JPH07329935A - Checking device of capsule packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely check the absence of a capsule in a pack in packaging a liquid drug capsule. CONSTITUTION:A film 12 containing soft capsules 30 in pockets 122 is heat sealed to an aluminum foil 160 and passed through above a checking device 300. An infrared radiation R1 emitted from a light emitting element 320 is reflected by the soft capsule 30, a reflected light R2 is received by a light receiving element 330, and an electric signal is generated. When a capsule-free pocket is passed through, the emitted light R1 is reflected by the aluminum foil 160, and the reflected light R2 does not enter the light receiving element 330.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for wrapping capsules such as medicines with a plastic film and aluminum foil.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an outline of a capsule pack made by wrapping a capsule of medicine or the like with a plastic film and an aluminum foil. The capsule pack indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole is formed by welding a transparent film 10 and an aluminum foil 20. The film 10 has, for example, 10 pockets 1
2 is formed, and after the capsule 30 is put into each pocket 12, the aluminum foil 20 is welded to form a pack.

The packaging device feeds out a strip-shaped film, forms a pocket portion with a heat roll, inserts the capsule into the pocket with a capsule supply device, and then seals the upper surface of the pocket with a strip-shaped aluminum foil. After that, the sheet is cut into each pack. Since this series of operations is performed automatically, it is necessary to inspect whether each capsule has a capsule securely in the pocket, and to eliminate a pack with a missing lock as a defective product.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional sensor 50, which has a light projecting element 52 and a light receiving element 54 and constitutes an optical switch. That is, the light projecting element 52 emits outgoing light R ₁ such as infrared light, and when the infrared light enters the light receiving element 54 as reflected light R ₂ , the light receiving element 54 converts it into an electric signal and sends it to the determination circuit. . FIG. 6 shows a case where there is no capsule in the pocket 12 of the transparent film 10, and the emitted light R ₁
Penetrates through the transparent film pocket 12 and the aluminum foil 20
The reflected light R ₂ enters the light receiving element 54. It is detected that the capsule is missing in the pocket 12.

FIG. 7 shows a case where a solid tablet (hard capsule) 30 is contained in the pocket. The hard capsule has a structure in which the periphery of the drug is covered with sugar, for example, and is colored for identification. Since the hard capsule 30 is opaque, the light emitted from the light projecting element does not enter the light receiving element 54 even if reflected by the hard capsule. Therefore, the presence of the hard capsule can be detected by determining this signal.

[0006]

In recent years, so-called soft capsules, which are capsules containing a liquid drug, have been used. FIG. 8 shows a pack with a pocket 12 for a soft capsule, showing the pocket 12. In this state, the infrared emission light R ₁ from the light projecting element 52 is reflected by the aluminum foil 20, and the reflected light R ₂ is incident on the light receiving element. This can be detected to detect unlocking.

FIG. 9 shows the case where the soft capsule 30 is present in the pocket 12. Soft capsule 30
Has a transparent liquid inside, so that the infrared emission light R ₁
When received, diffuse reflection is caused and the whole is colored red.
However, most of the light is reflected by the surface of the aluminum foil 20, and the reflected light R ₂ enters the light receiving element 54. Therefore, it is difficult for the judging means to judge whether or not the soft capsule exists in the pocket. Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus that solves the above problems.

[0008]

The capsule inspection device of the present invention has an infrared light projecting element and an infrared light receiving element, and the light projecting element and the light receiving element are arranged so that their optical axes intersect at a substantially right angle. The basic means is to be installed in. The intersection of the optical axes of the light projecting element and the light receiving element is located at a position approximately 1/3 of the diameter of the capsule from the outer circumference of the capsule as a more specific means.

