JPS6350242B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to a tablet packaging machine.

[Prior Art] Generally, tablets come in various sizes, and the difference in volume between large and small tablets is more than 10 times. In addition, the amount of tablets used varies; for example, when a hospital pharmacy targets outpatients, the largest number of tablets used is as much as 10,000 tablets per day, while the smaller number of tablets used is only 5 to 6 tablets per month. There is also.

On the other hand, in conventional tablet packaging machines, the capacity of the tablet feeder is determined so that large tablets that are used in large quantities can be handled without being replenished too frequently, and all tablet feeders are unified to this capacity.
Therefore, even if small tablets are used in large quantities, and even if large tablets are used in small quantities, if the tablet feeder is filled to the brim, some tablets may remain in the feeder for a long period of time. In these cases, do not actually fill the tablet feeder to the full, as there is a risk that the tablets may deteriorate or become unsuitable for administration, especially if the tablets are small and the amount used is small. The reality is that only a small amount is kept in the feeder.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with such conventional devices, the capacity of the tablet feeder is not effectively utilized, except in the case of large tablets that are used in large quantities. This is disadvantageous in that it requires space, which is a serious hindrance to making the tablet packaging machine more compact or increasing the number of tablet feeders that can be handled.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional machines and to provide a tablet packaging machine that can appropriately select the capacity of the tablet feeder depending on the size of the tablets and the amount used.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a large number of tablet feeders installed on a plurality of shelves, and an actuating member provided at the installation site of each tablet feeder on each shelf. In a tablet packaging machine which discharges tablets from the tablet feeder and packages them by operation, the plurality of tablet feeders are classified into a plurality of types having different capacities. That is, it is composed of at least a small tablet feeder and a large tablet feeder, and the vertical spacing of the shelf where the small tablet feeder is installed is greater than the vertical spacing of the shelf where the large tablet feeder is installed. It is a small structure.

Further, in the present invention, a large number of tablet feeders are installed on a plurality of shelves, and tablets are ejected from the tablet feeder and packaged by actuation of an actuating member provided at the installation site of each tablet feeder on each shelf. In the tablet packaging machine that has become so popular, the plurality of tablet feeders are connected to the tablet feeder with the lowest height and one or more stages of auxiliary frames of a predetermined height above the tablet feeder with the lowest height. The height of each shelf can be adjusted according to the height of each tablet feeder installed on the shelf.

[Function] By employing the above-mentioned means, the present invention allows a tablet feeder with an appropriate capacity to be selected depending on the size of the tablets to be accommodated therein and the amount to be used.

Further, according to the present invention, the height of the tablet feeder can be freely adjusted, and the height of the shelf on which the tablet feeder is installed can also be freely adjusted.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. This tablet packaging machine 1 is provided with a plurality of rows of vertical drawers 3, 3, . . . arranged horizontally adjacent to each other above a packaging device 2. When the vertical drawer 3 is unlocked by pressing a lock button 4 provided on the front thereof and then pulling a handle 5 toward the user, the vertical drawer 3 is pulled out forward along a rail (not shown). Each vertical drawer body 3 is provided with multiple shelves 6, 6,..., and each shelf 6
, a plurality of tablet feeders 7, 7, . . . are installed at predetermined installation locations, respectively.

Tablet feeders 7, 7, ... are shown in Fig. 4 a, b, c.
As shown in , there is an S-type (small) tablet feeder 7S with a low height, an M-type (medium-sized) tablet feeder 7M with a medium height, and an L-type (large) tablet feeder 7L with a high height. The volume is classified into three types depending on the height.

The shelves 6, 6, ... are shelves 6S with a height suitable for installing the tablet feeder 7S (distance between upper and lower shelves), and shelves 6 with a height suitable for installing the tablet feeder 7M.
M and a shelf 6L having a height suitable for installing the tablet feeder 7L, and these are set in advance for each vertical drawer 3, 3, . . . . That is, the vertical distance between the shelves 6M on which the M type (medium size) tablet feeder 7M is installed is smaller than the vertical distance between the shelves 6L on which the L type (large) tablet feeder 7L is installed.
The vertical distance between the shelves 6S on which the type (small) tablet feeder 7S is installed is smaller than the vertical distance between the shelves 6M on which the M type (medium size) tablet feeder 7M is installed.

