WO2020090436A1

WO2020090436A1 - Granular material transporting device and granular material processing device

Info

Publication number: WO2020090436A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/040427
Authority: WO
Inventors: 貴之西川; 尚充伊藤; 信行中野; 侑弥 ▲高▼畑
Original assignee: 株式会社Ｓｃｒｅｅｎホールディングス
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-15
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: CN112930164B; JP7041608B2; CN112930164A; KR20210058917A; TW202023517A; TWI724586B; KR102505698B1; JP2020069084A

Abstract

This granular material transporting device is provided with a transporting mechanism and an inverting mechanism. The inverting mechanism has a first tilted drum (71) and a second tilted drum (72) which has a conical shape. The first tilted drum (71) rotates a transported granular material (9) at a first position (W1) in the width direction of the transporting mechanism while suctioning the transported granular material to a first suction hole (711), and delivers the granular material to the second tilted drum (72). The second tilted drum (72) rotates the granular material (9) received from the first suction hole (711) while suctioning the transported granular material to a second suction hole (721), and delivers the granular material to a second position (W2) in the width direction of the transporting mechanism. The first suction hole (711) and the second suction hole (721) are provided on respective protruding sections (712, 722). Therefore, the granular material (9) present at a position other than the first position (W1) and the second position (W2) does not come into contact with the tilted drums (71, 72).

Description

Granular material conveying device and granular material processing device

The present invention relates to a granular material conveying device that conveys a plurality of granular materials, and a granular material processing device provided with the granular material conveying device.

Characters and codes for identifying products are printed on the surface of tablets, which are pharmaceutical products. In addition, marks and illustrations may be printed on tablets such as Ramune. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a printing apparatus that prints an image on the surface of a granular material such as tablets or confectionery by an inkjet method. Particularly, in recent years, the types of tablets have been diversified due to the popularization of generic drugs. Therefore, in order to make the tablets easy to identify, a technique of clearly printing by an inkjet method on both the front and back surfaces of the tablets has attracted attention.

The printing apparatus of Patent Document 1 has an upstream-side transport unit (3) and a downstream-side transport unit (4). In the upstream transport unit (3), the tablets 9 are printed by the first printing unit (201) while transporting the tablets 9. The downstream transport unit (4) receives and transports a plurality of tablets in an inverted state from the upstream transport unit (3), and the second printing unit (202) prints on the tablets. .. As a result, printing is performed on the front surface and the back surface of the tablet.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-200495

However, in Patent Document 1, a printing unit and an imaging unit associated with the printing unit are provided on both the upstream-side transport unit (3) and the downstream-side transport unit (4). That is, in Patent Document 1, a processing unit for performing printing and photographing on one side of the tablet and a processing unit for performing printing and photographing on the other side of the tablet are separately provided. ing. For this reason, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the number of parts of the printing device is large, and it is difficult to downsize the printing device.

In order to perform printing on both the front and back sides of a tablet with one printing unit, while transporting the tablet along the annular transport path, the tablet is turned upside down at a certain position on the transport path, and the tablet on the transport path is reversed. It is conceivable to print on the tablets at other locations. However, in the tablet printing apparatus, many tablets are conveyed at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent unintended contact between the tablets or between the tablet and the reversing mechanism near the reversing mechanism for reversing the tablets.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of the granular material conveyed by the conveying mechanism, and the reversing mechanism with another granular object conveyed by the conveying mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a granular material conveying device capable of suppressing unnecessary contact with.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention of the present application provides a granular material in a conveyance mechanism that conveys a plurality of granular materials while holding them in a state of being arranged in the width direction, and a reversal position on the conveyance path of the transportation mechanism. And a reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back and moving the position of the granular material in the width direction, the reversing mechanism having a conical shape or a pyramidal shape centered on a first axis inclined with respect to the width direction. A first inclined drum having a first side surface, and a second side surface adjacent to the first inclined drum in the width direction and having a conical or pyramidal shape centered on a second axis inclined with respect to the width direction. A second inclined drum; the first side surface has a first convex portion protruding outward and a first suction hole provided in the first convex portion; The side surface is provided on the second convex portion protruding outward and the second convex portion. And a second suction hole, the first tilting drum sucks and holds the granular material transported at the first position in the width direction of the transport mechanism while suction-holding the granular material in the first suction hole. While rotating about a single axis, the granular material is delivered to the second adsorption hole, and the second inclined drum adsorbs and holds the granular material delivered from the first adsorption hole in the second adsorption hole. A granular material conveying device that rotates about the second axis and transfers the granular material to a second position in the width direction of the conveying mechanism.

2nd invention of this application is a granular material conveying apparatus of 1st invention, Comprising: The said 1st convex part is a circular ring centering on the said 1st axis | shaft, The said 2nd convex part is the said 2nd shaft. It is an annular shape centered on.

