JPH07167704A - Apparatus for weighing filling amount - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process at high speed in an apparatus which fills while weighing the whole. CONSTITUTION:The apparatus is provided with a plurality of first electronic scales 3A, 3B which weigh simultaneously a plurality of empty vessels sent from a feeder 12, a filling device 4 for sequentially filling powders or liquid to the plurality of empty vessels simultaneously transferred from the first electronic scales 3A, 3B, a moving means 13 for sequentially positioning the plurality of empty vessels simultaneously transferred to the filling device 4, one by one at a filling position, a plurality of second electronic scales 5A, 5B for weighing the plurality of filled vessels simultaneously transferred from the filling device 4, and a discharging device 6 for carrying out the filled vessel s after weighed at the second electronic scales 5A, 5B. Two vessels are filled in a time required for weighing a unit of two vessels. Each of the electronic scales 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B has a receiver for a weighing pan which is fixed to a scale strut, and a shock-absorbing means of a coil spring or the like is set between the weighing pans. Moreover, there are provided metallic caps 17 to cover the weighing pans and vessels when the vessels are weighed and stages for placing the metallic caps thereon.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filling amount measuring device in a filling device, and more specifically, it is used in a manufacturing process of medicines and the like, and it is used in containers for medicines such as vials, ampoules, syringes, disposable syringes, etc. The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically filling a powder or liquid in a minute range and automatically and properly weighing the filled amount. In particular, the present invention is intended to speed up the filling / weighing work and improve the production amount as compared with the conventional apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the filling process of medicines of this kind, the filling amount is generally checked as follows.
It is done by the method of. A container filled with powder, liquid, etc. is manually extracted from the line, and after weighing all by a balance installed offline, the contents (powder, etc.) are taken out, an empty container is weighed, and the amount filled Is calculated. When an automatic sampling and weighing device is installed in the production line, the empty container before filling is appropriately extracted and weighed, then returned to the line and filled, and after filling, the contents are extracted again, weighed, and deducted. To calculate the filling amount. In any of the above cases, if there is a difference between the calculated filling amount and the target amount, appropriate measures are taken to adjust the filling amount.

Generally, in a powder filling device, the filling amount changes due to changes with time in bulk hopper level (charge amount), specific volume, physical properties, etc., and liquid (including a suspending agent).
In the case of filling, etc., the filling amount fluctuates due to changes in viscosity, clogging of the needle tip filter, looseness of the cylinder, etc.Therefore, check the filling amount described above at an appropriate frequency and adjust the filling amount. There is.

However, in the filling process, in addition to the above-described change over time, an abnormal change in the filled amount may occur due to a sudden reason due to some trouble. At this time, it is not possible to check an abnormal filling amount due to a sudden reason with the above-mentioned conventional appropriate extraction check. Particularly in pharmaceutical products, the filling amount is required to maintain extremely high accuracy, and it is absolutely necessary to prevent defective products from being produced.Therefore, there is a problem that conventional sampling and weighing cannot sufficiently cope with the problem. It was

With respect to the above-mentioned problems, the present applicant has previously proposed Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63-202498 and 63-20249.
No. 9 and JP-A-3-54418 provide a total number weighing device that weighs the filling amount of all containers. The filling amount weighing device has the configuration shown in FIG. 13, and includes a conveyor 2 for sequentially supplying empty containers 1 made of vials, a first electronic balance 3 ′ for weighing the empty containers 1 conveyed from the conveyor 2, 1 Electronic balance 3'A powder filling machine 4 for filling powder into a container conveyed, a second electronic balance 5'for weighing the filling container 1'conveyed from the powder filling machine 4, and a second electronic balance 5 ' The carrying-out star wheel 6 for carrying out the filled container 1 ′ weighed in 1 is arranged side by side on the same base 10 at a predetermined interval, while four chucks 8 are provided on one side of the base 10.
A long working bar 11 to which A to 8D (chuck 8D is not shown in FIG. 13) is attached to the drive mechanism 19 by X,
By installing the container transporting device 9 configured to move in the Y and Z directions, gripping one container by each of the chucks 8A to 8D of the container transporting device 9, and moving along the same trajectory,
From the supply conveyor 2 to the first electronic balance 3 ', from the first electronic balance 3'to the filling machine 4, from the filling machine 4 to the second electronic balance 5'.
Then, four pieces are moved from the second electronic balance 5 ′ to the carry-out machine 6 at a time, and at the time of filling the containers, empty weighing and post-filling weighing of the containers before and after that are performed, and a total number is weighed.

In the above apparatus, the filling amount that changes with time is adjusted to a target value based on the measured values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance so as to minimize defective products and improve the yield. However, in the above apparatus, further, electronic balances are arranged before and after the filling machine, and while one container is being filled with powder or liquid, the electronic balances before and after are used to weigh the empty container and the container after filling. Since it is possible to perform 100% weighing by performing weighing, it is possible to reliably detect abnormalities in the filling amount caused by a sudden cause, to reliably exclude defective products, and to achieve a 100% guarantee of the filling amount of products. It has the advantage of being able to.

[0007]

However, the time required to weigh one empty container or filling container by an electronic balance is more than the time required to fill one container with powder or liquid from a filling machine. It takes more than twice as long. For example, the weighing time by an electronic balance is 3.2 seconds, while the filling time is 1.6 seconds when 100 mg of powder is filled by an auger filling machine. When the filling amount is small or when the liquid is filled, the filling time is shortened.If the auger filling machine speeds up the rotation time of the auger, and the liquid filling machine increases the extrusion pressure of the liquid, the filling time is further increased. It can be shortened and the difference from the weighing time becomes large. In this way, after weighing one empty container, the one empty container is filled with the filling machine, and then the one filling container is weighed. There is a problem that it cannot be utilized and the speedup of production cannot be achieved.

Further, vials, ampoules, syringes,
When a container such as a disposable syringe is filled with a small amount of powder or liquid of 25 mg to 300 mg and weighed, the first electronic balance 3 ′ and the second electronic balance 5 ′ used have a reading limit of about 0.1 mg or less. , An extremely precise one suitable for a very small amount of weighing that outputs weighing data every 0.2 seconds or less is used. For such an ultra-precision electronic balance, if the container is gripped by the chucks 8A to 8D of the container transfer device 9 and the container is placed on the upper surface of the weighing pan of the electronic balance as in the conventional case, that is, robot transfer is performed. When the container is gripped and placed on the weighing pan, a considerable impact is given to the electronic balance.

As shown in FIG. 14, the first and second electronic balances 3 ′ and 5 ′ have a mounting hole 2 in which the conical upper end 200 a of the balance support column 200 is opened at the bottom of the weighing pan 201.
01a is press-fitted and fixed, and the flat upper surface of the weighing pan 201 is used as a mounting surface 201b. When a container is placed on the placing surface 201b, the balance support column 200 descends according to the weight of the container, and a weight sensor (not shown) attached to the lower portion of the balance support column 200 detects it. The balance support 200
Also, the weighing pan 201 is protected by a cover 202 with a required gap therebetween, and the shaft hole 20 provided in the cover 202 is protected.
The balance support column 200 is loosely inserted into the 2a, and the weighing pan 201
The lower end face 201c of the cover 20 with a required gap S1.
2 is placed on the lower horizontal plate 202b, and the weighing pan 201
The outer surface 201d of the cover 2 with a required space S2 therebetween.
No. 02 metal cap mounting portion 202c is arranged.

Since the weighing pan 201 is lowered by about 0.5 mm to 1 mm depending on the weight of the object to be weighed such as a container, the gap S1 between the lower end surface of the weighing pan 201 and the cover 202 is about 3 mm. It is set, and the weighing pan 201 can be lowered to 3 mm. Therefore, the placing surface 2 of the weighing pan 201
When the container is placed on 01b while being gripped by the robot's chucks 8A to 8D, the chuck releases the container before the container is placed on the placing surface and the container falls on the placing surface, or from the chuck. When the weighing pan 201 is slid down and placed on the mounting surface, a large impact is given to the weighing pan 201, and the weighing pan 201 is attached to the lower horizontal plate 202b of the cover 202.
It rapidly descends about 3 mm until it comes into contact with.