The tablet feeders 7, 7, . . . on each shelf 6 are provided with actuating members 8, 8, . . . for discharging tablets from the tablet feeders 7, 7, . As shown in FIGS. 7 to 7, an identifier 9 for identifying the tablet feeder 7 installed therein is provided.

In the discriminator 9, eight Hall elements 11, 11, . are arranged evenly in the circumferential direction. On the other hand, on the bottom surface of each tablet feeder 7, Hall elements 11, 11, .
A permanent magnet piece (rubber magnet) 14 is disposed at only one location on the circumference corresponding to the hall element 12, 12, . . . Net) 15,1
5,... are arranged. The permanent magnet piece 14 indicates the origin position in the circumferential direction, and the permanent magnet pieces 15, 15, . . . It is shown in binary code of bits.

The identification information of the tablet feeders 7, 7, ... installed at the installation location on each shelf 6 is obtained by the identifiers 9, 9, ...
are stored in the control member 16 provided for each shelf 6, and the control member 16 uses this stored identification information to individually control the actuating members 8, 8, . . . on the shelf 6. When activated, tablets are discharged from the corresponding tablet feeder 7. The ejected tablets then pass through the openings 17 provided at the installation site of each tablet feeder 7 and pass behind the shelves 6, 6, . . . in each vertical drawer 3 (when viewed from the front of the vertical drawer 3). It enters a duct 18 provided on either the left or right side, penetrating between the top and bottom, and falls through the duct 18 into a common hopper 19.

In the lower part of the vertical drawer 3 in the third row from the left when viewed from the front, there is a tablet feeder for tablets that are rarely prescribed, easily broken by slight force, or have a special shape. A dispensing container 20 and a bucket conveyor 21 are provided for handling tablet types unsuitable for storage in the containers 7, 7, .

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the distribution container 20 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the vertical drawer 3 along a rail (not shown) into which the rail groove 22 is fitted,
Also, a plurality of compartments 24, 2 (in the illustrated embodiment, 21 compartments) are partitioned by partition plates 23, 23, .
4,... are arranged in parallel. Partition plates 23, 23,...
are formed with approximately circular holes 25, 25, . . . , and a trough-like body 26 having an approximately semicircular arc cross section extends through these holes 25, 25, .
Provided for the bottom plate common to 24,..., the gutter-like body 2
6 has substantially circular partition plates 27, 27, . . . fixed thereto that substantially close the holes 25, 25, . When the knob 28 provided at the front end of the distribution container 20 is turned, the gutter-like body 26 rotates approximately 180 degrees around the central axis of the partition plates 27, 27, etc. and is turned upside down, thereby opening the compartment 24. , 24, . . . The tablets stored in the tablets are allowed to fall downward at once. 29 is a lid of the distribution container 20.

The bucket conveyor 21 has a large number of buckets 30 arranged in an endless arrangement below the distribution container 20 such that 21 buckets 30, 30, . . . are located directly below the compartments 24, 24, . When the motor 31 receives a drive signal from an appropriate control device (not shown), the motor 31 is driven, and the tablets in the bucket 30 are intermittently transported forward one bucket at a time, and the tablets in the bucket 30 coming to the front end are sequentially transferred into the common hopper 19. It is designed to fall.

The packaging device 2 includes a winding frame 33 around which the packaging strip 32 is wound, a feeding mechanism 34 that feeds and sends the packaging strip 32 from the winding frame 33, and a winding frame 33 around which the packaging strip 32 is wound.
A partition line welding mechanism 35 that forms a vertical partition line in the
, a printing mechanism 36 that prints various data on the divided packages of the packaging strip 32, and a common hopper 1.
Tablet loading mechanism 3 for loading the tablets in 9 into the sachet
7, an enclosing line welding mechanism 38 for sealing the upper edge opening of the sachet into which tablets have been inserted, an ejection port 39 for the sealed sachet, and a viewing window 40, each mechanism 34- 39 are operated in a predetermined order and at a predetermined timing by control signals from an appropriate control device (not shown).

