JPH02152601A - Tablet carrying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry tablets up to the desired height without exerting an excessive external force thereon by temporarily holding the tablets being discharged from near the floor surface in a linear feeder as a buffer, accumulating the tablets in a bucket, raising the bucket by a lifter and sliding the tablets down an inclined chute from its upper part into a drum. CONSTITUTION:When the tablets being continuously carried out into a linear feeder 1 from a discharge opening D reaches a predetermined amount, a dumper 2 thereof is opened and, at the same time, the feeder 1 itself is vibrated to move the tablets forward. The tablets dropping through the opened dumper 2 are accumulated as such in a bucket 3 located below the dumper 2 in readiness for reception thereof. Upon reception by the bucket 3 of a predetermined amount of the tablets, the dumper 2 is closed and a timing belt 4 is driven in the direction of the arrow to move the bucket 3 upward. When the bucket 3 reaches a predetermined position above an inclined chute 5, the operation of the timing belt 4 is terminated and, at the same time, the bucket 3 is turned upside down with its opening part facing the upper reception opening of the inclined chute 5, so that the tablets in the bucket 3 are slid down the inclined chute 5 into a drum 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a device for conveying a large amount of small particles from a low position to a high position, and in particular, the present invention relates to a device for conveying a large amount of small particles from a low position to a high position. This equipment is effective as a tablet transfer device for transporting tablets to higher-level conveyors.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in the tablet production process, the powder is first compressed using a mold by a tablet machine, but then it is sent to a metal detector to detect metal fragments due to defects in the mold, etc. The tablets are sequentially transferred to the tablet outlet via a powder remover that removes adhering powder.

The means for transferring the tablets to each of the above-mentioned devices is by gravity.

However, since all of these processes are connected by natural falling, the position where the tablets are discharged from the powder removal machine in the final process is close to the floor surface, and the tablets are transported in this state from then on. That is difficult. Furthermore, if sampling is taken into account, the discharge position will be lower.

Therefore, a configuration has been adopted in which the position of the tablet press and the equipment that follows it is raised, resulting in a higher tablet ejection position.

Another arrangement has been to use air to feed the ejected tablets to a desired position via a pipe without changing the position of the tablet press.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration in which the tablet press is placed at a high position, the tablet press must be placed at a considerable height.
It is difficult for a person to check the operating status of the tablet press from the normal floor position, and it is also inconvenient for daily maintenance and inspection. moreover,
If the tablet press is installed in a place with a low ceiling, the position of the tablet press will inevitably be restricted by the height, and there is a problem in that the desired ejection height cannot be secured.

In addition, in the configuration in which the tablets are conveyed by air, there is no need to consider the position of the tablet press as in the former case, and the above-mentioned problem does not occur. The yield was poor because the tablets were damaged or lost during the transportation process. Furthermore, if you want to produce and transport different types of tablets, you have to clean each piece of equipment and the air pipes for transport each time, but cleaning the pipes requires a particularly large amount of effort.
Adopting this configuration when producing tablets with a small loft that require repeated washing each time will actually reduce work efficiency and is not appropriate.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a device that efficiently and automatically transfers tablets from a lower position to a higher position.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the tablet transfer device of the present invention has the following features:
There is a linear feeder that stores tablets that fall continuously and opens a damper in front when a predetermined amount is reached, and a linear feeder that is located below the damper and loads the tablets that fall from the linear feeder, which is then lifted to a predetermined position by a lifter and then loaded. A means was used consisting of a packet into which the tablets are dropped, and an inclined chute which has a socket below the position where the tablets fall from the packet and slides the tablets down toward the tablet storage container.

Another method was used in which the tablet storage container described above had a lid and the lid was opened in synchronization with the supply of tablets to the inclined chute.

Furthermore, a method was also used in which the filler chute had an expandable part that expanded in synchronization with the falling of the tablets from the packet.

[For production]

The linear feeder, in which the molded tablets are first stored, first functions as a buffer for temporarily storing the tablets,
The tablets are then gradually advanced by opening the damper, causing them to fall and be loaded into the packet. The packet is fixed and the lid functions to raise and lower the packet. In addition, once the packet reaches the raised position, the action of the cam etc. may cause the packet to fall over,
The tablets are dropped into the inclined chute by opening the side wall of the packet (such as by opening the side wall of the packet), and the tablets are put into the inclined chute. Since the tip of the inclined chute faces the tablet storage container, the tablets that have fallen are stored properly in this container. Ru.