3rd invention of this application is a granular material conveying apparatus of 1st invention or 2nd invention, Comprising: The dimension of the said width direction of the granular material conveyed by the said conveyance mechanism is D, and the several conveyed by the said conveyance mechanism. When the space in the width direction of the granular material is P, the width in the generatrix direction on the first side surface of the first convex portion and the width in the generatrix direction on the second side surface of the second convex portion are A, P The relationship of> A / 2 + D / 2 is satisfied.

4th invention of this application is a granular material conveyance apparatus of any 1 invention from 1st invention to 3rd invention, Comprising: The said reversing mechanism is the said conveyance path rather than the said 1st inclination drum and the said 2nd inclination drum. A third tilt drum and a fourth tilt drum having the same structure as the first tilt drum and the second tilt drum, and the third tilt drum and the fourth tilt drum provide the conveyance The granular material conveyed at the third position in the width direction of the mechanism moves to the fourth position in the width direction.

5th invention of this application is a granular material conveyance apparatus of any one invention from 1st invention to 4th invention, Comprising: The said 1st inclination drum is a rotational direction rather than the position which opposes the said 2nd inclination drum. A non-rotating first block member that is close to the first side surface is provided on the downstream side, and the second tilt drum is provided on the second side surface on the downstream side in the rotational direction with respect to the position facing the transport mechanism. It has an adjacent non-rotating second block member.

6th invention of this application is a granular material conveying apparatus of 5th invention, Comprising: The said 1st block member dispels the granular material which rotates with the said 1st adsorption hole toward the outer peripheral side of the said 1st inclination drum. The second block member has a first inclined surface to drop off, and the second block member has a second inclined surface to drop off the granular material rotating with the second suction hole toward the outer peripheral side of the second inclined drum.

7th invention of this application is a granular material conveying apparatus of 5th invention or 6th invention, Comprising: The said reversal mechanism is located below the said 1st inclination drum and the said 2nd inclination drum, The said 1st inclination drum And an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the widthwise interval of the second tilt drum, and a cover that is located between the first tilt drum and the second tilt drum and the adjusting mechanism.

An eighth invention of the present application is the granular material conveying device according to the seventh invention, wherein the cover has a fixed relative position with respect to the first inclined drum and a fixed relative position with respect to the second inclined drum. The second cover is provided, and the adjustment mechanism causes the first cover and the second cover to relatively move in the width direction while overlapping each other.

A ninth invention of the present application is the granular material conveying device according to any one of the first invention to the eighth invention, wherein the conveying mechanism is downstream of the conveying path from a position facing the first inclined drum. On the side, there is a sensor that detects particulate matter.

A tenth invention of the present application is the granular material transporting device of the ninth invention, further comprising a control unit that stops the transport mechanism based on a detection signal of the sensor.

The eleventh invention of the present application is the granular material conveying device according to any one of the first invention to the tenth invention, wherein the granular material is a tablet.

A twelfth invention of the present application is a granular material processing apparatus including the granular material conveying device according to any one of the first to eleventh inventions, wherein the conveying mechanism is a granular material along an annular conveying path. And a processing unit for carrying out a predetermined processing on the surface of the granular material at the processing position on the transportation path.

A thirteenth invention of the present application is the granular material processing apparatus of the twelfth invention, wherein the processing section includes a printing section for performing printing on the surface of the granular material by an inkjet method.

A fourteenth invention of the present application is the granular material processing apparatus according to the twelfth invention or the thirteenth invention, wherein the processing unit includes a camera for photographing the surface of the granular material.

According to the first invention to the fourteenth invention of the present application, the first suction hole is provided in the first convex portion protruding outward of the first side surface of the first inclined drum. Further, the second suction hole is provided in the second convex portion that projects outward from the second side surface of the second inclined drum. Therefore, among the plurality of granular materials transported by the transportation mechanism, the granular materials transported at positions other than the first position and the second position in the width direction are the first side surface of the first tilt drum and the second tilt drum. It is possible to suppress contact with the second side surface of the.

Particularly, according to the fifth invention of the present application, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the first inclined drum to the second inclined drum fails, the particulate matter remaining in the first suction holes is washed off by the first block member. Be done. Further, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the second tilt drum to the transport mechanism fails, the particulate matter remaining in the second suction holes is wiped off by the second block member. As a result, it is possible to prevent the granular material that has failed to be delivered from coming into contact with the subsequent granular material.

Particularly, according to the sixth invention of the present application, it is possible to prevent the granular material blown off by the first block member from coming into contact with the subsequent granular material held on the first inclined drum. Further, it is possible to prevent the granular material blown off by the second block member from coming into contact with the subsequent granular material held on the second inclined drum.

Particularly, according to the seventh invention of the present application, it is possible to prevent the granular material scraped off by the first block member or the second block member from being mixed into the adjusting mechanism.

Particularly, according to the ninth invention of the present application, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the transport mechanism to the first inclined drum fails, the particulate matter remaining in the transport mechanism can be detected by the sensor.