Next, the operation of the above will be explained.

First, small tablets that are used in small quantities are stored in the S-type tablet feeder 7S and placed on the shelf 6S, and small tablets that are used in large quantities and large tablets that are used in small quantities are stored in the M-type tablet feeder 7M. Large tablets that are stored and installed on shelf 6M are used in L-type tablet feeder 7L.
and install it on shelf 6L. In this way, the capacity of each tablet feeder 7S, 7M, 7L can be used effectively without waste, and each shelf 6S,
The heights of 6M and 6L (the distance between the upper and lower shelves) will also be effectively utilized.

Then, when a tablet ejection signal is transmitted from an appropriate control device (not shown) to the control member 16 of a predetermined shelf 6, the control member 16 selects the shelf 6 stored in advance through the discriminators 9, 9, . . . Tablets are ejected from the tablet feeder 7 corresponding to the tablet ejection signal using the identification information of the tablet feeders 7, 7, . Then, the package is put into the package of the packaging device 2 and sealed.

10 and 11 show another embodiment of the present invention, and this tablet packaging machine 51 includes a tablet feeder 57,
57,... are configured with five different heights, and the shelves 56, 56,... are configured so that the height can be adjusted according to the height of the tablet feeders 57, 57,... installed thereon. Except for this point, the tablet packaging machine 1 is otherwise the same as the tablet packaging machine 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, so illustration of each part is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the tablet feeders 57, 57, ... are an SS type tablet feeder 57SS with the lowest height, an S type tablet feeder 57S with a slightly lower height, and an M tablet feeder with a medium height. The tablet feeder 57M is classified into a type tablet feeder 57M, an L type tablet feeder 57L which is slightly taller, and an LL type tablet feeder 57LL which has the highest height.
The tablet feeder 57SS is composed of a single unit,
The tablet feeder 57S is constructed by adding one stage of auxiliary frame 57A of a predetermined height to the top of the tablet feeder 57SS, and the tablet feeder 57M is constructed by adding one stage of auxiliary frame 57A to the top of the tablet feeder 57SS.
The tablet feeder 57L is constructed by adding two auxiliary frames 57A to the top of the SS.
The tablet feeder 57LL is constructed by adding three auxiliary frames 57A to the top of the SS.
It is constructed by adding four auxiliary frames 57A to the top of the SS. 57C is a lid.

As shown in FIG. 10, the shelves 56, 56, . . .
Tablet feeder 57SS, 57S, 57M, 57L,
It is configured so that the height can be adjusted to the appropriate height (distance between upper and lower shelves) to install any one of 57LL of any height, and the opening 6
Since the shelves 56, 56, etc. are provided continuously above and below, no matter how high the shelves 56, 56,... are adjusted, the tablets discharged from the tablet feeders 57, 57,... 67, 67, . . . into the duct 68.

This tablet packaging machine 51 classifies tablets into five types of volumes required to accommodate them based on their size and amount used.
Tablet feeder 57SS stores these tablets by type.
Shelf 5 that is classified and stored in 57S, 57M, 57L, and 57LL and adjusted to the required height.
6, 56, etc., respectively. In this way, each tablet feeder 57SS, 57S, 57M,
The heights of the shelves 57L and 57LL are effectively utilized without waste, and the heights of the shelves 56, 56, . . . are also effectively utilized.