[0009]

When the capsule is present, it receives infrared rays and emits red reflected light to enter the light receiving element. When the capsule is unlocked, it is reflected by the aluminum foil and does not enter the light receiving element.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the outline of a capsule pack packaging apparatus of the present invention. A packaging apparatus, generally designated by the numeral 100, has a plastic film supply roll 110. The transparent plastic film 120 pulled out from this roll 110 is heated and plasticized while passing through the heating roll 125. The heated film is sent to the forming roll 130. Forming roll 130
Has a recess 132 corresponding to the shape of the pocket to be molded. The plastic film 120 that has passed through the molding roll 130 has pockets 122 at predetermined intervals.
Is formed.

The pocket 122 is provided with, for example, five pockets in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the capsule feeder 1.
40 puts the drug capsule 30 into each pocket 122 of the film 120 via the chute 142. The aluminum foil supply roll 150 disposed on the downstream side of the capsule supply device 140 includes a strip-shaped aluminum foil 160 and a seal roll 1.
Send it to 70. The seal roll 170 is pressed against the pressure roll 172 to form a pressure-bonding portion 175. The aluminum foil 160 is overlaid on the film 120 containing the capsule 30, and while passing through the pressure bonding portion 175,
The aluminum foil 160 and the film 120 are heat-sealed.

The heat-sealed capsule pack strip 200 passes through the unlocking inspection device 300 in this state. Strip 200 that has passed through the unlocking inspection device 300
Are separated by the punching die 400 for each pack and fall on the conveyor 500. The remaining strips 210 from which the pack has been cut off are cut and discarded by a cutter 420.
The pack dropped on the conveyor 500 is the conveyor 500.
Pass through the gate 600 provided at the exit of the.

The control device, which has been notified in advance that the defective pack with the unlocked key has been sent from the unlocked key inspection device 300,
The gate 600 is opened and the defective pack 1B having an unlocked portion is sorted according to the feeding timing of the pack. Gate 60
0 is normally closed and sends the non-defective pack 1A to the next step.

2 and 3 are explanatory views of the essential parts of the unlocking inspection device 300. The film 120 and the aluminum foil 160 are sealed, and the strip 200 is sent in the direction of arrow F along the upper surface of the guide rail 312. Guide rail 31
A V-shaped base 310 is disposed below 2, and the light projecting element 320 and the light receiving element 330 are arranged on the V-shaped base 310 so that their optical axes have an intersecting angle α substantially perpendicular to point A in the figure. It is attached so that it becomes.

When the strip 200 is sent and its pocket 122 reaches the unlocking inspection device, the control device emits a signal to project infrared rays from the light projecting element 320. The projection light R ₁ is projected toward the pocket 122 of the strip 200 through the opening 314 of the guide rail 312. When the capsule is unlocked in the pocket 122 of the strip 200, the projection light R ₁ is emitted by the strip 200.
It reaches the aluminum foil surface 160 and is reflected. This reflected light R
₂ does not pass on the optical axis of the light receiving element 330, and therefore, the light receiving element 320 does not emit an electric signal by light reception.

FIG. 3 shows a state where the soft capsule 30 is present in the pocket 122. The infrared ray R ₁ projected from the light projecting element 320 passes through the pocket 122 of the transparent film and projects the internal soft capsule 30. The soft capsule 30 has a transparent liquid medicine 32 enclosed therein.
The whole turns red. The reflected light R ₂ is received by the light receiving element 33.
When the light is incident on 0, the light receiving element 330 emits an electric signal.

By setting the intersection A of the optical axes of the light projecting element 320 and the light receiving element 330 at an appropriate position inside the soft capsule 30, the light receiving element 330 can accurately receive the reflected light R ₂ from the soft capsule 30. it can. This intersection A
The position of is, for example, 1/3 of the diameter of the capsule 30.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device of the unlocking inspection device of the present invention. The control device, generally designated by reference numeral 800, has a sensing circuit 810. This detection circuit 810 is
The signal from the light receiving element 330 is detected. In this embodiment, five detection circuits are provided according to the number of pockets 122 to be inspected. The logical sum circuit 830 puts the logical sum circuit 820 into a storable state when all the head positions of the capsules 30 in the pockets 122 of five rows are detected. The logical sum circuit 820 notifies the detection start to the display device 822, and the output is output to the logical product output holding unit. When the presence of capsules in 5 pockets is confirmed, product counter 85
0 is added.

