JPH0348143A - Inspecting apparatus for tablet package - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately inspect a tablet package by stably feeding said package by a method wherein the supplied tablet package is fed in the first feed part while the warpage is reduced by holding the same from above and below and fed to a discharge part through an inspection part in the second feed part equipped with a plurality of jigs having clips. CONSTITUTION:A tablet package 1 warped in a free state supplied from a supply part 11 by a feed-in conveyor 24 is feld between the upper and lower guide rails 21, 22 of the first feed part 14 to be fed while reduced in its warpage. Subsequently, the package 1 is fed to a discharge part through an inspection part by the support surface of the second feed part 15 and the jigs 33 equipped with the clips holding the package to said support surface under pressure and the tablet package having warpage in a free state is stably fed to be inspected accurately and automatically.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a tablet package inspection device.

[Prior art] In a tablet manufacturing line, after tablets are packaged, it is checked whether there are any foreign substances mixed into the tablet enclosing space of the package,
It is necessary to inspect the tablet for cracks, etc.

Traditionally, such inspections have been performed by human eyes located in inspection zones provided on the manufacturing line.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, it is not preferable to visually inspect tablet packages that are continuously mass-produced from the viewpoint of reliability.

The apparatus for automatically inspecting tablet packages includes a supply section that supplies tablet packages, an inspection section that inspects the tablet packages, a discharge section that discharges the tablet packages, and the above supply section that carries out the tablet package. It is conceivable to consider a configuration in which a conveying section is provided for conveying the sample to the discharging section via the inspection section.

However, according to the inventor's study, as shown in FIG. 7, since the substrate 2 of the tablet package 1 was unwound from the raw roll and supplied to the packaging machine, the substrate 2 was applied at the stage of the raw roll. The warpage of the substrate 2 that has been caused remains in the shape of the package 1. Then, automation of the transportation of the package 1 by the transportation section or the inspection of the package 1 by the inspection section,
It was acknowledged that the warpage remaining in the package 1 was a hindrance.

In other words, it is difficult to specify the conveyance posture of a warped tablet package, which hinders stable automation of conveyance. In addition, a warped tablet package has a narrow field of view captured by a camera installed in the inspection department, and a relatively large dead area (Figure 6 (A),
(see (B)), which hinders accurate automation of testing.

An object of the present invention is to stably transport and accurately inspect a tablet package that is warped in its free state.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a supply unit that supplies a tablet package, an inspection unit that inspects the tablet package, a discharge unit that discharges the tablet package, and a supply unit that supplies the tablet package. a first transport section that transports the package from the supply section; and a second transport section that transports the tablet package fed in the first transport section to the discharge section via the inspection section. In the tablet package inspection apparatus, the first transport section includes upper and lower guides that sandwich the tablet package from above and below and flatten the warp of the tablet package at least during transport by the first transport section. The second transport unit is configured to have a rail and a feeding device for feeding the tablet package, which is sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails and flattened, along the guide rails to the side of the second conveyance section,
The conveyance section has a plurality of conveyance jigs that can be moved in circulation along a circulation path from the feeding end of the first conveyance section through the inspection section to the discharge section, and each conveyance jig supports the tablet package. The tablet package is provided with a support surface and a clip for holding the tablet package against the support surface.

The present invention according to claim 2 provides that the upper and lower guide rails of the first conveying section extend further toward the second conveying section from the feeding end of the first conveying section, and the guide rails are fed into the second conveying section. In a state where the tablet package is flattened by being sandwiched between upper and lower guide rails, the tablet package is held under pressure against the support surface of the transport jig by the clip of the transport jig. It is configured to do this.

In the present invention according to claim 3, the upper guide rail of the first conveying section extends further toward the second conveying section from the feeding end of the first conveying section, and the upper guide rail of the first conveying section extends further toward the second conveying section, and With the tablet package flattened by being sandwiched between the upper guide rail and the support surface of the transport jig, the tablet package is held in place by the clip of the transport jig. It is configured to be held under pressure against a support surface.

The present invention according to claim 4 is provided with a positioning shoulder that abuts against a rear end edge in the feeding direction of the tablet package located on the support surface of the conveyance jig, and the support surface of the conveyance jig A pressing device is provided at a position along the movement path of the transport jig to press the tablet package in a state before being held under pressure by the clip after being transferred onto the positioning shoulder of the transport jig. It is configured as follows.

[Function] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the first conveying section feeds the warped tablet package in a free state by the feeding device in a flattened state by sandwiching the warped tablet package between the upper and lower guide rails. from the section to the second conveyance section, and
The second transport section transports the tablet package in a flattened state by holding the tablet package under pressure against the support surface of the transport jig using a clip provided on the transport jig.

