JPH06191631A - Solid formulation conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the scattering of a solid formulation to the surroundings, and the like, and to realize an energy saving by a low output motor. CONSTITUTION:The feeding of a solid formulation 50 to a bucket 4 is controlled by the starting and the stopping of a conveyer 2. The rotating axis 5a of the bucket 4 is positioned in a position lower than the center of gravity 4c of the bucket 4 in the condition the solid formulation 50 is fully loaded, and after the holding by a permanent magnet 6 is released by the rotation of a motor 17, the bucket 4 is rotated by its own weight. Since the feeding of the solid formulation 50 is stopped by stopping the conveyer 2, the solid formulation 50 is never scattered to the surroundings while the bucket 4 is moved up and down. And, it is enough that the motor 17 has a torque more than the holding force of the permanent magnet 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid preparation delivery system for automatically supplying solid preparations such as tablets and capsules from a low position hopper of a preceding process device to a high position hopper of a next process device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in the manufacturing process of solid preparations such as tablets and capsules, solid preparations are processed, for example, from the step of printing a predetermined symbol or the like on the surface of the solid preparation to the next inspection step or PTP packaging step. When carrying, batch processing is performed for every fixed unit amount. That is, in the apparatus in each process, for example, the solid formulation printing device or PTP packaging device, the solid formulation that has completed the previous process is temporarily stored in a hopper provided at a high position, and is dropped onto the conveyor by gravity or the like. After being aligned and subjected to predetermined processing (printing, inspection, PTP packaging, etc.), they are collected in another hopper or the like provided at a low position (after PTP packaging, they are packed in a box).

[0003] Used in the case of transferring (transferring) the solid preparation from the low position hopper of the previous process device to the high position hopper of the next process device, for example, the conventional solid state disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-16815. The formulation delivery device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the solid preparation which has undergone a predetermined process by the pre-process apparatus is collected and stored in the low position hopper 101. The low position hopper 101 is provided with a vertically rising and lowering shirt 104 and an inclined first guide 102. A bucket 103 is arranged below the first guide 102. The bucket 103 is attached to the vertical moving member 105 so as to be rotatable around a point 103b, for example (the detailed structure is not shown because it is obvious). The vertical moving member 105 is attached to a vertical drive device 106 composed of a pulley and a chain or a wire. for that reason,
By the motor 112 driving the vertical drive device 106,
The vertical moving member 105 is vertically moved up and down. Along with this, the bucket 103 is also raised and lowered vertically. A groove 108 that engages with the pin 103a of the bucket 103 and an inclined second guide 109 are provided on the upper portion of the frame 107. Below the second guide 109, the high position hopper 110 of the next process apparatus 111 is arranged.

Next, the operation of the conventional solid preparation conveying device will be described. Initially, the shutter 104 is moving upwards,
The open part of the low position hopper 101 is open. The solid preparation stored inside the low position hopper 101 slides on the first guide 102 by the action of gravity and falls into the bucket 103. When a certain amount of solid formulation that has fallen into the bucket 103 reaches a certain amount, the shutter 104 descends and the low position hopper 1
The opening of 01 is closed. After that, the motor 108 is activated and the vertical moving member 105 is elevated via the vertical drive device 106. As a result, the bucket 103 is lifted vertically upward. When the bucket 103 is lifted to a predetermined height, the pin 103a of the bucket 103 is inserted into the groove 108 formed in the frame 107.
Engage with. After that, the vertical moving member 105 continues to move upward, but the pin 103a of the bucket 103 is engaged with the groove 108, so that the movement of the bucket 103 is restricted, and the bucket 103 rotates clockwise around the point 103b. As shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, when the vertical moving member 105 reaches the highest position, the bucket 103 is rotated by about 90 degrees, and the solid preparation contained therein slides on the second guide 109. Next process device 1
11 fall inside the high position hopper 110. This completes the first transfer of the solid preparation from the low position hopper 101 to the high position hopper 110. When the first conveyance is completed, the motor 108 is activated in reverse and the vertical moving member 105
And the bucket 103 also rotates counterclockwise in the figure and descends accordingly. When the bucket 103 stops at the lowest position shown by the solid line in the figure, the shutter 104 rises,
The opening of the low-position hopper 101 is opened, and the dropping of the solid preparation into the bucket 103 is restarted. In this way, the second
The transportation of the solid preparation for the second time is started. Thereafter, the above series of operations is repeated until all the solid preparations stored in the low position hopper 101 are transferred to the high position hopper 110.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional solid preparation conveying device, the amount of solid preparation falling from the low position hopper 101 to the bucket 103 is controlled by raising and lowering the shutter 104. It had been. Therefore, if the solid formulation gets caught when the shutter 104 descends, the opening of the low-position hopper 101 does not close, and the solid formulation remains low during the ascending / descending movement of the vertical moving member 105 and the bucket 103. It will continue to fall from the position hopper 101. As a result, there is a problem that the solid preparation may be scattered around the conventional solid preparation conveying device, or the solid preparation may be caught in the vertical drive device 106 and become inoperable.