As described above, when the weighing pan 201 is suddenly lowered by the impact, it takes a long time to stabilize the weighing value. If the time required for weighing is set in anticipation of that amount, there arises a problem that the weighing time is further delayed as compared with the filling time. On the other hand, if the weighing value stabilization time is set to be short, there is a problem that accurate weighing cannot be performed when the weighing value stabilization time is long due to the impact as described above.

During weighing, the lower end surface of the metal cap 17 descending from above is placed on the metal cap mounting portion 202c of the cover 202, and the metal cap 17 is placed.
Closes the weighing pan 201 and the container of the object to be weighed.
In that case, when the container to be weighed is a long one such as a syringe, the metal cap 17 is inevitably long. If the metal cap 17 becomes long, the vertical movement distance becomes long, and the time required for this movement becomes long.
There is a problem that the time required for weighing further increases. further,
As described above, when the object to be weighed is an elongated object such as a syringe, it cannot be placed on the weighing dish in a stable state, and there is a problem that the weighing value is not easily stabilized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Firstly, the above-mentioned apparatus is improved so that a plurality of containers can be filled from a filling machine while being weighed by an electronic balance. By utilizing the filling capacity of the filling machine, it is possible to achieve high-speed production and increase in production volume. Second
In addition, when placing the object to be weighed on the weighing pan of the electronic balance, the impact given to the weighing pan is softened, the stabilization time of the weighing value is shortened, and the movement time of the metal cap that seals the weighing pan and the object to be weighed is reduced. The purpose is to shorten the time and thus the time required for weighing to improve productivity.

[0014]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of feeders for feeding empty containers and a plurality of empty containers conveyed from the feeder at the same time. No. 1 electronic balance, one filling machine for sequentially filling powder or liquid into a plurality of empty containers simultaneously conveyed from the first electronic balance, and a plurality of empty containers simultaneously conveyed to the filling machine side. Moving means for sequentially positioning the containers one by one at the filling position by the filling machine, a plurality of second electronic balances for weighing a plurality of filling containers simultaneously conveyed from the filling machine, and a second electronic balance for weighing A unloader for unloading the filled container, the feeder, the first electronic balance, the filling machine,
A long operating bar having chucks for holding containers at respective positions of the second electronic balance attached at predetermined intervals to X, Y,
A container transporting device provided with a drive mechanism that moves in the Z direction, and each chuck of the container transporting device grips one container and moves in the same locus so that the first electronic balance is moved from the feeder. Move from the 1st electronic balance to the filling machine, from the filling machine to the 2nd electronic balance, and from the 2nd electronic balance to the carry-out machine at once, and fill the plural containers possible within the weighing time. Further, there is provided a filling amount weighing device characterized in that when filling a plurality of containers, an empty weighing of the containers before and after the filling and a weighing after filling are carried out, and a total number is weighed.

The moving means installed in the lower part of the filling machine divides the time (T) for weighing one container by the electronic balance by the number (N) of containers to be weighed at the same time (T / It is preferable to perform the intermittent operation of sequentially positioning one container at the filling position within N).
(Claim 2) For example, two first electronic balances and two second electronic balances are installed, and the time for placing one container at the filling position below the filling machine by the moving means is 1/2 of the weighing time. The setting is made so that two containers are filled by the filling machine during the weighing time by the electronic balance.

Specifically, for example, the first electronic balance,
Two second electronic balances are installed, and the time for positioning one container at the filling position below the filling machine by the moving means is set to be 1/2 of the weighing time. Two containers are filled in between by a filling machine. (Claim 3)

The moving means moves horizontally and stops, and then intermittently moves upward in the vertical direction to insert the powder or liquid discharging part of the filling machine into the upper opening of the container. It is preferable to move to a position, stop, and then move to a fixed position vertically downward after the supply.
(Claim 4) As the moving means for intermittently moving in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, a two-dimensional moving robot or a structure in which a vertical driving means is added to a horizontal moving conveyor is preferably used.

As the above-mentioned feeder and unloader, a star wheel that rotates by holding a container in a container holding portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of a disk at regular intervals is used. The plurality of containers are simultaneously gripped from the wheels and the plurality of containers are simultaneously conveyed to the plurality of first electronic balances, and the container holding portion of the carry-out star wheel is provided with the chucks to remove the plurality of second electronic balances from the plurality of second electronic balances. It is preferable that a plurality of containers be conveyed at the same time. (Claim 5)

In the above-mentioned carry-out device, when the filling amount calculated from the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance deviates from the predetermined control width, the defective container eliminating device for discharging the filling container from the conveying path. Is preferably installed. (Claim 6) The defective product removing device may be provided in an appropriate line such as a transfer line from the unloader to the next step. Even if a defective product occurs, the filling amount of the filling machine is always automatically adjusted to the target value by the control device of the drive mechanism of the filling machine. Return to normal filling volume.

The container to be weighed by the electronic balance comprises a vial, an ampoule, a syringe, a disposable syringe, etc., and the medicine filling material filled in these containers is a very small amount of powder or liquid in the range of 25 mg to 300 mg. It is preferably one. (Claim 7) However, the application of the above apparatus is not limited to the above range, and it goes without saying that it can be used for filling less than 25 mg or more than 300 mg.

Further, the present invention according to claim 8 is: a feeder for supplying an empty container; a plurality of first electronic balances for simultaneously weighing a plurality of empty containers conveyed from the supplier;
A plurality of filling machines that sequentially fill powder or liquid into a plurality of empty containers that are simultaneously conveyed from the electronic balance, and a plurality of empty containers that are simultaneously conveyed to the filling machine side are placed at the filling position by each filling machine. A moving means for sequentially positioning each one, a plurality of second electronic balances for weighing a plurality of filling containers simultaneously conveyed from the filling machine, and a carry-out device for carrying out the filling containers weighed by the second electronic balance. And the above feeder,
A drive mechanism for moving a long operating bar in the X, Y, and Z directions with chucks for holding containers at respective positions of the first electronic balance, the filling machine, and the second electronic balance attached at predetermined intervals was provided. A container carrying device, and by holding one container by each chuck of the container carrying device and moving the containers on the same trajectory, from the feeder to the first electronic balance and from the first electronic balance to the filling machine. , Filling machine to second electronic balance, second
A plurality of containers are moved from the electronic balance to the carry-out machine at a time, and when filling a plurality of containers, the empty weighing of the containers before and after and the weighing after the filling are performed, and the total weight is measured. We provide equipment. For example, while two filling machines are installed in parallel, each of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance has four
Stand side by side, weigh 4 containers at the same time with 4 electronic balances, and transfer these 4 containers to 2 filling machines at the same time,
Two containers may be sequentially filled with one filling machine. In this case, if the filling machine fills the container in 1/2 hour of the weighing time (T), the conventional one is weighed one by one. Thus, the speed can be increased four times as compared with the case of filling one by one.

The filling machine is a powder filling machine which is an auger filling machine or a liquid filling machine which divides a small amount of liquid into a container by a plunger pump or a diaphragm type pressure controller. (Claim 9) An auger filling machine used as a filling machine for the powder, wherein a cylindrical auger casing is attached to the tip of a funnel containing the powder, and an auger fixed to a rotary shaft is connected to the inside of the auger casing. It is arranged so that the powder is weighed and subdivided into containers according to the rotation angle of the auger. The mechanism of this auger filling machine is very simple, and the filling amount is proportional to the rotation angle, so that the filling amount can be easily controlled, and therefore, it is preferably used in this system.

