WO2018030096A1

WO2018030096A1 - Packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2018030096A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/026155
Authority: WO
Inventors: 伸治岩崎; 秀幸菊池; 佐藤　輝明
Original assignee: 株式会社タカゾノテクノロジー
Priority date: 2016-08-09
Filing date: 2017-07-19
Publication date: 2018-02-15
Also published as: CN109562853B; KR20190038611A; JP2018024448A; JP6714291B2; CN109562853A; US20190185193A1

Abstract

Provided is a packaging apparatus that is capable of reducing the amount used of a packing material. The packaging apparatus is provided with a printing unit. The printing unit is capable of printing, on the packing material, information related to an object to be packaged at a normal printing position and an initial printing position that is further downstream in the transport direction (DR) than the normal printing position. The printing unit prints the information for a first package at the initial printing position, and prints information for second and subsequent packages at the normal printing position.

Description

Packaging equipment

The present invention relates to a packaging device for packaging an object to be packaged in a packaging material.

The conventional medicine packaging device supplies medicine to the packaging paper and heat-seals the packaging paper while feeding the packaging paper along the transfer path. Thus, a sachet containing the medicine is formed. A printer head is provided in the transport path of the wrapper. The printer head is located upstream in the transport direction of the packaging paper with respect to the position where the medicine is supplied to the packaging paper. The printer head prints information on the wrapping paper. A conventional technique related to a medicine packaging device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-200526 (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-3-2000052

In the conventional medicine packaging apparatus, as described above, the printer head is located upstream in the transport direction of the packaging paper with respect to the position where the medicine is supplied to the packaging paper. Therefore, the information corresponding to the first package is printed on the wrapping paper, and the printed portion of this information is sent to the position where the medicine is supplied to the wrapping paper. It will be supplied to the wrapper. Therefore, because of the structure, the wrapping paper is wasted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that can reduce the amount of packaging material used.

The packaging apparatus according to the present invention accommodates a packaging object using a packaging material conveyance unit that conveys a long sheet-shaped packaging material in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material, and a packaging material that is conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit. The storage unit forming unit that forms the storage unit, and information related to the packaging object is printed on the packaging material that is provided upstream of the storage unit forming unit in the transport direction of the packaging material and is transported by the packaging material transport unit. And a printing section. The printing unit can perform printing at the normal printing position and the initial printing position downstream in the transport direction from the normal printing position. The printing unit prints the information for the first package at the initial printing position, and prints the information for the second and subsequent packages at the normal printing position.

In the above packaging apparatus, the storage portion forming portion forms a package with the storage portion formed therein. Normal printing position, starting from a point that is an integer multiple of the width in the conveyance direction of the package, upstream of the conveyance direction from the boundary formation point at which the container forming unit forms the boundary between adjacent packages in the conveyance direction Is defined. The initial print position is defined as a position downstream of the normal print position in the transport direction by a distance shorter than the width in the transport direction of the package. After the printing unit performs printing at the initial printing position, the packaging material conveyance unit conveys the packaging material by a distance obtained by subtracting the distance between the initial printing position and the normal printing position from the width in the conveyance direction of the package. Thereafter, the operation in which the printing unit performs printing at the normal printing position and the operation in which the packaging material transport unit transports the packaging material by the width in the transport direction of the package are alternately repeated.

In the above packaging apparatus, the printing unit has a print head and a head moving unit that moves the print head in the conveying direction of the packaging material. The range in which the print head is movable includes a print range at the normal print position and a print range at the initial print position.

In said packaging apparatus, the width | variety in the conveyance direction of a package is changeable.
In the above packaging apparatus, the packaging object is a medicine, and the medicine is packaged based on a prescription.

The packaging device of the present invention can reduce the amount of packaging material used.

It is a schematic block diagram of the packaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view of the chemical | medical agent supply part and the accommodating part formation part in the packaging apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the perforation formation part in the packaging apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the printing part in the packaging apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the packaging apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the printing to a packaging material. It is a schematic diagram which shows arrangement | positioning with the initial printing position and normal printing position in a conveyance direction. It is a schematic diagram which shows a printing position when the width | variety in the conveyance direction of a package is changed. It is a 1st figure which shows the printing operation by the printing part at the time of forming a package. It is a 2nd figure which shows the printing operation by the printing part at the time of forming a package. It is a 3rd figure which shows the printing operation by the printing part at the time of forming a package. It is a 4th figure which shows the printing operation by the printing part at the time of forming a package. It is a 5th figure which shows the printing operation by the printing part at the time of forming a package.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a packaging device 1 according to the embodiment.
The packaging device 1 is used for packaging an object to be packaged. The package object is a drug, specifically, a solid drug. Examples of solid drugs include powders, granules, tablets, pills and capsules. The packaging object is not limited to a solid drug. The package object may be a semi-solid drug or a liquid drug.