Further, the lid of the tablet storage container is opened in synchronization with the loading of tablets into the inclined chute, and then closed again upon completion of loading.

The telescopic portion of the inclined chute extends in synchronization with the introduction of tablets into the inclined chute, and adjusts the falling height of the tablets.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the structure of the present invention will be described in more detail according to the embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIG. It naturally falls between q and is supplied to the device of the present invention from the outlet (end).

Note that a sampling machine for sampling is usually provided between the tablet press and the metal detector 03).

Here, l indicates a vibrating linear feeder for receiving falling tablets, and has a damper 2 in front thereof which can be opened and closed by an air cylinder. A cup-shaped packet 3 is supplied with tablets from a damper 2 which is an opening of the linear feeder 1, and is fixed to a timing belt 4 which functions as a lifter, and is raised and lowered by driving the timing belt 4. Next, 5 is an inclined chute for sliding down the tablets loaded in the packet 3, and 6 is a drum serving as a tablet storage container for storing the tablets discharged from the outlet of the inclined chute 5.

The drum 6 is placed on a tray 8 placed on a roller conveyor 7. 9 is the lid of the drum 6, and this lid 9
By gripping the knob 10 with a chuck 12 that can be raised and lowered by an air cylinder 11, it is opened and closed as appropriate.

Next, we will discuss the operating procedure of the tablet transfer device described above. When a certain amount of tablets that are continuously discharged from the discharge port are stored in the linear feeder 1, the damper 2 opens, and at the same time, the linear feeder 1 itself vibrates. to move the tablet forward.

At this time, since the packet 3 is waiting below the damper 2, the tablets falling from the open damper 2 are loaded onto the packet 3 as they are. When a predetermined amount of tablets are loaded onto the packet 3, the damper 2 closes, the timing belt 4 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the packet 3 rises.

When the packet 3 reaches a predetermined position above the inclined chute 5, the driving of the timing belt 4 is stopped, and at the same time, the opening of the packet 3 falls toward the mouth of the inclined chute 5. Accordingly, the tablets in the packet 3 slide down the inclined chute 5 and are thrown into the drum 6. At this time, the lid 9 with the knob 10 gripped by the chuck 12 is opened in advance by the operation of the air cylinder 11. Further, in order to suppress the falling height of the tablets and prevent the tablets from being damaged or missing, a telescopic portion 13 is provided at the tip of the inclined chute 5, which can extend up to above the opening of the drum 6.

When the tablets are completely loaded from the packet 3 into the drum 6 via the inclined chute 5, the timing belt 4 is loaded again.
is driven to lower the packet 3 to a position below the damper 2. At the same time, the overturned packet 3 becomes erect again and stands by. In addition, the inclined chute 5 is in a contracted state,
M9 descends into the upper opening of the drum 6, and the lid is closed. Furthermore, the drum 6 in which a predetermined amount of tablets have been stored is moved to the next step, for example, to a storage chamber, by the operation of the roller conveyor 7, and an empty drum is placed again below the inclined chute 5.

As an example of the arrangement of each of the above-mentioned devices, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guide groove is formed over the entire length of one surface of a ball 14 that is set up close to the linear feeder l. While the packet 3 is moved up and down along the ball 14, an inclined chute 5 is fixed above the ball 14, and a simple hopper 1 having a U-shaped cross section is attached to the upper part of the inclined chute 5.
5 is added. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the linear feeder l has an arm 17 driven by the expansion and contraction of an air cylinder 16, and a damper 2 connected to this arm 17.
It has a structure that opens and closes, making it easy to clean.
The present invention is not limited to this, and if the structure is such that the fallen tablets are transported forward, a short belt conveyor may be provided, or a means for slightly sloping the bottom surface may be used.

Furthermore, as an embodiment of the packet 3, as shown in FIG. The packet 3 is raised and lowered along the guide groove 19 on the - surface, and the packet 3 is turned over using a cam or the like. In this embodiment, one packet was used, but two packets were used so that when the negative packet reached the upper part of the inclined chute 5, the other packet was placed in a waiting position below the opening of the damper 2. Then, while one side is loading tablets into the inclined chute 5, the other side can be loaded with tablets, and it is also possible to transfer a larger amount of tablets. Here, as a lifter for raising and lowering the packet 3, means such as a chain or a wire may be used instead of the timing belt 4.