It is preferable that the filling machine be controlled by a controller so that the filling amount becomes a target value based on the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance. (Claim 1
0)

The first electronic balance and the second electronic balance are
It is preferable to fix a weighing pan pedestal on the upper side of the electronic balance support and to attach the weighing pan on the weighing pan pedestal via a shock absorbing means. (Claim 11) As the shock absorbing means, for example, a coil spring,
It is preferable to use rubber, elastomer, sponge, or the like, and to interpose between the upper surface of the weighing dish support and the lower surface of the weighing dish. The elastic modulus of the shock absorbing means is 650 to
It is preferably 2500 N / m, and if it is less than 650 N / m, slight vibration is likely to occur and the weighing pan tends to wobble, and if it is more than 2500 N / m, the impact during container placement may not be softened. The first electronic balance and the second electronic balance have a reading limit of about 0.1 mg or less and a reading limit of about 0.1 mg.
The one suitable for a very small amount of weighing that outputs weighing data every 2 seconds or less is used. As described above, by using the shock absorbing means, the impact when the impact is applied to the weighing dish is mitigated, and the descending amount of the weighing dish is reduced, so that the lower surface of the weighing dish,
The gap with the electronic balance body is smaller than before. However, a protective cover plate is attached to the surface of the electronic balance main body in order to protect the electric balance main body containing the sensor when the weighing pan is lowered more than the size of the gap. Therefore, even if the weighing pan is dropped due to impact, it stops at the position where it comes into contact with the protective cover plate, and does not descend further,
I try to protect the sensor. The gap between the weighing pan and the protective cover plate below it is about 2 mm
I am trying.

In the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance, a metal cap is installed above the respective weighing pans so as to be able to move up and down by the driving means, and the empty container is weighed and the container after powder or liquid filling. When weighing, the metal cap is lowered to cover the container placed on the weighing dish and the weighing dish itself, and the metal cap is placed on the weighing dish, and the cap is placed at a position higher than the weighing dish. It is preferable that a substantially cylindrical metal cap mounting table having an opening end surface that serves as a surface is detachably installed around the weighing dish so as to surround the weighing dish and surround the weighing dish. (Claim 12) It is preferable that the inner diameter of the metal cap mounting table is the same as the inner diameter of the metal cap, and the inner peripheral surface of the metal cap mounting table is continuous with the metal cap mounted on the same plane.

A guide cylinder protruding from the upper surface of the weighing pan of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance is provided, and a long object to be weighed is put inside the guide cylinder and placed on the weighing pan. Preferably. (Claim 13) Further, ribs extending radially at equal intervals from the center thereof are provided on the mounting surfaces of the weighing pans of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance so as to slightly project from the mounting surface. Is preferred. (Claim 14) For example, three ribs are provided radially at 120 ° intervals from the center point of the weighing dish or four radially at 90 ° intervals so that the container placed on the weighing dish can be quickly placed. It is configured to stand still. The rib protrusion amount is preferably about 0.5 mm.

[0027]

According to the filling amount weighing device of the above-mentioned claim 1 and claim 8, first, a plurality of containers are grasped by a chuck from a feeder comprising a feeding star wheel and the like, and a plurality of first electronic devices are held. Transfer to the balance. After the empty container is weighed by the first electronic balance, the weighed empty container is conveyed to the moving means by the chuck. The moving means first moves and stops the first empty container to the filling position to fill the powder or liquid, and then the moving means moves the first container after filling from the filling position. At the same time, the second empty container is placed in the filling position, stopped, and filled. In this way, the time required to complete the filling of two or more pieces is 1
Since it is set to be the same as the weighing time of each container, when the filling of a plurality of containers is completed, the weighing of the empty container by the first electronic balance in the previous step is completed. Then, the empty container of the feeder, the plurality of empty containers weighed by the first electronic balance, and the plurality of filled containers after filling are respectively gripped and moved by the chucks, and the empty container is moved to the first electronic balance. The empty container of the first electronic balance is transported to the moving means, and the filling container is transported to the second electronic balance. Next, the empty container is weighed by the first electronic balance, the filling is performed by the filling machine, and the filled container is weighed by the second electronic balance. After weighing and filling, each container is gripped by a chuck and moved in the same manner as described above, and the filled container after weighing of the second electronic balance is simultaneously conveyed to the unloader. As described above, from the feeder to the first electronic balance, from the first electronic balance to the moving means on the filling machine side, and from the moving means to the second electronic balance,
The movement from the second electronic balance to the carrier is intermittently and simultaneously performed by the operation of one operation bar.

As described above, while one container is being weighed by the electronic balance, a plurality of containers are filled with powder or liquid, so that the filling capacity of the filling machine can be fully utilized, and in a total weighing system. The speed can be increased.

As described in claim 2, within a time (T / N) obtained by dividing the time (T) for weighing one container by the electronic balance by the number (N) of containers simultaneously weighed. ,
When the intermittent operation of the moving means is performed so that one container is sequentially positioned at the filling position, the container can be moved by one moving means, and the structure of the moving means can be simplified. For example, as described in claim 3, two first electronic balances and two second electronic balances are installed, and one electronic balance is used.
When two containers are filled by the filling machine during the weighing time of one piece, the time required is reduced to about half compared to the case where one electronic balance is arranged, and the productivity is reduced. Can be increased.

When the container moving means is configured to intermittently perform horizontal movement and vertical movement as described in claim 4, the container is filled by the moving means alone and the weighing position is measured. The movement can be stopped and the moving means can be simplified.

When the feeder and the carry-out machine are rotating star wheels as described in claim 5, a plurality of containers can be grasped and supplied easily by the chuck attached to the operation bar. At the same time, the container can be moved from the feeder to the carry-out device by the same moving means as that for conveying the container to the filling machine and the weighing device. Further, when the defective product removing device is installed in the carry-out device as described in claim 6, defective products can be automatically excluded, and the productivity can be further improved.

Further, as described in claim 7, the object to be weighed comprises a vial, an ampoule, a syringe, a disposable syringe, etc., and the filling amount into these containers is from 25 mg to 30 mg.
In the case of a very small amount of medicine in the range of 0 mg, it is particularly preferable to carry out total weight measurement using this device because the control of the filling amount is very strict.

Further, when a plurality of first and second electronic balances are provided and a plurality of filling machines are arranged, the productivity can be further improved.
When an auger filling machine is used as the powder filling machine and a plunger pump or a diaphragm pressure controller is used as the liquid filling machine, a minute amount of filling can be accurately performed. Further, as described in claim 10, when the filling machine is controlled by the control device and the feedback control is performed so that the filling amount becomes the target value based on the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance, Even if the filling amount fluctuates due to changes over time in the hopper level, specific volume, physical properties, etc., it can be corrected immediately and the incidence of defective products can be reduced.

Further, when a shock absorbing means is provided between the weighing pan support and the weighing pan of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance as described in claim 11, the container is grasped by a chuck. Even if you move it and put the container on the weighing pan,
The impact when placing the container can be mitigated, the time until the weighing value is stabilized can be shortened, and the accuracy of the electronic balance can be maintained.

Further, when the metal cap mounting base is provided as in the twelfth aspect, it is possible to shorten the time for moving the metal cap up and down. In particular, when the container is a long-length disposable syringe or the like, the lifting and lowering stroke of the metal cap is long and it takes time. Therefore, by providing the metal cap mounting table, the time required to move the metal cap can be greatly shortened. . The metal cap mounting table should be detachably set on the upper surface of the protective cover that serves as the base, and the metal cap mounting table with the required height should be attached according to the size and length of the object to be weighed. Is preferred. Therefore, for example, when weighing a long object to be weighed, a high metal cap mounting table is attached, while when the object to be weighed is low, the metal cap mounting table is removed, and a chuck is placed on the weighing pan. It is preferable not to disturb the placement of the object to be weighed.

When a guide cylinder protruding from the upper surface of the weighing pan of the electronic balance is provided as described in claim 13, a long container can be held inside the guide cylinder and weighed, and the container falls during weighing. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of problems such as. Furthermore, as set forth in claim 14, when small ribs are projected on the placing surface of the weighing dish at regular intervals, the shaking of the container can be quickly absorbed, and the container stands still, so that the weighing value stabilization time is improved. You can speed it up.