The packaging device 1 is a drug packaging device for packaging a drug based on a prescription. The prescription is what the doctor gives to the patient. The prescription includes patient information and drug information. Patient information includes the name and age of the patient. The drug information includes the drug name, dosage, usage and dose. The packaging device 1 is used for packaging a medicine for each dose based on such a prescription.

The packaging device 1 includes a packaging material transport unit 8. The packaging material transport unit 8 applies a driving force to the packaging material 2 to transport the packaging material 2. The packaging material 2 has a long sheet shape. The packaging material 2 is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. The packaging material 2 is sent out from the packaging material roll 3. The packaging material roll 3 is obtained by winding the packaging material 2 in a roll shape. An arrow in FIG. 1 indicates the conveyance direction DR of the packaging material 2. Hereinafter, the transport direction DR of the packaging material 2 is simply referred to as “transport direction DR”. The upstream side in the transport direction DR (side closer to the packaging material roll 3) is simply referred to as “upstream”. The downstream side (the side away from the packaging material roll 3) in the transport direction DR is simply referred to as “downstream”.

The packaging device 1 further includes a printing unit 4, a medicine supply unit 5, and a storage unit forming unit 6. From the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction DR, the printing unit 4, the medicine supply unit 5, and the storage unit forming unit 6 are arranged in this order. The printing unit 4 prints predetermined information on the packaging material 2 conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit 8. The predetermined information is information related to the medicine. The medicine supply unit 5 supplies the medicine to the packaging material 2 conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit 8. The medicine is supplied for each dose based on a prescription. The accommodating part forming part 6 forms an accommodating part using the packaging material 2 conveyed by the packaging material conveying part 8. A medicine is accommodated in the accommodating portion. After the medicine is supplied from the medicine supply unit 5, the container forming part 6 heat-seals the packaging material 2 to form a package containing the medicine inside.

The packaging device 1 further includes a perforation forming portion 7. The perforation forming part 7 is provided in the accommodating part forming part 6. The perforation forming unit 7 forms a perforation extending in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction DR on the packaging material 2 conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit 8. The perforation is one in which a plurality of pores are continuously arranged in the short direction of the packaging material 2.

In such a packaging apparatus 1, the packaging unit 9 is configured by the accommodation unit forming unit 6, the perforation forming unit 7, and the packaging material transport unit 8.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the medicine supply unit 5 and the storage unit forming unit 6 in the packaging device 1 shown in FIG.

In the medicine supply position where the medicine supply unit 5 supplies the medicine 100 to the packaging material 2, the packaging material 2 is folded in two along the center line in the short direction of the packaging material 2. Both lateral edges 2a of the packaging material 2 are located above the lateral center 2b of the packaging material 2 and are separated from each other. As a result, an opening 2c is formed in the packaging material 2 so as to face upward.

The packaging material 2 may be folded in advance. In this case, the packaging material 2 folded in half is sent out from the packaging material roll 3 in which the packaging material 2 folded in advance is wound into a roll shape.

Alternatively, the packaging material 2 may be folded in half along the conveyance path. In this case, the packaging material 2 is wound in a roll shape without being folded in two. The packaging material 2 is sent out from the packaging material roll 3 thus manufactured. A mechanism for folding the packaging material 2 in half is provided upstream of the medicine supply position. The packaging material 2 delivered from the packaging material roll 3 is folded in two upstream from the medicine supply position.

The medicine supply unit 5 includes a supply unit main body (not shown) and a hopper 51. The supply unit main body supplies the medicine 100. The hopper 51 guides the medicine 100 supplied from the supply unit main body to the packaging material 2. The hopper 51 has a medicine inlet 52 through which the medicine 100 is introduced into the packaging material 2 at the tip thereof. The medicine inlet 52 is disposed so as to enter the inside of the folded packaging material 2. The chemical | medical agent 100 supplied from the supply part main body passes the opening 2c of the packaging material 2 by being guide | induced by the hopper 51, and enters the inside of the packaging material 2 folded in half.