Therefore, a tablet package that is warped in a free state can be transported in a flattened and stable state in both the first transport section and the second transport section.

In addition, the tablet bag v-cage that moves within the inspection section is inspected in a flattened state in the second conveyance section, so that the field of view of the camera is not narrowed and the dead area is small, so that it can be inspected accurately. You will get it.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, when the tablet package is transferred from the first conveyance section to the second conveyance section, the tablet package is flattened by being sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails. While maintaining this state, the carrier jig is held under pressure by the clip of the carrier jig, and then released from the guide provided by the upper and lower guide rails. Therefore, during the transition stage when the tablet package is transferred from the first conveyance section to the second conveyance section, its conveyance posture is restrained without interruption, and stable conveyance is ensured.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, when the tablet package is transferred from the first conveyance section to the second conveyance section, the tablet package is placed between the upper guide rail and the support surface of the conveyance jig. While being held in a flattened state by being pinched by the transport jig, it is held under pressure against the support surface by the clip of the transport jig, and is then released from the guide by the upper guide rail. Therefore, during the transition stage when the tablet package is transferred from the first conveyance section to the second conveyance section, its conveyance posture is restrained without interruption, and stable conveyance is ensured.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the tablet package that is held under pressure by the clip of the transport jig on its support surface is pressed against the support surface of the transport jig by the pressing device before being held under pressure. By being pressed against the positioning shoulder, positioning in the feeding direction is ensured. Therefore, the tablet package can be positioned at a predetermined inspection position at a predetermined inspection timing by the inspection section, and the inspection can be performed accurately.

[Example] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the transport process of a tablet package, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a transport jig and a guide rail, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The figure is a front view showing the transport jig and guide rail, Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 4.
The figure is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the presence or absence of warpage and the imaging field of view.
The figure is a perspective view showing a tablet package.

The inspection device 10, as shown in FIG.
a supply section 11 that supplies the tablet package 1, an inspection section 12 that inspects the tablet package 1, and a discharge section 13 that discharges the tablet package 1.
, a first conveying section 14 that conveys the tablet package 1 from the supply section 11; and a first conveying section 14 that conveys the tablet package 1 sent by the first conveying section 14 to the discharging section 13 via the E inspection section 12. The second conveyance section 15 is configured to include a second conveyance section 15.

The supply section 11 is configured by installing a magazine 16 that accommodates a large number of tablet packages 1 in a stacked manner above the first conveyance section 14 .

The inspection section 12 is configured by installing a plurality of cameras 17 along the diagonal upper part of the second transport section 15 .

The discharge section 13 has a good product receiving section 18A and a defective product receiving section 18B, which are arranged on the exit side of the second conveyance section 15, and has a chute 19 for sorting. The distribution chute 19 is driven by a controller (not shown) based on whether there is any foreign matter in the tablet enclosure space of the tablet package 1 captured by the camera 17, whether the tablet is cracked, etc. The packages 1 falling from the exit side of the transport section 15 are sorted into either a good product receiving section 18A or a defective product receiving section 18B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first conveyance section 14 includes an upper guide rail 21, a lower guide rail 22, an upper sub-guide rail 23, a lower sub-guide rail 100, a feed conveyor 24, and a feed wheel 25. It is composed of

The upper guide rail 21 and the upper sub-guide rail 23, and the lower guide rail 22 and the lower sub-guide rail 100,
The tablet package 1 dispensed from the magazine 16 of the supply section 11 is sandwiched from above and below to flatten the warpage of the package 1 at least during transportation by the first transportation section 14. At this time, the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22 face each other to sandwich the tablet opening area in the center of the package 1, and the upper and lower sub-guide rails 23 and 100 can press both sides of the package 1 from the top surface thereof.

The feed conveyor 24 is equipped with a plurality of feed pawls 27 at regular intervals on an endless chain 26 located below the guide rails 21 to 23, and feeds the package 1 located at the lowest position of the magazine 16. The above-mentioned upper guide rail 21 and upper sub-guide rail 2 are released by the claw 27.
3 and the lower guide rail 22 and lower sub-guide rail 100
The package 1, which is sandwiched between the two and flattened, is conveyed along the guide rails 21 to 23.100.

The feed wheel 25 is connected to the guide rails 21 to 23.1.
It is located above 00, is driven in synchronization with the feed conveyor 24, and is equipped with a plurality of feed pawls 28 at regular intervals on its outer periphery. Further, it is sent to the second transport section 15 side.