In another embodiment, instead of overturning the packet, one side wall of the packet can be opened and closed, and the wall can be opened in the raised position to allow the tablets to fall into the inclined chute.

The lid 9 is opened and closed using two chuck plates 12a and 12b operated by a rack and a pinion, as shown in FIG.
This is done by gripping the knob 10 with a chuck 12 and moving M9 up and down by expanding and contracting the air cylinder 11. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the lid 9 is not limited to this embodiment; the lid 9 may be vacuum-adsorbed and opened and closed by expanding and contracting an air cylinder, or about half or one-third of the lid may be opened and closed using a hinge. This may be hooked onto the tip of the crank and opened and closed by operating the crank lock.

On the other hand, the operation timings of the linear feeder 1, damper 2, packet 3, timing belt 4, and inclined chute 5 and 19 are all controlled by sensors, but the drive of the linear feeder 1 and the opening/closing of the damper 2 are controlled by the discharge port (9). The number of tablets discharged from the feeder is controlled by a counter, a weight sensor attached to the linear feeder 1, a tablet overflow sensor, etc. The overturning of the packet 3 and the driving of the timing belt 4 are controlled by a sensor for confirming the position of the packet 3, the expansion and contraction of the inclined chute 5 is controlled by detecting the position of the packet 3 by a limit switch, etc., and the opening and closing of the lid 9 is controlled by the inclined chute 5. It is controlled in conjunction with the expansion and contraction of. In addition, in order to prevent germs and dust from entering the drum 6, it is preferable that the time that the lid 9 is open is as short as possible, but it is necessary to adjust the lid 9 to remain open at least while the inclined chute 5 is extending. There is.

Incidentally, if the openings of the straight feeder, packet, and inclined chute are always closed and opened only when necessary, it is possible to prevent dust from entering as much as possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The tablet transfer device of the present invention temporarily stores tablets formed by a tablet machine and discharged from near the floor using a linear feeder as a buffer, loads the tablets into packets, and then lifts the packets using a lifter. Since the structure allows the tablets to be fed into the drum from above the inclined chute, the tablets can be transported to the desired height without applying any extra external force, thereby preventing tablets from being damaged or damaged during transportation. We were able to avoid defects and improve yield compared to conventional methods.

Furthermore, with this configuration, there is no need to intentionally install the tablet press in a high position, so daily maintenance and inspection of the tablet press and subsequent equipment becomes easier.

In addition, even when producing different types of tablets in small lofts, it is sufficient to clean the straight feeder, packet, and inclined chute, which have a relatively simple configuration, and there is no need to use pipes that are extremely difficult to clean as in the conventional case. Since this eliminates the need for a tablet transfer device, it is possible to provide a tablet transfer device that exhibits various effects, such as being optimal as a means for producing and transferring a wide variety of tablets.

Furthermore, if the tablet storage container is equipped with a lid and the opening of the container can be closed as appropriate, it is possible to prevent contamination by germs and dust.

Furthermore, the inclined chute having the extendable portion can suppress the falling height of the tablets and further effectively prevent breakage and loss of the tablets.

Note that the device of the present invention can be used not only for transporting tablets, but also for transporting granular confectionery and other small granules, and is not particularly limited in its use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of each device, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the linear feeder, FIG. 6 is a front view showing one embodiment of the chuck. In the diagram, 1...straight feeder, 2...damper 3
...Packet, 4...Timing belt, 5...
Inclined chute, 6... drum, 7... roller conveyor, 13... telescopic section. Applicant for the above patent: Sato Seiki Co., Ltd., two other attorneys, patent attorney Kazuo Ohara, and one other person 1b Figure 1b

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A linear feeder 1 that stores tablets that fall continuously and opens a damper 2 in front when a predetermined amount is reached, and a linear feeder 1 that is located below the damper and loads tablets that fall from the linear feeder. and a packet 3 from which the loaded tablets are dropped after being raised to a predetermined position by a lifter, and an inclined chute 5 which has a socket below the position from which the tablets fall from the packet and slides the tablets down toward a tablet storage container. A tablet transfer device characterized by: 2. The tablet transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet storage container has a lid 9, and the lid is opened in synchronization with the supply of tablets to the inclined chute. 3. The tablet transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tilted chute includes an extendable portion 13 that extends in synchronization with falling of the tablet from the packet.