Further, in the conventional solid preparation conveying device, the vertical moving member 105 and the bucket 103 are moved up and down by the driving force of the single motor 108, and the pin 103a is inserted into the groove 108.
The bucket 103 is configured to rotate by engaging with. However, when the bucket 103 is rotated by the engagement between the pin 103a and the groove 108, the pin 103a
Only part of the reaction force received from the slope of the groove 108 in the bucket 1
It cannot be used as the rotational force to rotate 03, and the loss of force is large. Therefore, this method
It is an excessive burden on the motor 108, and when compared to just raising and lowering the bucket 103, the motor 108
However, there is a problem that a large output is required.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and provides a solid preparation delivery device capable of preventing troubles caused by the solid preparation being bitten and saving energy by a low output motor. The purpose is to get.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid preparation conveying apparatus, which has a low position hopper having an opening at the bottom for storing a solid preparation therein, and a low position hopper of the low position hopper. A horizontal conveying means that is provided at a position lower than the opening, receives the solid preparation spilled from the opening, and conveys it in the horizontal direction; and a side of the horizontal conveying means that faces the opening of the low-position hopper. A bucket that is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction so that the lowermost end of the side different from is located at the lowest position, receives the solid preparation falling from the horizontal conveying means, and temporarily stores the solid preparation therein. Vertical drive means for vertically moving the bucket up and down, and rotating means for engaging the bucket and rotating the bucket in a vertical plane when the bucket reaches the maximum lift position, The bucket is provided near the upper end of the bucket when the bucket is in the lowest position and the high-position hopper that receives the solid preparation that has spilled from the bucket due to the rotation of the bucket and stores the solid preparation therein. A storage amount detecting means for detecting whether or not the solid preparation contained in the inside of the bucket reaches a predetermined amount, and the storage amount detecting means confirms that the solid preparation contained in the bucket reaches a predetermined amount. When it is detected, the control means for stopping the operation of the horizontal conveying means is provided. The solid preparation conveying apparatus according to the invention described in claim 2 is the solid preparation conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a vertical moving member for vertically moving the vertical driving means, and the vertical moving member. A vertical drive mechanism for vertically moving up and down, a rotating arm rotatably provided on the vertical moving member, and holding means for holding the rotating arm at a predetermined position with respect to the vertical moving member. And the bucket is fixed to the rotating arm. The solid preparation delivery apparatus according to the invention described in claim 3 is the solid preparation transporting device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating means further has an engaging portion that engages with the rotating arm, and the holding means rotates the rotating means. It is characterized in that it is driven by another rotation drive means different from the vertical drive means, which has a torque that generates a holding force for holding the arm on the vertical moving member. The solid preparation conveying device according to the invention described in claim 4 is the apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the center of gravity of the bucket when the solid preparation is fully loaded is on the same vertical line as the rotation center of the rotating arm or It is characterized by being in the vicinity of it and above the center of rotation. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid preparation conveying device according to the second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the holding means is a permanent magnet.

