the second inspection device, and the number of the die hole in the rotary powder compression molding machine in which the inspected molded product was molded. and a control device that stores and retains in a storage device in association with an ID number indicating whether or not foreign matter is mixed in the molded product inspected by the first inspection device that inspects the components contained in the molded product. Information related to the inspection result of the presence or absence of is stored in the storage device in association with an ID number indicating which die hole in the rotary powder compression molding machine the inspected target molded product was molded. Part transfer module. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sensor, which is an element of said first inspection device and said second inspection device, receives near-infrared light reflected by said molded product or near-infrared light transmitted through said molded product. Part transfer module. 3. The sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor of the first inspection device receives light or electromagnetic waves reflected by the molded product, and the sensor of the second inspection device receives light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through the molded product. Part transfer module. The capture unit has a through hole vertically penetrating the transfer body,
4. The molded article conveying module according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein light or electromagnetic waves transmitted through said molded article passing through said predetermined area are incident on said sensor through said through hole that captures said molded article.

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