In particular, according to the twelfth invention of the present application, it is possible to perform a predetermined process on both surfaces of the granular material at the same processing position on the transport path. As a result, the number of parts of the device can be reduced and the device can be downsized.

It is a side view of a tablet printing apparatus. It is a partial perspective view of an annular conveyance mechanism. It is the figure which looked at the cyclic | annular conveyance mechanism and the inversion mechanism from the direction of the white arrow V in FIG. It is a bottom view of a head. It is a top view of an inversion mechanism. It is a block diagram showing a connection between a control unit and each unit. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of print processing. It is a side view of the 1st inclination drum and the 2nd inclination drum. It is a side view of the 1st inclination drum, the 2nd inclination drum, and the mechanism which supports these drums.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction in which a plurality of tablets is transported is referred to as the “transport direction”, and the direction perpendicular to the transport direction and along the holding surface of the transport mechanism is referred to as the “width direction”.

<1. Overall structure of tablet printing device>
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tablet printing apparatus 1 which is an example of the granular material processing apparatus according to the present invention. The tablet printing device 1 is a device that prints images such as a product name, a product code, a company name, and a logo mark on both front and back surfaces of each tablet 9 while conveying a plurality of tablets 9 that are granular materials. The tablets 9 may be plain tablets (naked tablets) or coated tablets such as sugar-coated tablets and film-coated tablets (FC tablets). Moreover, the tablet 9 may be a capsule including a hard capsule and a soft capsule. Further, the “granular material” in the present invention is not limited to a tablet as a medicine, but may be a tablet as a health food or a tablet confectionery such as ramune.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a carry-in mechanism 10, an annular carrying mechanism 20, a printing unit 30, a first camera 40, a second camera 50, a drying mechanism 60, a reversing mechanism 70, and a carry-out mechanism. 80 and a control unit 90. In the present embodiment, the annular transport mechanism 20 and the reversing mechanism 70 form a granular material transport device.

The carry-in mechanism 10 is a mechanism for carrying in the plurality of tablets 9 loaded into the tablet printing apparatus 1 into the annular carrying mechanism 20. The carry-in mechanism 10 of the present embodiment includes a feeder 11, a carry-in conveyor 12, and a carry-in drum 13. The plurality of tablets 9 loaded into the tablet printing apparatus 1 are supplied to the carry-in conveyor 12 via the feeder 11. At this time, the plurality of tablets 9 are arranged in three rows arranged in the width direction. The tablets 9 transported by the carry-in conveyor 12 are suction-held one by one in a plurality of suction holes provided in the carry-in drum 13. Thereby, the plurality of tablets 9 in each row are arranged at equal intervals in the transport direction. Each tablet 9 held on the carry-in drum 13 is transported in an arc shape by the rotation of the carry-in drum 13, and is delivered to the annular transport mechanism 20.

The ring-shaped transfer mechanism 20 is a mechanism that holds a plurality of tablets 9 and transfers them along an annular transfer path. The annular transport mechanism 20 includes a pair of pulleys 21 and an annular transport belt 22 that is stretched between the pair of pulleys 21. One of the pair of pulleys 21 is rotated by the power obtained from the transport motor 23. As a result, the conveyor belt 22 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the other of the pair of pulleys 21 is driven to rotate as the conveyor belt 22 rotates.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the annular transfer mechanism 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the holding surface 220, which is the outer peripheral surface of the conveyor belt 22, is provided with a plurality of suction holes 221. The plurality of suction holes 221 are arranged at equal intervals in the transport direction and the width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the annular transport mechanism 20 has a suction mechanism 24 that sucks gas from the space inside the transport belt 22. When the suction mechanism 24 is operated, the space inside the conveyor belt 22 has a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. The plurality of tablets 9 are sucked and held in the suction holes 221 by the negative pressure.

In this way, the plurality of tablets 9 are held on the surface of the conveyor belt 22 in a state of being aligned in the conveying direction and the width direction. Then, the annular transport mechanism 20 transports the plurality of tablets 9 along the annular transport path by rotating the transport belt 22. Below the four heads 31, which will be described later, the plurality of tablets 9 are transported in the horizontal direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the annular transport mechanism 20 has three first blow mechanisms B1 and one second blow mechanism B2. The three first blow mechanisms B1 are located inside the conveyor belt 22 and at positions facing the first inclined drum 71, the third inclined drum 73, and the fifth inclined drum 75, which will be described later, via the conveyor belt 22, respectively. It is provided. Of the suction holes 221 of the conveyor belt 22, the three first blow mechanisms B1 supply gas only to the suction holes 221 facing the first tilt drum 71, the third tilt drum 73, and the fifth tilt drum 75. To spray. Then, the adsorption hole 221 has a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the suction of the tablet 9 in the suction hole 221 is released, and the tablet 9 is transferred from the conveyor belt 22 to the first tilt drum 71, the third tilt drum 73, and the fifth tilt drum 75.