[0037]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The same members as those of the conventional device shown in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals. 1 to 7 show the first embodiment of the present invention, and in FIG. 1 showing the entire apparatus, the supply star wheel 12 and the empty container are weighed from the left side to the right side on the front side of the upper surface of the base 10. First electronic balance 3
A, second first electronic balance 3B, container moving means 13, 1
The second electronic balance 5A, the second electronic balance 5B,
The carry-out star wheel 6 and the take-out conveyor 7 are arranged at a required interval, and the powder filling machine 4 is arranged above the container moving means 13. Although not shown, the supply of the empty container to the supply star wheel is carried from the empty container line by another star wheel or a conveyor. Base 1
A container transporting device 9 is installed on the rear side of the upper surface of the container 0, and the container transporting device 9 has eight chucks 8A to 8H (the chuck 8G is not visible in FIG. 1) that are long at a same interval. The operating bar 11 is mounted on a drive mechanism 19 installed on the base 10. The drive bar 19 drives the operating bar 11 in the X, Y, and Z directions.

The supply star wheel 12 and the carry-out star wheel 6 have the same shape, and are arranged at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the disk which is intermittently rotated by the rotation driving means (not shown) arranged inside the base 10. Notches are formed to form a plurality of (five in the embodiment) container holding portions 12a and 6a. Among them, as shown in FIG. 2, two adjacent container holding portions 12a-1 and 12a-2, 6a- facing the operation bar 11 side.
The straight line S connecting 1 and 6a-2 is the above-mentioned four electronic balances 3
It is set so as to be located on the same straight line as the weighing positions of A, 3B, 5A and 5B, and also on the same straight line as the holder 14 of the moving means 13.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the space between the container holding portions 12a-1 and 12a-2, the container holding portion 12a-
2, the distance between the weighing positions of the first electronic balance 3A, the distance between the first electronic balances 3A and 3B, the first electronic balance 3B and the holder 1
4, the distance from the first holding portion 14a, 1 of the holder 14
The distance between the second holding portion 14a and the second holding portion 14b, the distance between the second holding portion 14b and the weighing position of the second electronic balance 5A, the distance between the weighing positions of the second electronic balances 5A and 5B, the second
Electronic balance 5B and container holding portion 6a of carry-out star wheel
The interval of 1 and the intervals of the container holding portions 6a-1 and 6a-2 are all set to the same interval L. The interval L is the operating bar 11
The chucks 8A to 8H attached to the same have the same spacing between adjacent chucks.

With the above setting, the operating bar 11 is moved by the drive mechanism 19 while the container 1 is being gripped by the eight chucks 8A to 8H, so that the trajectory shown in FIG. It is cyclically moving to the →→ …… → position. For example, in the chuck 8A, the retracted position corresponding to the container holding portion 12a-1 of the supply star wheel 12 is set as a base point, and the chuck 8A is moved in the Y direction to move the container holding portion 1a.
2a-1 holds the container 1 held by a chuck,
After holding, it moves in the Z direction and rises to the position, then moves in the X direction and moves above the container mounting position of the first first electronic balance 3A, and then moves in the Z direction from that position. It descends and moves to the container mounting position of the first electronic balance 3A,
At this position, the container 1 is released from the chuck and placed. After that, only the chuck moves in the Y direction and retreats, and when it reaches the position, it moves in the X direction and returns to the original position. From the above, the moving distance in the X direction from is set to be twice the above-described interval L (2L).

Simultaneously with the movement of the chuck 8A, the other chucks 8B to 8H also move along the same locus. That is, the chuck 8A conveys the container holding portion 12a-1 of the supply star wheel 12 to the first electronic balance 3A, the chuck 8B conveys the container holding portion 12a-2 of the supply star wheel 12 to the first electronic balance 3B, Chuck 8
Transfer from the first electronic balance 3A to the first holding portion 14a of the holder 14 of the moving means 13 by C, transfer from the first electronic balance 3B to the second holding portion 14b by the chuck 8D, and first transfer by the chuck 8E. From the holding portion 14a to the second
Transfer to the electronic balance 5A, transfer from the second holding portion 14b by the chuck 8F to the second electronic balance 5B, chuck 8
Transfer from the second electronic balance 5A by G to the container holding portion 6a-1 of the carry-out star wheel 6, and second by the chuck 8H
Eight pieces are carried from the electronic balance 5B to the container holding portion 6a-2 at the same time by one container carrying device 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the container moving means 13 installed in the lower part of the powder filling machine 4 is intermittently rotated by 180 degrees by the rotation and elevation drive machine 30 and the upper end of the support shaft 31 is elevated and lowered. The center of the flat plate-shaped holder 14 is fixed to the container, and the vial is provided on both sides of the holder 14.
Is provided with holding portions 14a and 14b. As shown in FIG. 4, the support shaft 31 is operated by the driving machine 30 to move upward from the container mounting position where the container 1 is mounted from the chuck, stop, descend, rotate 180 degrees, raise, stop, and descend. After rising, after stopping, the powder filling machine 4 fills a fixed amount of powder. The time required from the first container loading shown in FIG. 4 until the two containers 1 (indicated by A and B in FIG. 4) are filled with powder and the last container is taken out, the containers are placed on the electronic balance. It is set to be the same as the time required to take out after placing, weighing.

The powder filling machine 4 comprises the auger filling machine shown in FIG. 5, in which the powder 22 charged in the funnel 21 is rotated by a driving device (not shown).
4, the container 1 mounted on the holding portion 14a or 14b through the screen 25 corresponding to the rotation amount.
A predetermined amount of powder is filled inside. In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a skirt that is continuously provided under the screen 25.

The operation of the powder filling machine 4 at the time of filling is as shown in FIG.
After (A, B) is placed on the holding portions 14a, 14b of the holder 14, the support shaft 31 is raised and the skirt 26 is inserted into the upper end opening of the second container 1 (B). Thereafter, the auger 24 is rotated to fill the container 22 with the powder 22 in a predetermined amount, and after the filling is completed, the support shaft 31 is lowered to return to the home position. Next, after rotating the holder 14 by 180 degrees, the support shaft 31 is lifted, the skirt 26 is inserted into the upper end opening of the first container 1 (A), and the container 1 (A) is filled with a predetermined amount of powder. To do. After the filling, the support shaft 31 is lowered and returned to a fixed position, taken out by two chucks, and then the second electronic balance 5
Two containers (A, B) are simultaneously transported to A and 5B.

The first electronic balances 3A, 3B and the second electronic balances 5A, 5B are each equipped with a weighing pan 15 at the center of the upper surface of the electronic balance main body, as shown in FIG. A metal cap 17 that is moved up and down by an air cylinder 16 is disposed above the. That is, the two first electronic balances 3A and 3B are provided with a pair of metal caps 17 on both sides of a T-shaped actuating plate 18 which is lifted and lowered by one air cylinder 16, and two first electronic balances 3A are provided. , 3
B is covered with the metal cap 17 at the same time. The two second electronic balances 5A and 5B have the same configuration.

Each of the metal caps 17 is made of a conductor and caps the container 1 on the weighing pan 15 at the time of weighing, and the metal cap 17 is used at the time of weighing to weigh the pan 15 and the container 1 placed thereon. Is blocked from the outside, the action of wind pressure is prevented, and the magnetic field with the outside is blocked so that the electrostatic force acts on the weighing pan 15 as an external force.

The first electronic balances 3A and 3B and the second electronic balances 5A and 5B have the structure shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 70 denotes an electronic balance main body, which is a base 10 of the weighing device.
It is fixed on the upper surface of. A weight sensor (not shown) connected to the lower end of the balance support column 71 is housed inside the electronic balance main body 70, and when a load is applied to the weighing pan 15, the balance support column 71 descends and its The descending amount is detected as the weight, and a detection signal is output to the control device 100 shown in FIG.

A protective cover plate 72 is fixed to the upper surface of the electronic balance main body 70, and a concave portion 72a formed in the central portion is formed.
A shaft hole 72b through which the balance support column 71 projects is provided in the center of the bottom surface of the. The protruding upper end 71a of the balance support 71 has a conical shape, and the shaft hole 73a opened at the bottom of the weighing pan support 73
The taper is fixed.

The weighing pan cradle 73 has a T-shaped cross section, and has a disk-shaped upper portion 73b provided with a ring-shaped coil spring mounting groove 73c having an upper surface opening. The coil spring mounting groove 73c accommodates the lower portion of the coil spring 74, and the projected upper end portion is
The weighing dish 1 is inserted into the annular coil spring mounting groove 15a opened on the lower surface of the weighing dish 15 and is placed above the weighing dish pedestal 73.
5 are elastically supported and arranged.