In this case, the tablet feeders 57S, 57
M, 57L, and 57LL are not constructed individually, but are constructed by adding one to four stages of auxiliary frames 57A to the top of the tablet feeder 57SS. Tablet feeder 57SS, 57S, 57M, 57L, 5
The number of 7LLs can be freely selected. Moreover, the heights of the shelves 56, 56, ... are not fixedly set in advance, but can be freely adjusted according to the free selection of the tablet feeders 57SS, 57S, 57M, 57L, 57LL. As a result, the tablet accommodating space of the tablet packaging machine 51 can be utilized most effectively.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the tablet feeders 7, 7,...
is composed of three types, 7S, 7M, and 7L, but it may be composed of two or four or more types, for example.
Also, these types differ not only in height, but also in cross-sectional area, for example.
In addition, in the case of tablets that differ only in height, one or more auxiliary frames of a predetermined height are added above the tablet feeder with the lowest height, such as tablet feeders 57, 57, etc. It's okay. Further, the discriminator 9 is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and the discriminator 9 may not be used, and the tablets may be ejected from the tablet feeder 7 in response to the tablet ejection signal. Further, the control member 16 need not be provided for each shelf 6, and the distribution container 20 and bucket conveyor 21 are not limited to those of the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tablet feeders 57, 5
7,...57SS, 57S, 57M, 57L, 5
7LL, but it is not limited to this, and moreover, instead of adding one or more auxiliary frames 57A of a predetermined height to the top of the tablet feeder 57SS, which has the lowest height, the tablet feeder 7S, 7
It goes without saying that the present invention may be constructed as a single unit with a predetermined height, such as M and 7L, and that the present invention can be modified in various ways to the above embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to select a tablet feeder with an appropriate capacity depending on the size of tablets and the amount used. The vertical spacing between the shelves can be used effectively, and the tablet packaging machine can be configured more compactly, or the number of tablet feeders that can be handled can be increased to handle a wider variety of tablets than conventional ones. Or, it is possible to create a tablet feeder with a larger capacity than the conventional one without reducing the types of tablets handled, reducing the number of times to replenish large tablets that are used in large quantities. It is effective.

In addition, the height of the tablet feeder is adjustable, and the height of each shelf can be adjusted according to the height of the tablet feeder installed on it.
In addition to the above effects, the user of the tablet packaging machine can freely adjust the height of each tablet feeder and the height of each shelf. This has effects such as being able to make the most effective use of the internal space of the packaging machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a perspective view of one vertical drawer body pulled out halfway, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional front view of the vertical drawer body shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical drawer body shown in Figure 1. Fig. 4 a, b, c are perspective views showing the types of tablet feeders; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the main parts; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the discriminator shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tablet feeder shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the dispensing container and bucket conveyor, and FIG.
Vertical front view of the assembled state of the one in the figure, Nos. 10 and 11
The figures show other embodiments of the invention, FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view showing that the height of the shelf is adjustable, and FIG.
The figure is a developed explanatory view of the tablet feeder. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,51...Tablet packaging machine, 2...Packaging device, 3...Vertical drawer, 4...Lock button, 5...Handle, 6,6
S, 6M, 6L, 56...Shelf, 7, 7S, 7M, 7
L, 57, 57SS, 57S, 57M, 57L,
57LL...Tablet feeder, 57C...Lid, 8...Operation member, 9...Identifier, 10...Circular recess, 11, 12
... Hall element, 13 ... Circular convex part, 14, 15 ... Permanent magnet piece, 16 ... Control member, 17, 67 ... Opening,
18, 68...Duct, 19...Common hopper, 20...
Distribution container, 21...bucket conveyor, 22...rail groove, 23...partition plate, 24...compartment chamber, 25...hole,
26...Gutter-shaped body, 27...Partition plate, 28...Knob, 2
9...Lid, 30...Bucket, 31...Motor, 32...
Packaging strip, 33... Winding frame, 34... Feeding mechanism, 35
. . . Compartment line welding mechanism, 36 .

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A large number of tablet feeders are installed on a plurality of shelves, and tablets are ejected from the tablet feeders and separated by actuation of an actuating member provided at the installation site of each tablet feeder on each shelf. In the tablet packaging machine, the large number of tablet feeders is composed of at least a small tablet feeder and a large tablet feeder, and the vertical spacing between the shelves on which the small tablet feeders are installed is is configured to be smaller than the vertical distance of the shelf on which the large tablet feeder is installed. 2. A large number of tablet feeders are installed on multiple shelves, and tablets are ejected from the tablet feeders and packaged by actuation of an operating member provided at the installation site of each tablet feeder on each shelf. In a tablet packaging machine, the plurality of tablet feeders are formed by adding a tablet feeder having the lowest height and one or more stages of auxiliary frames having a predetermined height above the tablet feeder having the lowest height. 1. A tablet packaging machine comprising a feeder, and each shelf is configured to be height adjustable according to the height of each of the tablet feeders installed thereon.