The accommodating part forming part 6 has a heating member 61, a receiving member 62, and a pressure motor 65. The heating member 61 incorporates a heater 61a (see FIG. 5 described later). The receiving member 62 is a member that receives the heating member 61. The heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 are arranged to face each other with the packaging material 2 interposed therebetween. The pressure motor 65 drives the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62. The heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 driven by the pressurizing motor 65 pressurize the packaging material 2 from both sides or separate it from the packaging material 2.

The heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 are each substantially T-shaped. Each of the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 has a longitudinal direction portion 63 and a lateral direction portion 64. The longitudinal part 63 constitutes a T-shaped horizontal bar part and extends in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. The longitudinal portion 63 extends in the transport direction DR. The short-side portion 64 constitutes a T-shaped vertical bar portion and extends in the short-side direction of the packaging material 2. The short direction portion 64 extends in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction DR. The longitudinal portion 63 of the heating member 61 and the longitudinal portion 63 of the receiving member 62 are arranged to face each other with the packaging material 2 interposed therebetween. The short-side portion 64 of the heating member 61 and the short-side portion 64 of the receiving member 62 are arranged to face each other with the packaging material 2 interposed therebetween.

In such a housing part forming part 6, the heating member 61 is heated by the heater 61a. In this state, the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 press the packaging material 2 from both sides. As a result, the packaging material 2 is formed with a longitudinal fusion portion 23 and a transverse fusion portion 24. The longitudinal fusion part 23 is formed by heat-sealing a part of the packaging material 2 sandwiched between the longitudinal part 63 of the heating member 61 and the longitudinal part 63 of the receiving member 62. The longitudinal fusion part 23 closes the opening 2 c of the packaging material 2. The short-side fused portion 24 is formed by heat-sealing a part of the packaging material 2 sandwiched between the short-side portion 64 of the heating member 61 and the short-side portion 64 of the receiving member 62. The short direction fusion part 24 partitions the inside of the packaging material 2 into a downstream side and an upstream side.

Thereby, the packaging material 2 is partitioned by the fold of the packaging material 2 folded in two, the longitudinal fusion part 23, and the two short direction fusion parts 24 arranged in the transport direction DR, and the package 21 is formed. Is done. The short direction fusion part 24 forms a boundary between the packages 21 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. A container 22 is formed inside the package 21, and the medicine 100 is stored in the container 22. The accommodating part 22 accommodates the chemical | medical agent 100 which is a packaging target object.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the perforation forming part 7 in the packaging device 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows the arrangement of the perforation forming portion 7 when the perforation 25 is not formed on the packaging material 2. FIG. 3B shows the arrangement of the perforation forming portion 7 when the perforation 25 is formed in the packaging material 2.

As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the perforation forming portion 7 has a perforation forming blade 71. The perforation forming blade 71 is provided in the short direction portion 64 of the receiving member 62. The perforation forming blade 71 is located at the center in the width direction of the short direction portion 64 of the receiving member 62. The perforation forming blade 71 extends in the lateral direction of the packaging material 2. The heating member 61 is formed with a slit groove 72 in which a part of the surface facing the packaging material 2 is recessed. The slit groove 72 extends in the short direction of the packaging material 2.

The perforation forming blade 71 is pressed against the packaging material 2 when the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 pressurize the packaging material 2 from both sides. When the cutting edge of the perforation forming blade 71 protrudes from the receiving member 62 and penetrates the packaging material 2 in the thickness direction, the perforation 25 is formed in the packaging material 2. At this time, the cutting edge of the perforation forming blade 71 has moved to the inside of the slit groove 72 as shown in FIG. The perforation forming blade 71 is driven by the pressure motor 65 in the same manner as the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62, and moves relative to the receiving member 62. The perforation 25 is formed at the center in the width direction of the short-side fused portion 24. By cutting the packaging material 2 along the perforations 25, the adjacent packages 21 are easily separated.

The perforation forming blade 71 may not be provided on the receiving member 62. For example, the perforation forming blade 71 disposed downstream of the accommodating portion forming portion 6 may be configured to form the perforation 25 at the center portion in the width direction of the short-side fusion portion 24 already formed. In this case, the perforation forming unit 7 further includes a drive unit for driving the perforation forming blade 71 in addition to the perforation forming blade 71.