The weighing pan 15 is a container mounting portion 1 having a substantially disc shape.
5b, a guide tube receiving portion 15c protruding horizontally from the outer peripheral end thereof, and a leg portion 15d protruding downward from the outer peripheral end of the guide tube receiving portion 15c. The coil spring mounting groove 15a is formed by opening on the lower surface of the container mounting portion 15b. The leg portion 15d is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the weighing pan support 73, and a stopper groove 15e is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion thereof. The stopper groove 15e
An outer peripheral edge of a stopper plate 75 arranged on the lower surface side of the upper portion 73b of the weighing pan support 73 is fitted inside. Therefore, the stopper plate 75 interlocks with the lifting and lowering of the weighing pan 15,
Is returned by being urged upward by the coil spring 74,
The stopper plate 75 abuts the lower surface of the weighing pan pedestal 73 to regulate the initial position of the weighing pan 15 to a fixed position.

At the fixed position of the weighing pan 15, the leg 1
The gap S1 of about 2 mm is set between the lower end surface of 5d and the protective cover plate 72.

On the upper surface of the container mounting portion 15b of the weighing dish 15, as shown in FIG.
Three ribs 15f that radially extend at intervals of 120 degrees are provided in a protruding manner. The protrusion amount of these ribs 15f is set to 0.5 mm.

Further, a cylindrical metal cap mounting table 78 is detachably attached to the leg portion 15d of the weighing pan 15 and a required gap S3. The metal cap mounting table 78
Has a fitting recess 78a cut out on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end,
A part of the fitting recess 78a is cut out upward to form a positioning pin groove 78b.

In order to detachably attach the metal cap mounting table 78, a ring-shaped mounting plate 79 is installed on the upper surface of the protective cover plate 72 by bolts, and a step is provided on the inner circumference of the mounting plate 79. The projecting portion 79a is provided, and the positioning pin hole 79b is provided in a part of the step projecting portion 79a. The metal cap mounting base 78 is mounted by mounting the fitting recess 78a on the stepped protrusion 79a and mounting the positioning pin groove 7
Positioning pin 8 from 8b to positioning pin hole 79b
By inserting 0, it is detachably fixed. As described above, by detachably attaching the metal cap mounting base 78 according to the length, size, etc. of the container to be weighed, the metal cap mounting base 78 can be replaced, and if necessary, the metal cap mounting base 78 can be mounted. I try not to install.

As shown in the figure, the metal cap mounting table 78 has a cylindrical shape with a large thickness, has a wide upper end metal cap mounting surface 78c, and has an L-shaped outer peripheral portion. A windbreak wall portion 78d protruding upward is provided. In addition, the inner diameter of the metal cap mounting table 78 is the same as the inner diameter of the metal cap 17, and the metal cap mounting table 7 is
8 on the mounting surface 78c of the lower end surface 17a of the metal cap 17
The inner peripheral surfaces of these are continuous with each other in the illustrated state. Further, a flange portion 17b projecting from the outer periphery is provided on the lower end surface of the metal cap 17, and a contact area between the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting table and the lower end surface 17b of the metal cap is increased to improve sealing performance. Even if the displacement occurs, the metal cap 17 can be mounted on the metal cap mounting base 78. Further, when the metal cap 17 is placed, the windshield wall 78d surrounds the outer periphery of the metal cap 17 to block the entry of wind. In addition, an air vent hole 78f is provided in a part of the lower peripheral wall of the metal cap mounting table 78, and when the metal cap 17 is closed to cover the metal cap 17, the inside becomes slightly positive pressure.
The internal air has been deflated slightly. The air vent hole 78
It is not always necessary to provide f.

The metal cap mounting base 78 is set so that the mounting surface 78c at the upper end thereof is located above the upper surface of the weighing pan 15 as shown in the drawing. Moreover, when the guide tube 82 is attached to the weighing pan 15, the guide tube 82
The mounting surface 78c is positioned higher than the upper end of the.

As shown in the figure, the guide tube 82 is attached to prevent the container 1 from falling down during weighing when the container 1 to be weighed has a long shape like a disposable syringe. It is a thing. The guide tube 82 is
The lower end is enlarged stepwise to provide a large diameter fitting portion 82a,
The large-diameter fitting portion 82a is externally fitted so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container mounting portion 15b of the weighing dish 15, and the lower end surface is placed on the guide tube receiving portion 15c, and the outer periphery of the weighing dish 15 is placed. It is attached so that it protrudes from the surface. In addition, the inner peripheral surface of the upper end is formed into a tapered surface 82b to facilitate the insertion of the container 1.

The guide tube 82 is preferably attached when the container 1 is a syringe, but when the container 1 is low, the container is held on the upper surface of the weighing dish 17 while being held by the chucks 8A-8B. The guide cylinder 82 is not attached because it interferes with the placement of the.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 6, the swinging means shown in FIG. 9 is provided at the connecting portion between the operating plate 18 which is moved up and down by the air cylinder 16 for moving the metal cap up and down and the metal cap 17. Thus, when the metal cap 17 lands on the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting base 78, the metal cap 17 comes into close contact with the mounting surface 78c.

That is, a rod connecting portion 17e is provided at the center of the upper end closing portion 17d, and a rod mounting hole 17e having an upper surface opening is formed at the center of the rod connecting portion 17d. A screw portion 85a provided on the lower side portion of the adjusting rod 85 is screwed and connected to the rod mounting hole 17e, while a head portion 85b is provided on the upper end, and the lower surface thereof serves as a taper surface 85c having a downwardly reduced diameter. There is.

The adjusting rod 85 is provided on the upper portion 8 of the inner frame 86.
The hollow portion 88 provided in 6a is inserted through the upper end opening, and the lower portion 8
The rod portion is projected from the shaft hole formed in 6b, and its head tapered surface 85c is formed in the inner frame 86.
The adjustment rod 85 is suspended with the head 85b movably held. The inner frame 86 is the outer frame 87
It is inserted into the mounting hole 87a from the lower end opening 87b, and is screwed and fixed. A rod 18a is fixed to the lower surface of the operating plate 18 at the center of the upper end of the outer frame 87.

Since the metal cap 17 is held via the swinging means as described above, when the metal cap 17 descends and lands on the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting base 78, the inner frame 87 and the inner frame 87 Since the frame 86 and the taper surface 86c of the inner frame and the taper surface 85c of the adjusting rod are slightly lowered, the metal cap 17 is free by the clearance. Therefore, for example, when the rod of the air cylinder 16 or the rod 18a of the operating plate 18 is tilted, the adjustment rod 85 swings with respect to the axis of these rods, and the metal cap 17 is not affected by the tilt of the axis. Bottom surface 1
7a can be brought into close contact with the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting table 78. In this way, by ensuring the close contact, the windshield can be measured and the sealing property can be improved.

The above-mentioned two first electronic balances 3A, 3B and 5
As shown in FIG. 6, the two containers 1 (A, B) are moved simultaneously by the two chucks, and the containers A in the first and second electronic balances 3A (5A) are weighed. Weighing pan 15
To the container B, the weighing pan 1 of the second electronic balance 3B (5B)
Place on 5. Next, the pair of metal caps 17 are lowered and placed on the metal cap placement table 78. In this way, the container 1 and the weighing pan 15 are covered with the metal caps 17, and then, after stabilizing for a required time, weighing is carried out. After weighing, the metal caps 17 are lifted and the containers A and B are respectively weighed in the weighing pan 15 It is taken out by the chuck. still,
The first and second electronic balances 3A, 3B, 5A, 5B perform zero adjustment at a predetermined interval.