This feeding wheel 25 also carries the package 1, which is sandwiched between the upper guide rail 21, the upper sub-guide rail 23, and the lower guide rail 22 and the lower sub-guide rail 100, along the guide rails 21 to 23, 100. and transport it.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second conveyance section 15 includes a circulation conveyor 31 that extends from the feed end of the first conveyance section 14 by the feed wheel 25 to the discharge section 13 via the inspection section 12. The endless chain 32 of the circulation conveyor 31 has a plurality of conveying jigs 33 spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. A clip 36 is provided to hold the surface 34 under pressure. The clip 36 is opened and closed by pushing a cam follower 37 by a clip operating cam (not shown) provided along the second conveyance section 15, and performs the above-mentioned clamping operation. , the cam follower 3 provided on the base 35 with the jig tilting cam provided along the second conveyance section 15
The package 1 is tilted by driving the package 8 , and during the movement process within the inspection section 12 , the package 1 is held in an inclined position perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera 17 .

Furthermore, in the inspection device 10, FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the upper and lower opposed guide rails 21 and 22 of the first conveying section 14 extend further toward the second conveying section 15 from the feeding end of the first conveying section 14 by the feeding wheel 25. The package 1 fed into the second conveyance section 15 is sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails 21, 22 and flattened, and the package 1 is
The clip 36 of the transport jig 33 is configured to hold the support surface 34 of the transport jig 33 under pressure.

In addition, in the inspection device 10, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the upper sub-guide rail 23 of the first conveyance section 14 is also moved by the feed wheel 25 of the first conveyance section 14. Extending further to the second conveying section 15 side from the feeding end,
The tablet package 1 sent into the second conveyance section 15
The support surface 3 of the upper sub-guide rail 23 and the transport jig 33
The package 1 is held in a flattened state by being sandwiched between the package 1 and the package 1 by the clip 36 of the carrier jig 33 against the support surface 34 of the carrier jig 33. There is.

Incidentally, the pinching timing by the clip 36 described above is performed by controlling the pushing timing of the cam follower 37 by the clip operation cam described above.

In addition, in the inspection device 10, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the transport jig 33 is configured to transport the tablet package 1 located on the support surface 34 thereof. A positioning shoulder 39 is provided that abuts the rear end edge in the direction, and after being transferred onto the support surface 34 of the conveyance jig 33, the clip 3
A pressing lever 41 that presses the tablet package 1 in a state before it is held under pressure by the carrier jig 6 against the positioning shoulder 39 of the carrier jig 33 is provided at a position along the movement path of the carrier jig 33. The pressing lever 41 is of a swing type, and is supported by a spring 4.
2 in the pressing direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

In the above inspection device 10, the magazine 1 of the supply section 11
Package 1 loaded in 6 and warped in the free state is
In a flattened state in which the warpage is eliminated by being sandwiched between the guide rails 21 to 23.100, the sheet is sent to the second transport section 15 side by the feed conveyor 24 of the first transport section 14 and the feed wheel 25.

The package 1 sent to the second transport section 15 side is held in a flattened state by being sandwiched between the guide rails 21 to 23, and is held under pressure by the clip 36 of the transport jig 33 on its support surface 34. Thereafter, the paper leaves the guide rails 21 to 23 and is transported through the inspection section 12 to the discharge section 13 side.

At this time, the package 1 is imaged and inspected by the camera 17 of the inspection section 12, and based on the inspection results, the package 1 is inspected at the discharge section 1.
The products are discharged to either the non-defective product receiving section 18A or the defective product receiving section 18B of No. 3.

However, according to the above embodiment, there are the following effects (1) to (4).

■ The first conveying section 14 feeds the warped tablet package 1 in a free state by sandwiching it between the upper and lower guide rails 21 to 23. Supply section 1
1 to the second conveyance section 15 side. Further, the second conveying section 15 conveys the tablet package 1 in a flattened state by holding the tablet package 1 under pressure against the support surface 34 of the conveying jig 33 using a clip 36 provided on the conveying jig 33.

Therefore, the tablet package 1 which is warped in the free state is
In both the transport section 14 and the second transport section 15, transport can be carried out in a flat and stable state. Also, inspection department 1
The tablet package 1 moving in the tablet package 2 is inspected while being flattened in the second conveying section 15, and the viewing area of the camera 17 is not narrowed, and the dead area is small, and the inspection can be performed accurately. becomes. In FIG. 6, Sa is the visual field area in the flattened state, and sb is the visual field area in the warped state.