2, the packaging material transport unit 8 includes a pair of transport rollers 81 and a transport motor 82. The pair of transport rollers 81 are disposed to face each other with the packaging material 2 interposed therebetween. The conveyance motor 82 rotationally drives the pair of conveyance rollers 81. The packaging material 2 is conveyed by the conveyance motor 82 rotationally driving the pair of conveyance rollers 81.

In such a packaging unit 9 (FIG. 1), the packaging material conveyance unit 8 conveys the packaging material 2 intermittently. When the conveyance of the packaging material 2 is stopped, the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 pressurize the packaging material 2 from both sides. At this time, the perforation forming blade 71 is pressed against the packaging material 2. As a result, the packaging material 2 is formed with the longitudinal fusion portions 23 extending in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2, and the short-side fusion portions 24 are arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. In addition, perforations 25 are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. In this way, a plurality of packages 21 are formed in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2.

The package 21 is a portion between the transverse fusion parts 24 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2 and a portion between the perforations 25 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. The short-side fused portion 24 serves as a boundary between the packages 21 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2. The short direction portion 64 of the heating member 61 and the short direction portion 64 of the receiving member 62 have a function as a boundary forming portion that forms a boundary of the package 21 arranged in the transport direction DR. A point where the perforation forming blade 71 is arranged in the transport direction DR is referred to as a boundary forming point.

Here, the length between the center portions in the width direction of the short-side fused portions 24 adjacent to each other in the transport direction DR is referred to as the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR. The width W indicates the length between the perforations 25 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printing unit 4 in the packaging device 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The printing unit 4 thermally transfers the ink of the ink ribbon 45 onto the packaging material 2 using a thermal head 41 that is a printing head.

The printing unit 4 includes a thermal head 41 and a platen roller 44. The thermal head 41 has a plurality of heating elements. The platen roller 44 supports the packaging material 2. The thermal head 41 and the platen roller 44 are disposed to face each other with the ink ribbon 45 and the packaging material 2 interposed therebetween.

The printing unit 4 further includes a head contact / separation motor 42 and a head movement motor 43. The head contact / separation motor 42 reciprocates the thermal head 41 in the thickness direction of the packaging material 2 (vertical direction in FIG. 4), and moves it between the pressure contact position and the separation position. The pressure contact position is a position where the thermal head 41 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 44 via the ink ribbon 45 and the packaging material 2. The separation position is a position where the thermal head 41 is separated from the platen roller 44. A head moving motor 43 that is a head moving unit reciprocates the thermal head 41 and the platen roller 44 in the transport direction DR (the left-right direction in FIG. 4) of the packaging material 2. The movable range in which the thermal head 41 can move includes a print range WA at a normal print position, which will be described later, and a print range WB at an initial print position.

The printing unit 4 further includes a ribbon supply shaft 46, a ribbon winding shaft 47, guide

rollers

48 and 49, and a winding motor 47a. The ribbon supply shaft 46 supplies the ink ribbon 45. The ribbon take-up shaft 47 takes up the ink ribbon 45. The

guide rollers

48 and 49 are provided between the ribbon supply shaft 46 and the ribbon take-up shaft 47 and guide the ink ribbon 45. The winding motor 47a rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft 47. When the take-up motor 47 a rotates the ribbon take-up shaft 47, the ink ribbon 45 is conveyed from the ribbon supply shaft 46 to the ribbon take-up shaft 47.

In such a printing unit 4, the thermal head 41 is moved to the press contact position. In this state, the thermal head is moved along the conveyance path of the packaging material 2. At this time, the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head are selectively heated. As a result, predetermined information related to the medicine 100 that is the packaging object is printed on the packaging material 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the packaging device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the packaging device 1 includes an operation unit 91 and an overall control unit 90.

The operation unit 91 is operated by an operator who operates the packaging device 1. Information required for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 is input to the overall control unit 90 by operating the operation unit 91 by the operator. Information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 includes prescription data based on a prescription and various setting information. The setting information includes a setting interval and print contents. The width dimension of the package 21 is determined according to the set interval. Information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1 may be input to the overall control unit 90 from an external computer.

The overall control unit 90 controls the overall operation of the packaging device 1 based on information necessary for the packaging operation of the packaging device 1. The overall control unit 90 controls the medicine supply unit 5, the packaging unit 9, and the printing unit 4.

The overall control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the medicine supply unit 5 and instructs the type and quantity of the medicine 100 to be supplied by the medicine supply unit 5. The overall control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the packaging unit 9 so that the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR becomes a predetermined value. The width W may be a value input via the operation unit 91 or may be a value set by the overall control unit 90 based on the type and quantity of the medicine 100, for example.