[0009]

[Operation] A shutter is not provided in the opening portion at the bottom of the low position hopper, and the solid preparation stored inside forms a bridge on the horizontal conveying means such as a belt conveyor due to the action of gravity. ,Stabilize. By driving the horizontal conveying means, the solid preparation which initially formed the bridging is diffused on the horizontal conveying means and conveyed in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, a new solid preparation is supplied from the low-position hopper to form a new bridge. The solid preparation conveyed by the horizontal conveying means falls into the bucket from its end. A storage amount detection means provided near the upper end of the bucket, for example, a set of photo couplers, indicates that a predetermined amount of the solid formulation has been stored in the bucket by blocking the light rays of the deposited solid formulation. To detect. The control means, for example, a microcomputer or the like stops the energization of the motor or the like, and stops the operation of the horizontal conveying means, based on the output of the storage amount detecting means. This prevents the bucket from being supplied with new solid formulation. Further, the solid preparation conveyed on the horizontal conveying means remains on the horizontal conveying means as it is.
The bucket is rotatably held by the vertical moving member and is vertically moved up and down together with the vertical moving member. It is necessary to keep the bucket in a predetermined state with respect to the vertical moving member, that is, to keep the opening upward and horizontal so that the solid preparation does not spill. For that purpose, the bucket and the rotary lever are integrated, and the rotary lever is temporarily fixed to the vertical moving member by a holding means such as a permanent magnet. In order to transfer the solid preparation contained in the bucket to the high position hopper, the rotating means is engaged with the rotating lever at the highest position, and the bucket is rotated by rotating the rotating means. Here, the center of gravity of the bucket in a state where the solid preparation is fully loaded is on the same vertical line as the rotation center of the rotating arm or in the vicinity thereof and above the rotation center. In other words, by setting the center of rotation to a position lower than the center of gravity of the bucket, after releasing the holding force of the holding means,
The bucket rotates by itself due to the action of gravity. Since the rotation means is rotated by another rotation drive means different from the vertical direction drive means, the rotation drive means has a torque about which the holding means holds the rotation arm by the vertical movement member. It is enough.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A solid preparation delivery device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 showing a preferred embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a solid preparation delivery device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the main parts thereof.
3 and 4 are perspective views showing the operating state. Figure 1
In the above, the lower position hopper 1 of the pre-process apparatus is not provided with a shutter, and a conveyor 2 is horizontally provided below the opening of the shutter. The conveyor 2 is driven by a motor 22, a pulley 23, a belt 24 and the like. Conveyor 2
Are driven from left to right in the figure, for example. An inclined first guide 3 is provided on the lower right side of the conveyor 2. Further, a bucket 4 is arranged below the right side of the first guide 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The bucket 4 is held by a vertical moving member 5 so as to be rotatable around a shaft 5a. A rotary arm 7 is fixed to the shaft 5a. The bucket 4 and the rotary arm 7 are integrally fixed via a shaft 5a. A roller 8 is provided on the rotating arm 7. On the other hand, a permanent magnet 6 is fixed to the vertically moving member 5, and in the state shown in the figure, the rotating arm 7
Is attracted and fixed to the permanent magnet 6. A vertical drive device 10 is provided below the vertical moving member 5. The vertical drive device 10 is composed of a motor 11, a gear device 12, a vertical rail 9, and the like. The two vertical rails 9 are gear units
12 rotates in the same direction synchronously. Vertical movement member 5
A feed mechanism (not shown) such as a ball screw is provided between the vertical rail 9 and each vertical rail 9, and the vertical moving member 5 is vertically moved up and down by the rotation of the vertical rail 9. It

At the most elevated position of the vertical moving member 5, the rotary shaft is
A rotating member 15 is provided which is rotatable around 15b. The rotating member 15 is a roller 8 provided on the rotating arm 7.
It has a groove 15a for engaging with and a rotating shaft 15b, and is rotated by a motor 17 via, for example, a belt 16 or the like.
As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined second guide 19 and a high position hopper 20 of a next process device (not shown) are provided on the right side of the rotating member 15 in the figure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vertical moving member 5 or a sensor 14 for detecting the lowest descent of the bucket 4 is provided above the vertical driving device 10, and a vertical moving member 5 or a sensor 14 is provided above the rotating member 15. A sensor 18 is provided for detecting the maximum rise of the bucket 4. As the sensors 14 and 18, for example, magnetic, electrical or optical proximity switches or the like can be used. Further, a sensor for detecting that a predetermined amount of solid preparation is stored in the bucket 4 near the upper end of the bucket 4.
13 are provided. The sensor 13 includes, for example, a pair of photo couplers 13a and 13b. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, holes 4a are formed in the pair of wall surfaces of the bucket 4 facing each other.
And 4b are provided and a set of photocouplers 13a and 13b are provided so that the light rays pass through these holes 4a and 4b. The solid formulation that has fallen inside the bucket 4 and has accumulated on it blocks the holes 4a and 4b, so that the photo coupler 13a,
Since the output of 13b decreases (or becomes zero), it is detected that the bucket 4 contains a predetermined amount of the solid preparation. The sensors 13, 14 and 18 and the motors 11, 17 and 22 are connected to the control device 21, respectively.