The data of the weighed value of the empty container 1 weighed by the first electronic balances 3A and 3B and the weighed value of the container 1 after the powder filling weighed by the second electronic balances 5A and 5B are shown in FIG. In addition, a first weighing data processing device 102 and a second weighing data processing device 103 provided in the control device 100 of the entire device.
And are typing in. In the control device 100, the second
The powder filling amount is calculated by subtracting the output value of the first weighing data processing device 102 from the output value of the weighing data processing device 103, and the calculated value is calculated from the weighing data processing device 104 by the comparator 1.
05, the comparator 105 compares it with the target value input in advance, and outputs a signal indicating a defective product to the sequencer 101 if it is outside the range of the setting control width, and outputs from the sequencer 101. The defective product removing device 35 discharges the product according to the ON and OFF signals. In addition, the deviation between the calculated value and the target value is input to the sequencer 101, the drive mechanism of the filling machine 4 is controlled by the control command signal based on the deviation, and the filling amount thereafter is adjusted.

The two containers 1 (A, B) are simultaneously placed in the first
The electronic balances 3A, 3B and the second electronic balances 5A, 5B are weighed, but since the container moving means 13 rotates 180 degrees, the first electronic balance 3A emptyly weighs the container A. The second electronic balance 5B is filled and then weighed, and the second first electronic balance 3B is emptyly weighed and the container B is filled and weighed by the first second electronic balance 5A. Therefore, the weight value of the first electronic balance 3A is subtracted from the weight value of the second electronic balance 5B, and the weight value of the first electronic balance 3B is subtracted from the weight value of the second electronic balance 5A.

As shown in FIG. 2 (not shown in FIG. 1), the defective product removing device 35 has a shutter 37 attached to the connecting portion between the carry-out star wheel 6 and the take-out conveyor 7, and the shutter 37 opens. When in the position, the container 1 to be conveyed is automatically carried out to the take-out conveyor 7, while when the shutter 37 is closed, the exclusion side passage 36 which is continuously provided.
Is guided to the defective product receiving portion 38. Note that, in FIG. 2, the shutter is closed and a defective product is taken out. The shutter 37 is an O switch from the sequencer 101 of the control device 100.
It is driven by the N and OFF signals, and when the exclusion signal is output, it closes and excludes the container 1 whose filling amount is out of the predetermined control range.

Control of rotation / elevation operation of the moving means 13, operation / stop of the filling machine, control of the drive mechanism 12 of the chucks 8A to 8H, first electronic balances 3A, 3B and second.
The sequencer 101 of the control device 100 outputs drive control of the entire device, including control of the air cylinder 16 for moving up and down the metal cap 17 of the electronic balance 5A, 5B, operation control of the shutter 37 of the defective product removing device, and the like. O
All are automatically controlled by N and OFF signals. still,
In FIG. 9, double-lined arrows represent data signals, dotted-line arrows represent synchronization signals, and alternate long and short-dashed lines represent ON / OFF control signals.

As described above, according to this apparatus, all empty containers 1 supplied from the supply star wheel 12 are
The powder is transferred to the first electronic balances 3A and 3B, and after empty weighing therein, the two containers are transferred to the moving means 13 at the same time, and the powder filling machine 4 sequentially fills the powder. All the containers 1 after powder filling are conveyed to the second electronic balances 5A and 5B, and after weighing,
It is conveyed to the carry-out star wheel 6 and is conveyed to the next process by the take-out conveyor 7 except for defective products. In this way, for all containers, empty weighing and weighing after filling are done,
It is possible to reliably detect an abnormal filling amount due to a sudden reason.

During the above operation, the supply star wheel 12 → first electronic balances 3A and 3B, first electronic balances 3A and 3B → moving means 13, moving means 13 → second electronic balances 5A and 5B, second electronic balance 5A 5B → The carrying action of the eight containers 1 to the carry-out star wheel 6 is performed at the same time. Further, while the two containers 1 are weighed by the electronic balance, the two containers 1 are filled with the powder, and at the time of filling the powder,
Since each of the front and rear two containers 1 is weighed empty and weighed after filling, the total weight can be efficiently weighed without hindering the productivity of the filling action by the weighting.

During weighing by the first electronic balances 3A, 3B and the second electronic balances 5A, 5B, the metal cap 17 is at the upper position, and the container 1 is gripped by the chucks 8A to 8H and moved above the weighing pan 15. Then, it descends from the upper position, and the container 1 is placed on the container placing portion 15b of the weighing pan 15 while being inserted into the guide cylinder 82. At that time, since the upper portion of the container 1 is gripped by the chucks 8A to 8H, the guide cylinder 82 does not get in the way. Further, since the upper end of the metal cap mounting base 78 arranged on the outer periphery of the weighing pan 15 is also set slightly above the upper end of the guide cylinder 82, it does not interfere with the operation of the chuck. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows the case where the container 1 is a disposable syringe, and the container 1 is thin and long,
When the weighing tray 15 is placed on the container placing portion 15b of the weighing dish 15 while being housed inside the guide tube 82, it is possible to prevent the tipping or rolling from occurring during weighing. The height of the container 1 is low,
When the shape is stable, the guide tube 82
The metal cap mounting base 78 may not be provided.

The chuck is lowered to place the container 1 on the container mounting portion 1
After being placed on the upper surface of 5b, the container 1 is released from the grip by the chuck, vertically moves upward, and then horizontally moves away from above the electronic balance.

The container 1 is placed on the container mounting portion 15 of the weighing pan 15.
When the container 1 is dropped on the weighing pan 15 because it is released by the chuck too early when it is placed on the b.
When the container slides down from the chuck, and further when the container is gripped by the chuck, the container placing section 1
When the sample 5b is placed abruptly or with a strong force applied, a large amount of impact may be applied to the weighing pan 15.

When a shock is applied when the container is placed in this manner, since the weighing pan 15 is elastically supported by the coil spring 74, the shock is absorbed by the spring force of the coil spring 74,
The descending amount of the weighing dish 15 is suppressed, and the weighing dish 1 is
The impact on the weighing pan pedestal 73, which is connected to the No. 5 via the coil spring 74, is alleviated. Therefore, the impact force affecting the balance support column 71 fixed to the weighing pan support 73 is also softened, and the time required for stabilizing the weighing value can be shortened. Furthermore, by mitigating the impact on the electronic balance, the accuracy of the electronic balance can be maintained with good durability.

If the elastic coefficient N / m of the coil spring 74 is small, microvibration is likely to occur in the weighing pan 15 elastically supported by the coil spring 74, and the container 1 placed on it will be staggered and it will take a long time for stabilization. On the other hand, when the elastic modulus is large, the effect of softening the impact is poor. The purpose of elastically supporting the weighing dish 15 on the coil spring 74 is to reduce the impact that occurs first when a container is placed and to prevent the electronic balance from being damaged. It is set to a relatively high range. That is, the range of the applied elastic modulus of the coil spring 74 is set to 650 to 2500 N / m based on the experimental results shown in Table 1 below.

[0075]

[Table 1] Spring wire diameter (SUS304) φ0.9 φ1.0 φ1.2 φ1.3 Elastic modulus N / m 625 960 1890 4750 Evaluation △ ○ ○ ×

Furthermore, since the rib 15f is provided on the upper surface of the container mounting portion 15c of the weighing pan 15, even if the container 1 shakes, the shake can be quickly absorbed. That is, when trying to lean to one side, the rib 15f is in three directions, so any one rib 15f regulates the tilt of the container,
The sway is quickly absorbed and it becomes stationary.

After placing the container 1 on the weighing pan 15 and moving the chuck, the metal cap 17 is lowered and its lower end surface 1
7a is brought into contact with the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting table 78 and stopped. At this time, since the mounting surface 78c of the metal cap mounting base 78 is set to be wide, the metal cap 17 can be fixedly placed on the mounting surface 78c even if some positional deviation occurs.

Since the metal cap mounting base 78 is provided, the moving distance of the metal cap 17 can be shortened by the height of the metal cap mounting base 78. Due to this reduction in the moving distance, the time for covering the weighing dish 15 and the container 1 with the metal cap 17 can be shortened. Further, after the weighing, the moving distance for raising the metal cap 17 is also shortened, so that the time can be shortened, and by shortening the moving time of both the upper and lower sides, the time required for the weighing can be considerably shortened.