The packaging unit 9 has a packaging control unit 96. The packaging control unit 96 controls the heater 61a, the pressure motor 65, and the transport motor 82 based on a control signal from the overall control unit 90. The packaging material 2 is packaged by appropriately driving and stopping the heater 61a, the pressure motor 65, and the conveyance motor 82.

The printing unit 4 has a print control unit 94. The print control unit 94 controls the thermal head 41, the head contact / separation motor 42, the head moving motor 43, and the winding motor 47a based on a control signal from the overall control unit 90. Information 110 related to the medicine 100 is printed on the packaging material 2 by appropriately driving and stopping the heating element of the thermal head 41, the head contact / separation motor 42, the head moving motor 43, and the winding motor 47a.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of printing on the packaging material 2.
In the packaging material 2, a print range 29 indicated by a two-dot chain line rectangle in FIG. 6 is set. Predetermined information 110 is printed in the print range 29. The predetermined information 110 is information related to the medicine 100 stored in the storage unit 22 of the package 21. Examples of information 110 related to the drug 100 include a patient's name, drug name, and usage.

The printing range 29 is set in the package formation scheduled portion 21a. The package formation scheduled portion 21 a is a portion set on the packaging material 2, and is a portion where one package 21 is scheduled to be configured. The package formation scheduled portion 21a is defined by a boundary formation scheduled portion 25a adjacent in the transport direction DR.

6 is a portion set on the packaging material 2, and a portion where the boundary of the package 21 adjacent in the transport direction DR is planned to be formed. It is. That is, the boundary formation scheduled portion 25a is formed with a portion that is planned to be a central portion in the conveyance direction DR of the short-side fused portion 24 or a perforation 25 formed by the perforation forming portion 7. Is the planned part. The distance between the boundary formation scheduled portions 25a adjacent in the transport direction DR corresponds to the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR.

A margin is provided around the printing range 29. An upstream margin 27 is provided on the upstream side of the printing range 29. The upstream margin 27 is a margin from the upstream boundary formation planned portion 25 a to the upstream end of the printing range 29 in the package formation planned portion 21 a. A downstream margin 28 is provided on the downstream side of the printing range 29. The downstream margin 28 is a margin from the downstream boundary formation portion 25 a to the downstream end of the printing range 29 in the package formation formation portion 21 a.

6 indicates the width of the upstream margin 27 in the transport direction DR, and the width w2 indicates the width of the downstream margin 28 in the transport direction DR. The width w1 of the upstream margin 27 and the width w2 of the downstream margin 28 may be the same or different.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the initial printing position and the normal printing position in the transport direction DR. The scaled straight line extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 7 indicates each point in the transport direction DR of the packaging material 2. The boundary formation point F shown in FIG. 7 shows the point where the accommodating part formation part 6 forms the boundary of the package 21 adjacent in the conveyance direction DR. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the boundary formation point F may be a point where the perforation forming blade 71 is disposed in the transport direction DR.

A point that is separated from the boundary formation point F by a distance LA1 that is n times the width W in the transport direction DR of the package 21 upstream of the transport direction DR is the first base point P1. Here, n is an integer of 1 or more. The normal printing position is defined with the first base point P1 as a base point. More specifically, the first base point P1 forms the upstream end of the normal printing position in the transport direction DR. A point that is separated from the first base point P1 by a width W in the transport direction DR of the package 21 downstream of the transport direction DR is a second base point P2. The second base point P2 forms the downstream end of the normal printing position in the transport direction DR. The second base point P2 is a point away from the boundary formation point F by a distance LA2 that is (n−1) times the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR upstream of the transport direction DR. The distance between the first base point P1 and the second base point P2 corresponds to the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR.

Between the distance LA1 and the width W, the relational expression LA1 = nW is established. A relational expression LA2 = (n−1) W is established between the distance LA2 and the width W. A relational expression LA2 = LA1-W is established between the distance LA1 and the distance LA2.

The point separated from the first base point P1 by the width w1 of the upstream margin 27 (FIG. 6) in the transport direction DR and downstream of the transport direction DR is the upstream end Pa1 of the print range WA at the normal print position. A point away from the second base point P2 by the width w2 of the downstream margin 28 (FIG. 6) in the transport direction DR upstream of the transport direction DR is the downstream end Pa2 of the print range WA in the normal print position.