■Also, when the tablet package 1 is transferred from the first conveyance section 14 to the second conveyance section 15, the tablet package 1 is held between the upper and lower guide rails 21 and 22 and kept flat. However, the clip 36 of the transport jig 33 holds the transport jig 33 against its support surface 34, and then it is released from the guide by the upper and lower guide rails 21, 22. Therefore, during the transition stage when the tablet package 1 is transferred from the first conveyance section 14 to the second conveyance section 15, its conveyance posture is restrained without interruption, and stable conveyance is ensured.

■The tablet package 1 is transferred from the first conveyance section 14 to the second conveyance section 1.
5, the tablet package 1 is sandwiched between the upper sub-guide rail 23 and the support surface 34 of the transport jig 33, and is maintained in a flattened state. 36, it is held under pressure by the support surface 34, and is then released from the guide by the upper sub-guide rail 23.

Therefore, during the transition stage when the tablet package 1 is transferred from the first conveyance section 14 to the second conveyance section 15, its conveyance posture is restrained without interruption, and stable conveyance is ensured.

(2) The tablet package 1 held on the support surface 34 by the clip 36 of the transport jig 33 is pressed against the positioning shoulder 39 of the transport jig 33 by the pressing lever 41 before being held under pressure. By doing so, positioning in the feeding direction is ensured. Therefore, the tablet package 1 can be positioned at a predetermined inspection position at a predetermined inspection timing by the camera 17 of the inspection section 12, and the inspection can be performed accurately.

In the above embodiment, since the tablet package 1 is arranged at an angle with respect to the vertical line when the image is taken by the camera 17 of the inspection section 12, the tablet 3 in the enclosed space of the package 1 is
Due to the action of gravity, it is stabilized at the lowest position without shaking. Therefore, the imaging condition by the camera 17 can be improved and the inspection accuracy can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a tablet package that is warped in a free state can be stably transported and accurately inspected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the transport process of a tablet package, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a transport jig and a guide rail, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a transport jig and a guide rail. A front view showing the tool and guide rail, Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 4.
The figure is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the presence or absence of warpage and the imaging field of view.
The figure is a perspective view showing a tablet package. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Inspection device, 11... Supply part, 12-... Inspection part, 13... Discharge part, 14... First conveyance part, 15... Second conveyance part, 21... Upper guide rail, 22... Lower guide rail, 23... Upper sub guide rail, 24... Feed conveyor, 25-... Feed wheel, 33-... Conveyance jig, 34... Support surface, 36--Clip, 39--Positioning shoulder, 41--Press lever 100--Lower sub guide rail.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) a supply section that supplies tablet packages; an inspection section that inspects the tablet packages; a discharge section that discharges the tablet packages; a first transport section that transports the tablet packages from the supply section; A tablet package inspection apparatus comprising: a second conveyance section that conveys the tablet packages sent in by the first conveyance section to the discharge section via the inspection section; The unit has upper and lower guide rails that sandwich the tablet package from above and below to flatten the warpage of the tablet package at least during transportation by the first transportation unit, and also has upper and lower guide rails that flatten the tablet package by being sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails. The tablet package is configured to include a feeding device that feeds the tablet packages along the guide rails toward the second conveyance section, and the second conveyance section passes from the feeding end of the first conveyance section through the inspection section. It has a plurality of conveying jigs that can be circulated through a circulation path leading to the discharge section.
A tablet package inspection device comprising a support surface for supporting the tablet package on each conveying jig and a clip for holding the tablet package against the support surface. (2) the upper and lower guide rails of the first conveying section extend further toward the second conveying section from the feeding end of the first conveying section;
With the tablet package fed into the second transport section being flattened by being sandwiched between the upper and lower guide rails, the tablet package is transferred to the transport jig using the clip of the transport jig. 2. The tablet package inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the tablet package inspection device is configured to be held under pressure against the support surface. (3) The upper guide rail of the first conveying section extends further toward the second conveying section from the feeding end of the first conveying section, and the tablet package fed into the second conveying section is placed on the upper guide rail. and the supporting surface of the transporting jig, the tablet package is pressed against the supporting surface of the transporting jig by the clip of the transporting jig. The tablet package inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tablet package inspection device is configured to hold the tablet package. (4) The transport jig is provided with a positioning shoulder that abuts against the rear edge in the feeding direction of the tablet package located on the support surface thereof, and after the tablet package is transferred onto the support surface of the transport jig. , wherein a pressing device for pressing the tablet package in a state before being held under pressure by the clip against the positioning shoulder of the transport jig is provided at a position along the movement path of the transport jig. 4. The tablet package inspection device according to any one of 1 to 3.