The second blow mechanism B2 is provided inside the conveyor belt 22 and at a position facing a discharge chute 81 described later via the conveyor belt 22. The second blowing mechanism B2 blows gas only to the suction holes 221 facing the carry-out chute 81 among the plurality of suction holes 221 of the conveyor belt 22. Then, the adsorption hole 221 has a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the suction of the tablet 9 in the suction hole 221 is released, and the tablet 9 drops from the conveyor belt 22 to the carry-out chute 81.

FIG. 3 is a view of the annular transport mechanism 20 and the reversing mechanism 70 as viewed from the direction of the white arrow V in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holding surface 220 of the conveyor belt 22 of the present embodiment has a first area A1 for holding the tablets 9 before being inverted by the reversing mechanism 70 and a first area A1 for holding the tablets 9 after being inverted. 2 areas A2. The first area A1 and the second area A2 are adjacent to each other in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the plurality of suction holes 221 are provided in the first area A1 and the second area A2 in three rows in the width direction. The tablets 9 carried in by the carry-in mechanism 10 described above are suction-held in the suction holes 221 in the first area A1. Further, the plurality of tablets 9 printed on both sides are delivered to the carry-out mechanism 80 from the suction holes 221 in the second area A2.

The printing unit 30 is a processing unit that prints on the surface of the tablet 9 conveyed by the conveyor belt 22 by an inkjet method. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing unit 30 of this embodiment has four heads 31. The four heads 31 are located above the transport belt 22 and are arranged in a line along the transport direction of the tablets 9. Each head 31 extends in the width direction across both the first area A1 and the second area A2 of the conveyor belt 22. The four heads 31 eject ink droplets of different colors (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors) toward the surface of the tablet 9. Then, a multicolor image is recorded on the surface of the tablet 9 by superposing the single color images formed by these respective colors. As the ink ejected from each head 31, an edible ink produced from a raw material approved by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Food Sanitation Law, etc. is used.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one head 31. In FIG. 4, the conveyor belt 22 and the plurality of tablets 9 held by the conveyor belt 22 are shown by a chain double-dashed line. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 4, the ejection surface 310, which is the lower surface of the head 31, is provided with a plurality of nozzles 311 capable of ejecting ink droplets. In this embodiment, a plurality of nozzles 311 are two-dimensionally arranged in the carrying direction and the width direction on the lower surface of the head 31. The nozzles 311 are arranged with their positions displaced in the width direction. By arranging the plurality of nozzles 311 two-dimensionally in this way, the positions of the respective nozzles 311 in the width direction can be brought closer to each other. However, the plurality of nozzles 311 may be arranged in a line along the width direction.

As a method of ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 311, for example, a so-called piezo method is used, in which a voltage is applied to a piezo element (piezoelectric element) to deform the ink so that the ink in the nozzle 311 is pressurized and ejected. However, the ink droplet ejection method may be a so-called thermal method in which the heater is energized to thermally expand the ink in the nozzle 311 to eject the ink.

The first camera 40 is a processing unit for photographing the surface of the tablet 9 before printing. The first camera 40 is located downstream of the carry-in drum 13 in the transport path and upstream of the four heads 31 in the transport path. The first camera 40 extends in the width direction across both the first area A1 and the second area A2. For the first camera 40, for example, a line sensor in which image pickup devices such as CCD and CMOS are arranged in the width direction is used. The first camera 40 images the plurality of tablets 9 conveyed by the conveyor belt 22. The image acquired by shooting is transmitted from the first camera 40 to the control unit 90 described later. The control unit 90 detects the presence or absence of the tablet 9 in each suction hole 221, the position of the tablet 9, and the posture of the tablet 9 based on the image obtained from the first camera 40. Further, the control unit 90 also inspects whether or not each tablet 9 has a defect such as a chip, based on the image obtained from the first camera 40.

The second camera 50 is a processing unit for photographing the surface of the tablet 9 after printing. The second camera 50 is located downstream of the four heads 31 in the transport path and upstream of the drying mechanism 60 in the transport path. In addition, the second camera 50 extends in the width direction across both the first area A1 and the second area A2. For the second camera 50, for example, a line sensor in which image pickup devices such as CCD and CMOS are arranged in the width direction is used. The second camera 50 photographs the plurality of tablets 9 conveyed by the conveyor belt 22. The image obtained by shooting is transmitted from the second camera 50 to the control unit 90 described later. The control unit 90 inspects the quality of the image printed on the surface of the tablet 9 based on the image obtained from the second camera 50.

The drying mechanism 60 is a mechanism for drying the ink attached to the surface of the tablet 9. The drying mechanism 60 is located downstream of the second camera 50 in the transport path and upstream of the reversing mechanism 70 and the carry-out chute 81 described later in the transport path. Further, the drying mechanism 60 extends in the width direction across both the first area A1 and the second area A2. As the drying mechanism 60, for example, a hot air supply mechanism that blows heated gas (hot air) toward the tablets 9 conveyed by the conveyor belt 22 is used. The ink attached to the surface of the tablet 9 is dried by hot air and fixed on the surface of the tablet 9.