The initial printing position is a position downstream of the normal printing position in the transport direction DR. A point separated from the first base point P1 by a distance L shorter than the width W in the transport direction DR of the package 21 downstream of the transport direction DR is a third base point P3. The third base point P3 forms the upstream end of the initial printing position in the transport direction DR. A point separated from the second base point P2 by a distance L downstream in the transport direction DR is a fourth base point P4. The fourth base point P4 forms the downstream end of the initial printing position in the transport direction DR. The distance between the third base point P3 and the fourth base point P4 corresponds to the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR.

The point separated from the third base point P3 by the width w1 of the upstream margin 27 (FIG. 6) in the transport direction DR and downstream of the transport direction DR is the upstream end Pb1 of the print range WB at the initial print position. A point separated from the fourth base point P4 by the width w2 of the downstream margin 28 (FIG. 6) in the transport direction DR upstream of the transport direction DR is the downstream end Pb2 of the print range WB at the initial print position.

The printing unit 4 is capable of printing at the normal printing position and the initial printing position, which is a downstream position from the normal printing position. The normal printing position is a range between the first base point P1 and the second base point P2 in the transport direction DR. The initial printing position is a range between the third base point P3 and the fourth base point P4 in the transport direction DR. The initial printing position is a position downstream of the normal printing position by a distance L shorter than the width W in the conveying direction DR of the package 21 in the conveying direction DR.

The predetermined limit position is determined according to the structure of the packaging device 1. This limit position is determined as a position where printing by the printing unit 4 is impossible because the printing unit 4 interferes with the hopper 51 of the medicine supply unit 5 and the like downstream of the limit position in the transport direction DR. The limit position is a position upstream in the transport direction DR from the position where the storage section forming section 6 forms the storage section 22. The limit position is a position upstream in the transport direction DR from the position where the medicine supply unit 5 supplies the medicine 100. Printing by the printing unit 4 is possible upstream of the limit position in the transport direction DR.

The initial printing position is set so that the entire printing range WB at the initial printing position is located upstream in the transport direction DR from the limit position. The initial printing position is desirably set as downstream as possible in the transport direction DR. Therefore, the downstream end Pb2 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position is set at a point upstream of the transport direction DR and closer to the limit position than the limit position. It is most desirable to set the downstream end Pb2 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position as the same position as the limit position. In this case, the fourth base point P4 is a point downstream of the limit position.

The normal print position is the position upstream from the initial print position. By setting the downstream end Pb2 of the print range WB at the initial print position upstream of the transport direction DR from the limit position, the entire print range WA at the normal print position is set upstream of the transport direction DR from the limit position. The

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a printing position when the width W in the transport direction DR of the package 21 is changed. Similar to FIG. 7, the scaled straight line extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 8 indicates each point in the transport direction DR of the packaging material 2. The width W in the transport direction DR of the package 21 can be changed. By changing the width W, the capacity of the accommodating portion 22 can be changed. The width W is appropriately set according to the amount of the medicine 100 accommodated in the accommodating portion 22. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first width W1, the second width W2, and the third width W3 are set.

The printing range WA1 at the normal printing position in the case of the first width W1 is the first distance LA11 that is an integer multiple of the width W1 in the transport direction DR of the package 21 upstream from the boundary formation point F in the transport direction DR. It is defined based on a base point of 1. The printing range WA2 at the normal printing position in the case of the second width W2 is the first distance LA21 that is an integer multiple of the width W2 in the transport direction DR of the package 21 upstream from the boundary formation point F in the transport direction DR. It is defined based on a base point of 1. The print range WA3 at the normal printing position in the case of the third width W3 is the first distance LA31 that is an integer multiple of the width W3 in the transport direction DR of the package 21 upstream from the boundary formation point F in the transport direction DR. It is defined based on a base point of 1.

Regardless of the widths W1, W2, and W3 of the package 21, the initial printing position is set based on a limit position where printing by the printing unit 4 is impossible. As shown in FIG. 8, the downstream end Pb12 of the printing range WB1 at the initial printing position in the case of the first width W1, the downstream end Pb22 of the printing range WB2 at the initial printing position in the case of the second width W2, The downstream end Pb32 of the printing range WB3 at the initial printing position in the case of the width W3 of 3 is set at the same position in the transport direction DR.

In the case of the third width W3, the print range WA3 at the normal print position and the print range WB3 at the initial print position are the same position in the transport direction DR. Thus, the initial printing position is not necessarily a position downstream in the transport direction DR from the normal printing position. Depending on the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR, the initial printing position and the normal printing position may be the same position.