[0079]

[Experimental Example 1] With the apparatus of the first embodiment, 100 mg of powder was filled in a container consisting of a vial, and the required time was measured. In addition, in order to compare with the device of the first embodiment, the device shown in FIG.
The time required was measured by filling with 0 mg of powder). In the experimental example, since the container is a vial and the length thereof is not so large, the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance of the first embodiment are both provided with the metal cap mounting table 78 and the guide tube 8.
Experiment was performed without setting 2. The filling time by the powder filling machine 4 is the same in both the first embodiment and the comparative example of the apparatus of FIG.
The filling time for each container was 1.6 seconds. (Auger rotation amount: 4 rotations, auger rotation speed: 180 rpm) In this embodiment, the handling time for sequentially moving up and down two containers is 2 seconds, and the total handling time and filling time for the two containers is 3.6. It was seconds. On the other hand, the weighing time for one container is 3.2 seconds, and the time required for weighing one container is about 4.2 even if the handling time (up and down of the metal cap etc.) at the weighing position is summed up. It was 5 seconds. Therefore, the time required to weigh one container (4.5
2 seconds, it was possible to fill two containers (3.6 seconds), and 1600 pieces / hour could be achieved. On the other hand, when only one container can be filled during the weighing of one container in FIG. 10, it is 800 pieces / hour. Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of processed pieces is larger than that of the conventional apparatus. It doubled.

[0080]

[Experimental Example 2] The container 1 to be weighed is the disposable injector (injection agent container) shown in FIG. 7, the length (height) is 95 mm, and the outer diameter is 12.5 mm. If the height of the metal cap mounting table 78 to be placed at 45 mm is 45 mm,
The weighing time of one container 1 (including the lifting time of the metal cap 17) was 4.5 seconds. Under the same conditions, the metal cap mounting base 78 is not provided, the balance support column is directly fixed to the weighing pan of the electronic balance, the coil spring 75 is not provided, and the rib 15f is not provided on the upper surface of the weighing pan. When tested, the weighing time for one container was 7 to 8 seconds. In this way, the metal cap mounting base 78 is provided to shorten the movement stroke of the metal cap, and the coil spring 75 is provided to reduce the impact to shorten the weighing value stabilization time.
Further, by providing a rib on the container mounting surface of the weighing dish to absorb the shaking of the container, the weighing time can be reduced to about half. As a result, the time required for filling and weighing a long syringe, which takes a relatively long time, can be speeded up to the same level as that of a vial.

In the first embodiment described above, one powder filling machine 4 is used, but in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11, two liquid filling machines 60 are used to fill the container 1 with a predetermined amount of liquid. I am trying to do it. In the apparatus, as schematically shown, two liquid filling machines 60A and 60B are arranged side by side with a space between them, and the first electronic balances 3A to 3D and the second electronic balance 5A are provided before and after each of the four liquid filling machines 60A and 60B. ~ 5D is arranged. Further, 16 chucks 8A to 8P are attached to the operation bar 11 at regular intervals. Container moving means 13A and 13B are arranged below the two liquid filling machines 60A and 60B, respectively, so that the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed. However,
These container moving means 13A and 13B are configured to be able to raise and lower the conveyor 40 that circulates horizontally as a whole.

In the above apparatus, four first electronic balances 3A to
Simultaneously move four emptyly weighed 4 containers 1
The containers are individually conveyed to the container moving means 13A and 13B, and for one of these two containers, the weighing time T of one container is measured.
Filling in 1/2 hour.

As the liquid filling machine used in the second embodiment, a plunger type liquid filling machine 60 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B is used. As shown in the figure, the liquid filling machine 60 has a chemical liquid take-out tube 63 connected to a chemical liquid tank 62 which stores a chemical liquid 61 to be filled in the container 1, and a plunger pump 64 is provided in the tube 63. . The tube 63 is attached to the elevating mechanism 65, and a chemical solution filling needle 66 is attached to the tip thereof. Since the operation of filling the liquid is the same as that of filling the powder, the description thereof will be omitted. The liquid filling machine is not limited to the above-mentioned plunger type, and a conventionally known appropriate minute amount of liquid filling machine such as a pressure control type liquid filling machine using a diaphragm or the like can be used.

The filling time of the powder or liquid filling machine is
If 1/4 of the weighing time T of one container is possible, one filling machine 4 may be provided and four first and second electronic balances may be installed.

[0085]

As is clear from the above description, in the filling line, an electronic balance for weighing an empty container and a container after filling is installed before and after a filling machine for filling powder or liquid into the container. In a device that weighs all pieces, the weighing time is longer than the filling time, and the weighing time cannot be shortened.
According to the apparatus according to claims 1 and 8 of the present invention, while one container is being weighed, powder or liquid can be filled into a plurality of containers from one filling machine, Therefore, since a plurality of empty balances arranged before and after the filling machine and a plurality of electronic balances for measuring the filled containers are respectively installed, it is possible to increase the processing speed in the total weighting / filling device. The above operation can be smoothly performed by adopting the configuration described in claim 2. Therefore, for example, as described in claim 3, one unit is measured while one container is being weighed. If the filling machine is used to fill two containers, it is possible to double the number of treatments of the filling material at the same time.

Further, the present apparatus is provided with the moving means of claim 1, claim 2, claim 4 and claim 5, and holds a plurality of containers at one time and conveys them to different next positions. By providing the container transporting device, it is possible to efficiently weigh the empty container before and after and the container after the filling while the container is filled with the object to be filled (powder, liquid, etc.). As described above, by incorporating the weighing means into the filling step, the weighing and filling can be performed efficiently, and therefore, the productivity of the filling step is not impaired even if the total number is weighed. As described above, by weighing the total amount of filling, it is possible to reliably detect abnormalities in the filling amount caused by sudden causes and reject defective products, and achieve the guarantee of the total filling amount of products. It has an epoch-making effect.

Further, in this apparatus, from the feeder to the first electronic balance, from the first electronic balance to the container moving means under the filling machine, from the container moving means to the second electronic balance, from the second electronic balance. Since the containers are individually conveyed to the unloader by the chuck, stable handling can be achieved without any overturning or breakage of the containers which is likely to occur when the containers are conveyed by a conventional conveyor or the like. Moreover, since the auger screw filling machine is used as the powder filling machine for the container, the filling amount can be accurately controlled.

If a defective product removing device is attached to the carry-out machine as described in claim 6, defective products can be automatically excluded, and productivity can be further improved.

Further, as described in claim 7, the container of the object to be weighed comprises a vial, an ampoule, a syringe, a disposable syringe and the like, and these containers are filled with a minute amount in the range of 25 mg to 300 mg. When the drug is filled, it is preferable to perform 100% weighing because the filling amount is very strictly controlled. At that time, in the past, the productivity deteriorated as a result of 100% weighing, but in this device, the combination of the weighing time and the filling time was improved, and moreover, the moving time of the metal cap during weighing with an electronic balance was improved. Since the time is shortened in each part, such as shortening the time, it is possible to prevent the productivity from deteriorating due to the total weighing.

Further, when a plurality of first and second electronic balances are provided and a plurality of filling machines are arranged, the productivity can be further improved.
Further, as described in claim 9, when an auger filling machine is used as the powder filling machine and a plunger pump or a diaphragm pressure controller is used as the liquid filling machine, the above-mentioned 25 mg is obtained.
Precisely filling a minute amount of up to 300 mg. Further, according to the tenth aspect, when the filling machine is controlled by the controller so that the filling amount becomes the target value based on the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance, the bulk hopper is obtained. Even if the filling amount fluctuates due to changes over time in level, specific volume, physical properties, etc., it can be corrected immediately and the incidence of defective products can be reduced. Particularly, in the case of expensive medicines, there is a great advantage that the incidence of defective products can be suppressed.

Further, as described in claim 11, when a shock absorbing means is provided between the weighing pan support and the weighing pan of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance, the container is grasped by the chuck and the container is held. It is possible to mitigate the impact that occurs when the container is placed, which tends to occur in the case of the robot transfer method of moving and placing the container on the weighing pan. That is, the shock absorbing means can suppress the shock of the weighing pan itself, and can also reduce the shock applied to the weighing pan pedestal connected to the weighing pan via the shock absorbing means and the balance support fixed to the weighing pan cradle. . As a result, it becomes possible to shorten the stabilization time of the weighing value. In addition, when the container falls from the chuck onto the weighing dish and receives a large shock, it is possible to prevent the electronic balance from being damaged by the shock absorption by the shock absorbing means.