As described above, the tablet printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the four processing units including the printing unit 30, the first camera 40, the second camera 50, and the drying mechanism 60. Each processing unit performs each processing of printing, photographing, and drying on the surface of the tablet 9 at each processing position on the transport path.

The reversing mechanism 70 is a mechanism that reverses the front and back of the tablet 9 conveyed by the conveyor belt 22 and moves the tablet 9 from the first area A1 to the second area A2. The reversing mechanism 70 is located downstream of the drying mechanism 60 and a carry-out chute 81, which will be described later, in the transport path and upstream of the loading drum 13 in the transport path.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the reversing mechanism 70. In FIG. 5, the transportation locus of the tablet 9 is indicated by a dashed arrow. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, the reversing mechanism 70 of the present embodiment includes a first tilt drum 71, a second tilt drum 72, a third tilt drum 73, a fourth tilt drum 74, and a fifth tilt drum. It has a drum 75 and a sixth inclined drum 76.

The first inclined drum 71 and the second inclined drum 72 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction. The third tilting drum 73 and the fourth tilting drum 74 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72. The fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction on the downstream side of the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 in the transport path. Below, the position where the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 are provided on the transport path of the annular transport mechanism 20 is the “first inversion position”, and the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 are provided. The position is referred to as a "second reversal position", and the position where the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76 are provided is referred to as a "third reversal position".

The first inclined drum 71 has a conical first side surface 710 centered on the first axis C1 inclined with respect to the width direction. A part of the first side surface 710 around the first axis C1 faces the first region A1 of the conveyor belt 22 with a slight gap. The first tilt drum 71 is fixed to the output shaft of the first motor 71M. When the first motor 71M is driven, the first tilt drum 71 rotates about the first axis C1.

The second inclined drum 72 has a conical second side surface 720 centered on the second axis C2 inclined with respect to the width direction. The first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72 are arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction so that their tops face each other. A part of the second side surface 720 around the second axis C2 faces the second region A2 of the conveyor belt 22 with a slight gap. Further, the other part of the second side surface 720 around the second axis C2 faces the first side surface 710 with a slight gap. The second tilt drum 72 is fixed to the output shaft of the second motor 72M. When the second motor 72M is driven, the second tilt drum 72 rotates about the second axis C2.

In the present embodiment, both the apex angle of the first inclined drum 71 and the apex angle of the second inclined drum 72 when viewed in the transport direction are 90 °. The inclination angle of the first axis C1 with respect to the holding surface 220 is 45 °. The inclination angle of the second axis C2 with respect to the holding surface 220 is 45 °. Therefore, the first side surface 710 and the second side surface 720 face each other at a position of 90 ° with respect to the holding surface 220. In this way, if the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 have the same shape and the same size, the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 can be shared as parts. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the tablet printing apparatus 1 can be reduced.

A plurality of first suction holes 711 are provided on the first side surface 710. In the present embodiment, the plurality of first suction holes 711 are provided in an annular shape around the first axis C1 at equal angular intervals. Similarly, the second side surface 720 is provided with a plurality of second suction holes 721. In the present embodiment, the plurality of second suction holes 721 are provided in an annular shape around the second axis C2 at equal angular intervals.

The pressure in the internal space of the first inclined drum 71 is maintained at a negative pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by a suction mechanism (not shown). The first inclined drum 71 holds the tablets 9 one by one in the plurality of first suction holes 711 by this negative pressure. Similarly, the pressure in the internal space of the second inclined drum 72 is also maintained at a negative pressure lower than atmospheric pressure by a suction mechanism (not shown). The second tilting drum 72 holds the tablets 9 one by one in the plurality of second suction holes 721 by this negative pressure.

Also, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, a third blow mechanism B3 is provided inside the first inclined drum 71. The third blow mechanism B3 blows gas only to the first suction holes 711 facing the second tilt drum 72 among the plurality of first suction holes 711 of the first tilt drum 71. Then, the first adsorption hole 711 has a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the suction of the tablet 9 in the first suction hole 711 is released, and the tablet 9 is transferred from the first suction hole 711 of the first tilt drum 71 to the second suction hole 721 of the second tilt drum 72. ..

Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3, a fourth blow mechanism B4 is provided inside the second tilt drum 72. The fourth blowing mechanism B4 blows gas only to the second suction holes 721 facing the second area A2 of the conveyor belt 22 among the plurality of second suction holes 721 of the second inclined drum 72. Then, the second adsorption hole 721 has a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the suction of the tablet 9 in the second suction hole 721 is released, and the tablet 9 is transferred from the second suction hole 721 of the second inclined drum 72 to the suction hole 221 of the second area A2 of the conveyor belt 22. Be done.