Hereinafter, an operation of printing the information 110 on the packaging material 2 by the printing unit 4 will be described. FIG. 9 is a first diagram illustrating a printing operation by the printing unit 4 when forming the package 21. 9 to 13 below, the left-right direction in the figure indicates the conveyance direction DR of the packaging material 2, the left side in the figure indicates the upstream side in the conveyance direction DR, and the right side in the figure indicates the downstream in the conveyance direction DR. Indicates side. The arithmetic numbers in the print range 29 schematically represent the information 110 printed on the packaging material 2. The packaging operation by the packaging device 1 is started when information necessary for the packaging operation is input.

When the packaging operation is started, as shown in FIG. 9, first, the thermal head 41 is moved to the downstream end Pb2 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position. At this time, the thermal head 41 is maintained at the separated position. The ink ribbon 45 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is not pressurized by the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62.

FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating a printing operation by the printing unit 4 when the package 21 is formed. The thermal head 41 moved to the downstream end Pb2 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position is moved from the separation position to the pressure contact position. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the thermal head 41 is moved from the downstream end Pb2 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position to the upstream end Pb1 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position.

At this time, the thermal head 41 is maintained in the pressure contact position. The plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 41 are selectively generating heat. The ink ribbon 45 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is not pressurized by the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62. In this way, the first package information 110 schematically indicated by the arithmetic numeral “1” in FIG. 10 is printed on the packaging material 2 at the initial printing position. Printing quality is improved by printing while the packaging material 2 is not being conveyed.

FIG. 11 is a third diagram illustrating a printing operation by the printing unit 4 when the package 21 is formed. The thermal head 41 moved to the upstream end Pb1 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position is moved from the press contact position to the separation position. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the thermal head 41 is moved downstream from the upstream end Pb1 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position to the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position.

At this time, the thermal head 41 is maintained at the separated position. The ink ribbon 45 is conveyed. The transport distance of the ink ribbon 45 corresponds to the distance between the upstream end Pb1 of the printing range WB at the initial printing position and the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position. The packaging material 2 is conveyed. The conveyance distance of the packaging material 2 corresponds to the distance between the third base point P3 and the second base point P2. That is, the conveyance distance of the packaging material 2 corresponds to a distance obtained by subtracting the distance L between the initial printing position and the normal printing position from the width W in the conveyance direction DR of the package 21. The packaging material 2 is not pressurized by the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62.

FIG. 12 is a fourth diagram illustrating a printing operation by the printing unit 4 when the package 21 is formed. The thermal head 41 moved to the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position is moved from the separation position to the pressure contact position. Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the thermal head 41 is moved from the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position to the upstream end Pa1 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position.

At this time, the thermal head 41 is maintained in the pressure contact position. The plurality of heating elements of the thermal head 41 are selectively generating heat. The ink ribbon 45 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is not conveyed. The packaging material 2 is pressurized by the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62. In this manner, the second packet information 110 schematically shown by the arithmetic numeral “2” in FIG. 12 is printed on the packaging material 2 at the normal printing position. By simultaneously performing printing and fusing of the packaging material 2 while the packaging material 2 is not being conveyed, the time required for the operation of the packaging device 1 is shortened.

FIG. 13 is a fifth diagram illustrating a printing operation by the printing unit 4 when the package 21 is formed. The thermal head 41 moved to the upstream end Pa1 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position is moved from the pressure contact position to the separation position. Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the thermal head 41 is moved from the upstream end Pa1 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position to the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position.

At this time, the thermal head 41 is maintained at the separated position. The ink ribbon 45 is conveyed. The transport distance of the ink ribbon 45 corresponds to the distance between the upstream end Pa1 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position and the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position. The packaging material 2 is conveyed. The conveyance distance of the packaging material 2 corresponds to the distance between the first base point P1 and the second base point P2. That is, the transport distance of the packaging material 2 corresponds to the width W of the package 21 in the transport direction DR. The packaging material 2 is not pressurized by the heating member 61 and the receiving member 62.

After moving the thermal head 41 to the downstream end Pa2 of the printing range WA at the normal printing position, the operation described based on FIGS. 12 and 13 is repeated. In this way, the information 110 after the third package is sequentially printed on the packaging material 2 at the normal printing position.