Further, when the metal cap mounting base is provided as described in the twelfth aspect, it is possible to shorten the time for moving the metal cap up and down. In particular, when the container is a long-length disposable syringe or the like, the lifting and lowering stroke of the metal cap is long and it takes time. Therefore, by providing the metal cap mounting table, the time required to move the metal cap can be greatly shortened. .

Further, when a guide cylinder protruding from the upper surface of the weighing pan of the electronic balance is provided as described in claim 13, a long container can be held inside the guide cylinder and weighed, and the container falls during weighing. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of defects. In addition, since it is surrounded by the metal cap mounting table and the metal cap, and the weighing is performed while being housed inside the guide tube, the wind pressure can be more reliably prevented, and
It is possible to measure the removal of static electricity in the air.

Furthermore, when ribs are provided on the placing surface of the weighing pan so as to project, shaking of the container can be quickly absorbed, and the container can be quickly stopped to stabilize the weighing value. You can speed it up. Particularly, in the case of a container that is slippery of glass and has a rounded bottom surface that is difficult to set, further, in the case of an elongated cylindrical syringe having an opening in the bottom surface or a disposable syringe, the above rib is provided. As a result, the wobble of the container is suppressed and the container tends to be in a stationary state. As a result, it is possible to shorten the stabilization time of the weighing value and increase the accuracy of the weighing value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement relationship of main constituent elements of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a trajectory of chucks 8A to 8H of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a weighing operation in the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the powder filling machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a filling operation of the filling machine.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structures of first and second electronic balances of the first embodiment.

8 is a plan view of a weighing pan of the electronic balance shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a drive mechanism of a metal cap used in the electronic balance of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control mechanism of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a front view of a liquid filling machine used in the second embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a drawing showing a filling action.

FIG. 13 is an overall perspective view of a conventional device.

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional electronic balance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 container 3A, 3B 1st electronic balance 4 powder filling machine 5A, 5B 2nd electronic balance 6 carry-out machine (carry-out star wheel) 7 take-out conveyor 8A-8H chuck 9 container carrying device 10 base 11 working bar 12 feeder (supply) (Star wheel) 13 Container moving means 14 Holder 15 Balance plate 17 Metal cap 60 Liquid filling machine 70 Electronic balance main body 71 Balance strut 72 Protective cover plate 73 Weighing pan cradle 74 Coil spring 78 Metal cap mounting base 82 Guide cylinder 100 Control device

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A feeder for supplying an empty container, a plurality of first electronic balances for weighing a plurality of empty containers conveyed from the feeder at the same time, and a plurality of plural electronic balances simultaneously conveyed from the first electronic balance. One filling machine that sequentially fills empty containers with powder or liquid, and a plurality of empty containers that are simultaneously conveyed to the filling machine side,
Moving means for sequentially positioning the filling machines one by one at the filling position, a plurality of second electronic balances for weighing a plurality of filling containers simultaneously conveyed from the filling machine, and a filling container weighed by the second electronic balance. And a long operating bar to which a chuck for holding a container at each position of the feeder, the first electronic balance, the filling machine, and the second electronic balance is attached at a predetermined interval. , A container transporting device provided with a drive mechanism that moves in the Z direction, and each chuck of the container transporting device grips one container and moves in the same locus, so that the first electronic device moves from the feeder. Move to the balance, from the first electronic balance to the filling machine, from the filling machine to the second electronic balance, and from the second electronic balance to the carry-out machine at once, and empty the containers before and after filling multiple containers. Weigh and after filling, weigh all A filling amount weighing device characterized by being configured to measure. 2. The moving means installed in the lower part of the filling machine divides the time (T) for weighing one container by the electronic balance by the number (N) of containers to be simultaneously weighed (N). The filling amount weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the filling amount weighing device is configured to perform an intermittent operation of sequentially positioning one container at a filling position within T / N). 3. The first electronic balance and the second electronic balance are respectively installed in two units, and the time for positioning one container at the filling position below the filling machine by the moving means is 1/2 of the weighing time. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the filling amount is set in such a manner that two containers are filled by the filling machine during the weighing time by the electronic balance. 4. The moving means is configured to move horizontally and then intermittently vertically to position the container at an upper supply position and a lower fixed position.
The filling amount weighing device according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. The feeder and the carry-out device are composed of a star wheel that rotates by holding a container in a container holding portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of a disk at regular intervals, and a chuck attached to the operating bar. A plurality of containers are simultaneously gripped from the supply star wheel and the plurality of containers are simultaneously conveyed to the plurality of first electronic balances. The container holding portion of the carry-out star wheel is provided with the plurality of second containers by the chuck. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of containers are simultaneously conveyed from the electronic balance. 6. The defective product which discharges a filling container from the carrying path when the filling amount calculated from the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance is out of the predetermined control width in the carry-out device. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an excluding device is installed. 7. The container comprises a filling container for medicines such as vials, ampoules, syringes, and disposable syringes, and the filling material filled in these containers is a small amount of powder or liquid in the range of 25 mg to 300 mg. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: 8. A feeder for supplying an empty container, a plurality of first electronic balances for simultaneously weighing a plurality of empty containers conveyed from the feeder, and a plurality of plural electronic balances simultaneously conveyed from the first electronic balance. A plurality of filling machines for sequentially filling the empty container with powder or liquid, and a plurality of empty containers that are simultaneously conveyed to the filling machine side,
A moving means for sequentially positioning one by one at each filling position by each filling machine, a plurality of second electronic balances for weighing a plurality of filling containers simultaneously conveyed from the filling machine, and a second electronic balance for weighing. X is a long operating bar equipped with a carry-out machine for carrying out the filled container and a chuck for holding the container at each position of the feeder, the first electronic balance, the filling machine, and the second electronic balance at a predetermined interval. , A container transporting device provided with a drive mechanism for moving in the Y and Z directions, wherein each of the chucks of the container transporting device grips one container and moves along the same locus so that 1 electronic balance, 1st electronic balance to a filling machine, 2nd electronic balance from a filling machine to a 2nd electronic balance, and a plurality of containers from a 2nd electronic balance to a carry-out machine at a time. Empty weighing and weighing after filling, A filling amount weighing device characterized by being configured to weigh all pieces. 9. The filling machine comprises a powder filling machine consisting of an auger filling machine or a liquid filling machine for subdividing a small amount of liquid into a container by a plunger pump or a diaphragm type pressure controller. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of 1. 10. The filling machine is controlled by a control device, and is controlled so that the filling amount becomes a target value based on the weighing values of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of 1. 11. The first electronic balance and the second electronic balance have a weighing pan pedestal fixed to an upper side of the electronic balance support,
The filling amount weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a weighing dish is mounted on the weighing dish cradle via a shock absorbing means. 12. In the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance, a metal cap is installed above and below the respective weighing pans so as to be able to move up and down by a driving means, and when an empty container is weighed and after filling powder or liquid. When weighing the container, the metal cap is lowered to cover the container placed on the weighing dish and the weighing dish itself, and the metal cap is covered, and the cap is placed at a position higher than the weighing dish. 12. A substantially cylindrical metal cap mounting table having an opening end surface serving as a mounting surface is installed so as to surround the weighing dish on the outer periphery with a required distance from the weighing dish. The filling amount measuring device according to. 13. A guide cylinder projecting from the upper surface of the weighing pans of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance is detachably provided, and a long object to be weighed is placed inside the guide cylinder and placed on the weighing pan. The filling and weighing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the filling and weighing device is mounted. 14. The mounting surfaces of the weighing pans of the first electronic balance and the second electronic balance are provided with ribs extending radially at equal intervals from the center thereof so as to slightly project from the mounting surface. Item 14. The filling amount weighing device according to any one of items 1 to 13.