The suction force of the plurality of second suction holes 721 of the second tilt drum 72 may be slightly larger than the suction force of the plurality of first suction holes 711 of the first tilt drum 71. Then, when the tablet 9 is transferred from the first suction hole 711 of the first tilting drum 71 to the second suction hole 721 of the second tilting drum 72, the tablet 9 is less likely to drop off. However, the suction force of the plurality of first suction holes 711 of the first tilt drum 71 and the suction force of the plurality of second suction holes 721 of the second tilt drum 72 may be the same.

The third tilting drum 73 and the fourth tilting drum 74 have the same structure as the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72, and are adjacent to each other like the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72. Are arranged. However, the third tilting drum 73 and the fourth tilting drum 74 are arranged at the second delivery position on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the first delivery position where the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72 are arranged. .. Further, the third tilting drum 73 and the fourth tilting drum 74 are located at positions displaced from the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72 in the width direction by one arrangement interval in the width direction of the tablets 9. It is arranged. The third tilt drum 73 is fixed to the output shaft of the third motor 73M. The fourth tilt drum 74 is fixed to the output shaft of the fourth motor 74M.

The fifth inclining drum 75 and the sixth inclining drum 76 also have the same structure as the first inclining drum 71 and the second inclining drum 72, and are adjacent to each other similarly to the first inclining drum 71 and the second inclining drum 72. Are arranged. However, the fifth inclining drum 75 and the sixth inclining drum 76 are arranged at a third delivery position on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the second delivery position where the third inclining drum 73 and the fourth inclining drum 74 are arranged. .. Further, the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76 are located at positions displaced from the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 by one widthwise arrangement interval of the tablets 9 in the width direction. It is arranged. The fifth tilt drum 75 is fixed to the output shaft of the fifth motor 75M. The sixth tilt drum 76 is fixed to the output shaft of the sixth motor 76M.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tablets 9 held in the suction holes 221 at the first position W1 in the width direction of the conveyor belt 22 and conveyed to the first inversion position are delivered to the first inclined drum 71. The first tilting drum 71 rotates the tablet 9 received from the conveyor belt 22 while sucking and holding the tablet 9 in the first suction hole 711 of the first side surface 710, and transfers the tablet 9 to the second tilting drum 72. After that, the second tilting drum 72 rotates while sucking and holding the tablet 9 received from the first tilting drum 71 in the second suction hole 721 of the second side surface 720, to the second position in the width direction of the conveyor belt 22. It is delivered to the suction hole 221 of W2. As a result, the position in the width direction of the tablet 9 moves from the first position W1 belonging to the first area A1 to the second position W2 belonging to the second area A2, and the front and back of the tablet 9 are reversed.

Similarly, the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 move the position of the tablet 9 in the width direction from the third position W3 belonging to the first area A1 to the fourth position W4 belonging to the second area A2. At the same time, the front and back of the tablet 9 are reversed. Similarly, the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76 move the position of the tablet 9 in the width direction from the fifth position W5 belonging to the first area A1 to the sixth position W6 belonging to the second area A2. While moving, the tablet 9 is turned upside down.

The carry-out mechanism 80 is a mechanism for carrying out the plurality of tablets 9 from the annular carrying mechanism 20 to the outside of the tablet printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the carry-out mechanism 80 includes a carry-out chute 81 and a carry-out conveyor (not shown). The carry-out chute 81 is located downstream of the drying mechanism 60 in the transport path and upstream of the reversing mechanism 70 in the transport path. The carry-out chute 81 faces the second area A2 of the conveyor belt 22. When the tablet 9 sucked in the suction hole 221 of the second area A2 reaches the position of the carry-out chute 81, the second blow mechanism B2 releases the suction of the tablet 9. As a result, the tablets 9 drop from the second area A2 of the conveyor belt 22 through the carry-out chute 81 and onto the upper surface of the carry-out conveyor. Then, the dropped tablets 9 are carried out of the tablet printing apparatus 1 by the carry-out conveyor.

The control unit 90 is means for controlling the operation of each unit in the tablet printing apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the connection between the control unit 90 and each unit in the tablet printing apparatus 1. As conceptually shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 90 is configured by a computer having a processor 91 such as a CPU, a memory 92 such as a RAM, and a storage unit 93 such as a hard disk drive. A computer program CP for executing print processing is installed in the storage unit 93.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 90 includes the above-described carry-in mechanism 10 (including the feeder 11, the carry-in conveyor 12, and the carry-in drum 13), the annular carrying mechanism 20 (the carrying motor 23, the suction mechanism 24, and the The first blow mechanism B1 and the second blow mechanism B2 are included, the printing unit 30 (including four heads 31), the first camera 40, the second camera 50, the drying mechanism 60, the reversing mechanism 70 (the first motor 71M to The sixth motor 76M, the third blow mechanism B3, the fourth blow mechanism B4, and the suction mechanism) and the carry-out mechanism 80 are communicatively connected to each other. The control unit 90 is also communicatively connected to a sensor 25 described later. The control unit 90 temporarily reads the computer program CP and data stored in the storage unit 93 into the memory 92, and the processor 91 performs arithmetic processing based on the computer program CP to control the operation of each of the above units. To do. Thereby, the carrying process and the printing process of the plurality of tablets 9 proceed.