The printed portion on which the predetermined information 110 is printed moves in the transport direction DR as the packaging material 2 is transported. When the printed portion reaches the medicine supply position, the medicine 100 is supplied to the packaging material 2. In other words, the medicine 100 is not supplied to the packaging material 2 until the printed portion reaches the medicine supply position. Therefore, an empty package is formed downstream of the first package 21. An empty package refers to the package 21 that does not contain the medicine 100.

The printing section can be printed at the normal printing position and the initial printing position downstream of the normal printing position in the transport direction DR, the first package information 110 is printed at the initial printing position, and the second package is printed at the normal printing position. By printing the subsequent information 110, empty packaging can be reduced. Therefore, since the amount of waste of the packaging material 2 can be reduced, the usage amount of the packaging material 2 can be reduced.

In the description so far, the example in which the packaging object packaged by the packaging device 1 is the medicine 100 has been described. When packaging the medicine 100 based on a prescription, the packaging material 2 is frequently wasted for each prescription, but the packaging device 1 of the present embodiment can reduce the waste of the packaging material 2. As a result, the waste of the packaging material 2 can be greatly reduced. Note that the packaging object is not limited to the drug 100, and may be any article.

Further, the printing unit 4 for printing the information 110 is not limited to the thermal transfer type, and may be, for example, an inkjet type.

The heating member 61 and the receiving member 62 constituting the housing portion forming unit 6 may not be T-shaped. For example, the short-side fusion part is arranged upstream, the long-side fusion part is arranged downstream, the packaging object is supplied into a pre-partitioned accommodation part, and then the opening is fused. Also good.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, it should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 packaging device, 2 packaging material, 3 packaging material roll, 4 printing unit, 5 drug supply unit, 6 housing unit forming unit, 7 perforation forming unit, 8 packaging material transport unit, 9 packaging unit, 21 packaging, 21a packaging Product formation scheduled part, 22 accommodating part, 23 longitudinal fusion part, 24 lateral fusion part, 25 perforation, 25a boundary formation planned part, 27 upstream margin, 28 downstream margin, 29, WA, WB printing Range, 41 thermal head, 42 head contact / separation motor, 43 head moving motor, 44 platen roller, 45 ink ribbon, 46 ribbon supply shaft, 47 ribbon winding shaft, 47a winding motor, 48, 49 guide roller, 51 hopper, 52 chemical inlet, 61 heating member, 61a heater, 62 receiving member, 63 longitudinal direction part, 64 lateral direction part, 65 pressurization 71, perforation blade, 72 slit groove, 81 transport roller, 82 transport motor, 90 overall control unit, 91 operation unit, 94 print control unit, 96 packaging control unit, 100 chemicals, 110 information, DR transport direction, F boundary formation point, L, LA1, LA2, LA11, LA21 distance, P1, P2, P3, P4 base point, W, W1, W2, W3, w1, w2 width.

Claims

A packaging material transport unit for transporting a long sheet-shaped packaging material in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material;
Using the packaging material conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit, an accommodation unit forming unit that forms an accommodation unit that accommodates a packaging object; and
A printing unit that is provided upstream of the container forming unit in the conveyance direction of the packaging material and prints information related to the packaging object on the packaging material conveyed by the packaging material conveyance unit. ,
The printing unit is capable of printing at a normal printing position and an initial printing position downstream in the transport direction from the normal printing position, and prints the information of the first package at the initial printing position, and the normal printing A packaging device that prints the information after the second package at a position.
The accommodating part forming part forms a package in which the accommodating part is formed,
From the boundary formation point where the container forming unit forms the boundary of the package adjacent in the transport direction, a point separated by an integer multiple of the width of the package in the transport direction upstream of the transport direction. As a base point, the normal printing position is defined,
The initial printing position is defined as a position downstream of the normal printing position in the transport direction by a distance shorter than the width in the transport direction of the package,
After the printing unit has printed at the initial printing position, the packaging material transport unit is a distance obtained by subtracting the distance between the initial printing position and the normal printing position from the width of the package in the transport direction. Transporting the packaging material,
Thereafter, the operation in which the printing unit performs printing at the normal printing position and the operation in which the packaging material transport unit transports the packaging material by a width in the transport direction of the package are alternately repeated. The packaging device described.
The printing unit includes a print head, and a head moving unit that moves the print head in the transport direction of the packaging material,
The packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the range in which the print head is movable includes a printing range at the normal printing position and a printing range at the initial printing position.
The packaging device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a width of the package in the transport direction is changeable.
The packaging object is a drug,
The packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the medicine is packaged based on a prescription.