Next, the operation of the solid preparation delivery device according to the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 are initially in the lowest position. The solid preparation 50 stored inside the low position hopper 1 has a bridging 51 formed on the conveyor 2 by the action of gravity in the vicinity of the opening. The solid preparation 50 on the conveyor 2 is conveyed rightward in the figure by the rotation of the motor 22. Further, the solid preparation 50 falls from the right end portion of the conveyor 2 into the bucket 4 via the first guide 3. When the solid formulation that has fallen inside the bucket 4 and has accumulated it blocks the light rays from the photocouplers 13a and 13b of the sensor 13, the output of the sensor 13 drops sharply. The control device 21 detects a change in the output of the sensor 13 and stops energizing the motor 22. As a result, the conveyor 2 is stopped and the solid preparation in the bucket 4 is stopped.
50 new drops will no longer occur.

Next, the control device 21 starts energizing the motor 11 of the vertical drive device 10, and the motor 11 starts rotating in a predetermined direction (direction in which the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 are raised). Along with this, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 start rising in the vertical direction. When the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 move up to the vicinity of the highest position, the sensor
18 detects this and outputs a predetermined signal. When the control device 21 detects a predetermined signal from the sensor 18, the control device 21 stops energizing the motor 11. As a result, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 stop at the highest position. This state is shown in FIG. At this time, the roller 8 provided on the rotating arm 7 and the groove 15a provided on the rotating member 15 are engaged with each other. Further, the control device 21 starts energizing the motor 17. As a result, the motor 17 starts rotating in the direction of rotating the rotating member 15 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, for example. By making the torque of the motor 17 larger than the force of the permanent magnet 6 attracting the rotating arm 7, the rotating member 15 starts rotating. As the rotating member 15 rotates, the roller 8
The rotating arm 7 and the bucket 4, which are engaged with the rotating member 15 via the groove 15a, also start rotating. Due to the rotation of the bucket 4, the solid preparation contained in the bucket 4 is passed through the second guide 19 to the high position hopper 20 of the next process device.
Fall inside.

After that, the control device 21 reverses the polarity of energization to the motor 17. As a result, the rotating member 15, the rotating arm 7, and the emptied bucket 4 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the rotating arm 7 is attracted to and abuts the permanent magnet 6 to stop its rotation. And the control device 21
Stops energizing the motor 17, reverses the polarity of the motor 11 of the vertical drive device 10, and starts energizing. Motor 11
The vertical rail 9 also rotates in the reverse direction due to the reverse rotation of the vertical movement member 5, and the vertical moving member 5 and the bucket 4 start descending. When the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 descend to the vicinity of the lowest position, the sensor 14 detects this and outputs a predetermined signal. When the control device 21 detects the output from the sensor 14, the control device 21 stops energizing the motor 11. As a result, the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5 stop at the lowest position.
This completes the first transportation of the solid preparation from the low position hopper 1 to the high position hopper 20. When the first transportation of the solid preparation is completed, the controller 21 restarts the energization of the motor 22 and repeats the above-mentioned operations in order to start the second transportation of the solid preparation.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the center of gravity 4c of the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation is on the vertical line substantially the same as the axis 5a of the bucket 4 or in the vicinity thereof, and at a position higher than that. is there. Therefore, once the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation starts rotating, it continues to rotate in the same direction by the action of gravity. Therefore, even when the bucket 4 loaded with the solid preparation is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, it is sufficient that the torque of the motor 17 exceeds the attractive force of the permanent magnet 6. Further, even when the emptied bucket 4 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the torque of the motor 17 need not be so large. The permanent magnet 6 is for holding the rotating arm 7 in the vertical direction on the vertical moving member 5, but the center of gravity 4c of the bucket 4 and the shaft 5a are substantially on the same vertical line, and the balance is kept. Since it is easy to take, it does not have to have a strong suction force.
Further, since the vertical drive device 10 is used only for vertically moving up and down the bucket 4 and the vertical moving member 5, a device having a small drive torque as compared with the conventional device is sufficient. In the above embodiment, the permanent magnet 6 is used to hold the rotating arm 7 on the vertical moving member 5 in the vertical direction. However, a spring is provided between the vertical moving member 5 and the rotating arm 7 so that Even if the moving member 5 is provided with a stopper that restricts the rotation of the rotary arm 7, the same function is provided.