<2. About processing flow>
Subsequently, a flow of a printing process using the tablet printing apparatus 1 will be described. Below, the processing performed on one certain tablet 9 is explained in order. However, the tablet printing apparatus 1 processes a plurality of tablets 9 while sequentially conveying them. Therefore, a plurality of tablets 9 are simultaneously present inside the tablet printing apparatus 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing processing in the tablet printing apparatus 1. When the tablet 9 is loaded into the tablet printing apparatus 1, first, the carry-in mechanism 10 carries the tablet 9 into the annular carrier mechanism 20 (step S1). The loaded tablets 9 are adsorbed and held in the adsorption holes 221 of the first area A1 of the conveyor belt 22. Then, as the conveyor belt 22 rotates, the tablets 9 are conveyed along the annular conveyance path.

In the following, the surface of the tablet 9 that faces the outside when the tablet 9 is held in the suction holes 221 of the first area A1 is referred to as the “first surface”. Further, the surface that is sucked by the suction holes 221 when the tablet 9 is held by the suction holes 221 in the first area A1 is referred to as a "second surface". However, the “first surface” and the “second surface” have nothing to do with the original front and back surfaces of the tablet 9. For example, when the tablet 9 is a scored tablet having a scored line only on one side, among the plurality of tablets 9 held in the first area A1, the tablet 9 having the scored surface as the first side and the scored line are The tablet 9 having the non-exposed surface as the first surface may be mixed.

When the tablet 9 reaches below the first camera 40, the first camera 40 photographs the first surface of the tablet 9. Thereby, the image data of the first surface of the tablet 9 is acquired. The acquired image data is transmitted from the first camera 40 to the control unit 90. The control unit 90 also performs a pre-print inspection on the first surface based on the image data received from the first camera 40 (step S2). Specifically, the presence or absence of the tablet 9 in the suction hole 221, the front and back of the tablet 9, the rotational posture of the tablet 9 around the vertical axis, the positional displacement of the tablet 9 with respect to the suction hole 221, the presence or absence of a shape defect of the tablet 9 and the like are inspected. To be done.

Next, when the tablet 9 reaches below the printing unit 30, the four heads 31 eject ink droplets toward the first surface of the tablet 9. As a result, printing is performed on the first surface of the tablet 9. As a result, an image is printed on the first surface of the tablet 9 (step S3). At this time, the control unit 90 adjusts the image to be printed on each tablet 9 based on the inspection result of step S2 described above. For example, of the images for the front surface and the images for the back surface, an appropriate image is selected according to the front and back of each tablet 9, and the selected image is rotated according to the rotation posture of each tablet 9. Then, a print signal is input to the head 31 based on the adjusted image. As a result, an appropriate image is printed on the first surface of each tablet 9 in an appropriate posture.

Next, when the tablet 9 reaches below the second camera 50, the second camera 50 photographs the first surface of the tablet 9. Thereby, the image data of the first surface of the tablet 9 is acquired. The acquired image data is transmitted from the second camera 50 to the control unit 90. Further, the control unit 90 performs the post-printing inspection of the first surface based on the image data received from the second camera 50 (step S4). Specifically, the control unit 90 prints on the first surface of each tablet 9 by comparing the image data received from the second camera 50 with the data of a normal image prepared in advance, for example. Determine if the image is normal.

Next, when the tablet 9 reaches the position of the drying mechanism 60, the drying mechanism 60 blows hot air toward the first surface of the tablet 9. As a result, the ink attached to the first surface of the tablet 9 dries and the ink is fixed on the first surface (step S5).

After that, when the tablet 9 reaches the first to third inversion positions, the inversion mechanism 70 moves the position of the tablet 9 in the width direction and inverts the front and back of the tablet 9 (step S6). Specifically, the tablet 9 conveyed at the first position W1 in the width direction is moved to the second position W2 in the width direction by the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72. The tablet 9 conveyed at the third position W3 in the width direction moves to the fourth position W4 in the width direction by the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74. The tablet 9 conveyed at the fifth position W5 in the width direction is moved to the sixth position W6 in the width direction by the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76. As a result, the plurality of tablets 9 are moved from the suction holes 221 in the first area A1 of the annular transport mechanism 20 to the suction holes 221 in the second area A2. At this time, the tablet 9 is suction-held in the suction hole 221 of the second area A2 with the second surface facing outward.

Subsequently, when the tablet 9 reaches below the first camera 40, the first camera 40 photographs the second surface of the tablet 9. Thereby, the image data of the second surface of the tablet 9 is acquired. The acquired image data is transmitted from the first camera 40 to the control unit 90. Further, the control unit 90 performs the pre-print inspection of the second surface based on the image data received from the first camera 40 (step S7). Specifically, the presence or absence of the tablet 9 in the suction hole 221, the front and back of the tablet 9, the rotational posture of the tablet 9 around the vertical axis, the positional displacement of the tablet 9 with respect to the suction hole 221, the presence or absence of a shape defect of the tablet 9 and the like are inspected. To be done.