When the output of each detection circuit 810 is stopped, the logical sum circuit 830 activates the release switch 832 and resets the logical product output holding unit 840. Product counter 8
When 50 is added, it is registered in the shift table 860. For example, if one pack has two rows of capsules, the shift table 860 issues a delimiter signal 862 to activate the release circuit 864 and confirms that the two rows of complete capsules have passed, and the product counter 850. To reset.

When the unlocking is detected, the shift table 860
Notifies the display device 866 to that effect and contacts the discharge circuit 880. Since the distance from the unlocking inspection device 300 to the discharge gate 600 is set in advance, and the number of packs flowing within that distance is given from the feed number setting circuit 870, the unlocked pack 1B corresponds to the gate 600.
At the timing of reaching, the ejection signal 882 is issued, the ejection circuit 880 is activated to switch the gate 600 in the direction of arrow G, and the defective pack 1B is eliminated.

[0021]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, according to the present invention, in the packaging device for the soft capsule in which the liquid content is enclosed, the unlocked state of the capsule in the pack can be surely detected, so that the production efficiency can be improved. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of a capsule packaging device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of an inspection device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the inspection device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device of the inspection device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a pack of soft capsules.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a conventional inspection device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a conventional inspection device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a conventional inspection device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of a conventional inspection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Capsule 12 Pocket 30 Capsule 100 Packaging Device 120 Plastic Film 130 Forming Roll 140 Capsule Supply Device 160 Aluminum Foil 170 Seal Roll 200 Strip 300 Unlocked Inspection Device 320 Light-Emitting Element 330 Light-Emitting Element 400 Pull-out 500 Conveyor 600 Gate 800 Control Device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 22, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 7 shows an opaque object to be packaged in a pocket.
(Sugar-coated tablets, etc.) The case where 30 is contained is shown. Opaque cover
The package 30 reflects the light emitted from the light emitting element on the outer peripheral surface.
However, the reflected light does not enter the light receiving element 54. Therefore, the presence of an opaque packaged object can be detected by determining this signal.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device of the unlocking inspection device of the present invention. The controller, generally indicated at 800, has a sensing circuit 810. The detection circuit 810 detects a signal from the light receiving element 330, and in the present embodiment, five detection circuits are provided according to the number of pockets 122 to be inspected. The OR circuit 830 has five rows of pockets 122.
When even one is detected at the head position of the capsule 30 inside, the logical sum circuit 830 sets the logical product output holding circuit 840 in a storable state. The logical product 820 notifies the display device 822 of the detection activation, and the output is output to the logical product output holding circuit . If the presence of the capsules in the five pockets is confirmed, the product counter 850 is incremented.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

When the output of each detection circuit 810 is stopped, the logical sum circuit 830 activates the release switch 832 and resets the logical product output holding circuit 840. When the product counter 850 is added, it is registered in the shift table 860. The shift table 860 may have, for example, two rows of capsules if one pack has two rows of capsules.
It was synchronized with the packaging device before the next detection activation.
The generation of the delimiter signal 862 confirms and registers. Delimiter signal 862 activates the release circuit 864, to reset the product counter 850.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for forming a pocket by thermoforming a strip-shaped plastic film, a capsule feeder for charging a capsule into the formed pocket, a means for feeding a strip-shaped aluminum foil, a plastic film and an aluminum foil. A capsule wrapping device equipped with a seal roll for adhering to each other, an unlocking inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of capsules in a sealed pocket, a device for separating a band-shaped pack, and a device for separating an unlocked pack, The inspection apparatus has an infrared light projecting element and an infrared light receiving element, and the light projecting element and the light receiving element are arranged so that their optical axes intersect at a substantially right angle. Inspection device. 2. The inspection device for a capsule packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the intersection of the optical axes of the light projecting element and the light receiving element is located at a position approximately 1/3 of the diameter dimension of the capsule from the outer circumference of the capsule.