[0016]

As described above, in the solid preparation conveying apparatus according to the present invention, since the start and stop of the supply of the solid preparation to the bucket are controlled by the drive control of the horizontal conveying means (conveyor), the horizontal conveyance is performed. After stopping the drive of the means, the solid preparation on the horizontal conveying means does not move any more undesirably, so that the solid preparation does not scatter around during the vertical raising / lowering movement of the bucket. Further, since another rotary drive means different from the vertical drive means is provided and the bucket is rotated by this rotary drive means, it is sufficient that the output of the vertical drive means is smaller than that of the conventional example. Furthermore, since the center of gravity of the bucket in the state where the solid preparation is fully loaded is located on the same vertical line as the center of rotation of the rotating arm and in the direction opposite to the direction in which gravity acts, the holding means (permanent magnet, etc.) After releasing the holding force by), the bucket rotates by itself by the action of gravity. As a result, it is sufficient for the rotary drive means to have a torque that favors the holding force of the holding means. As a result, the solid preparation holding device according to the present invention can save energy as the whole device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a solid preparation delivery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the solid preparation delivery device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a main part of the solid preparation delivery device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an operation state of a main part of the solid preparation delivery device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional solid preparation delivery device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Low Position Hopper 2 Conveyor 3 First Guide 4 Bucket 5 Vertical Moving Member 6 Permanent Magnet 7 Rotating Arm 9 Vertical Rail 10 Vertical Drive Device 13 Sensor 15 Rotating Member 19 Second Guide 20 High Position Hopper 21 Control Device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A low position hopper having an opening at the bottom for storing the solid preparation therein, and a solid preparation spilled from the opening provided at a position lower than the opening of the low position hopper. A horizontal conveying means for receiving and conveying in the horizontal direction, and a vertical direction so that the lowermost position is below the end of the horizontal conveying means on the side different from the side facing the opening of the low position hopper. A bucket that is movably provided to receive the solid preparation falling from the horizontal conveying means and temporarily stores the solid preparation therein; a vertical driving means that vertically drives the bucket up and down; and the bucket. Rotating means for engaging the bucket and rotating the bucket in a vertical plane when reaching the highest position; and solids spilled from the bucket due to rotation of the bucket. A high-position hopper that receives the agent and stores the agent therein, and when the bucket is at the lowest position, the solid preparation provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the bucket and contained in the bucket has a predetermined amount. The storage amount detecting means for detecting whether or not it has reached, and when the storage amount detecting means detects that the solid preparation contained in the bucket has reached a predetermined amount, the operation of the horizontal conveying means is stopped. A solid preparation delivery device comprising: 2. The vertical driving means includes a vertical moving member which is vertically moved up and down, and a vertical driving mechanism which vertically moves the vertical moving member.
The rotating arm is rotatably provided on the vertical moving member, and holding means for holding the rotating arm at a predetermined position with respect to the vertical moving member, and the bucket is fixed to the rotating arm. The solid preparation delivery device according to claim 1. 3. The rotating means has an engaging portion that engages with the rotating arm, and the holding means has a torque for generating a holding force holding the rotating arm on the vertical moving member. It drives by another rotation drive means different from the said vertical direction drive means.
The solid formulation delivery device described. 4. The center of gravity of the bucket when the solid preparation is fully loaded is on the same vertical line as the center of rotation of the rotating arm or in the vicinity thereof, and above the center of rotation. 3. The solid preparation delivery device according to 3. 5. The solid preparation delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the holding means is a permanent magnet.