Next, when the tablet 9 reaches below the printing unit 30, the four heads 31 eject ink droplets toward the second surface of the tablet 9. As a result, printing is performed on the second surface of the tablet 9. As a result, an image is printed on the second surface of the tablet 9 (step S8). At this time, the control unit 90 adjusts the image to be printed on each tablet 9 based on the inspection result of step S7 described above. For example, of the images for the front surface and the images for the back surface, an appropriate image is selected according to the front and back of each tablet 9, and the selected image is rotated according to the rotation posture of each tablet 9. Then, a print signal is input to the head 31 based on the adjusted image. As a result, an appropriate image is printed on the second surface of each tablet 9 in an appropriate posture.

Next, when the tablet 9 reaches below the second camera 50, the second camera 50 photographs the second surface of the tablet 9. Thereby, the image data of the second surface of the tablet 9 is acquired. The acquired image data is transmitted from the second camera 50 to the control unit 90. Further, the control unit 90 performs the post-print inspection of the second surface based on the image data received from the second camera 50 (step S9). Specifically, the control unit 90 prints on the second surface of each tablet 9 by comparing the image data received from the second camera 50 with the data of a normal image prepared in advance, for example. Determine if the image is normal.

Subsequently, when the tablet 9 reaches the position of the drying mechanism 60, the drying mechanism 60 blows hot air toward the second surface of the tablet 9. As a result, the ink attached to the second surface of the tablet 9 dries, and the ink is fixed on the second surface (step S10).

After that, when the tablets 9 reach the position of the carry-out chute 81, the tablets 9 drop from the conveyor belt 22 through the carry-out chute 81 to the carry-out conveyor. Then, the tablets 9 are carried out of the tablet printing apparatus 1 by the carry-out conveyor (step S11).

As described above, the tablet printing apparatus 1 conveys the tablets 9 along the annular conveyance path. Then, a reversing mechanism 70 for reversing the front and back of the tablet 9 and moving the position of the tablet 9 in the width direction is provided in a part of the transport path. For this reason, on both surfaces of the tablet 9, at the same position in the transport direction, each processing of shooting by the first camera 40, printing by the printing unit 30, shooting by the second camera 50, and drying by the drying mechanism 60 is executed. it can. Therefore, the number of parts of the tablet printing apparatus 1 can be reduced as compared with the case where the processing for the first surface and the processing for the second surface are performed at different positions. Moreover, the tablet printing apparatus 1 can be downsized.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the front and back of the tablet 9 are reversed and the tablet 9 is moved in the width direction by using a pair of inclined drums. According to this mechanism, it is possible to reverse the front and back of the tablet 9 and move the tablet 9 in the width direction without changing the position in the transport direction. Therefore, the length in the transport direction required for the reversing mechanism 70 can be suppressed. Thereby, the tablet printing apparatus 1 can be further downsized.

<3. About the structure to prevent unnecessary contact of tablets>
As described above, the tablet printing apparatus 1 is configured such that the annular transport mechanism 20 transports the plurality of tablets 9 in multiple rows while reversing the front and back of the tablets 9 at the first to third inversion positions. Change the position of 9 in the width direction. At this time, it is necessary to prevent unnecessary contact between the tablets 9 or between the tablets 9 and the reversing mechanism 70. Various configurations for preventing unnecessary contact between the tablets 9 or between the tablets 9 and the reversing mechanism 70 near the reversing mechanism 70 will be described below.

<3-1. Convex part of inclined drum>
FIG. 8 is a side view of the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72. As shown in FIG. 8, the first side surface 710 of the first inclined drum 71 has a first convex portion 712 that projects outward. And the 1st adsorption | suction hole 711 is provided in the said 1st convex part 712. The first protrusion 712 is provided only on a part of the conical first side surface 710 in the generatrix direction. The first convex portion 712 may be one annular protrusion having the first axis C1 as the center. Alternatively, the plurality of first protrusions 712 may be arranged in an annular shape with the first axis C1 as the center.

Similarly, the second side surface 720 of the second inclined drum 72 has a second convex portion 722 that projects outward. And the 2nd adsorption | suction hole 721 is provided in the said 2nd convex part 722. The second convex portion 722 is provided only on a part of the conical second side surface 720 in the generatrix direction. The second convex portion 722 may be a single annular protrusion centered on the second axis C2. Alternatively, the plurality of second convex portions 722 may be arranged in an annular shape around the second axis C2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first convex portion 712 is close to the holding surface 220 of the conveyor belt 22 so that the tablets 9 conveyed at the width-direction first position W1 of the annular conveyor mechanism 20 can be received. .. The second convex portion 722 is close to the holding surface 220 of the conveyor belt 22 so that the tablet 9 can be delivered to the second position W2 in the width direction of the annular conveyor mechanism 20. However, the other parts of the side surfaces of the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 do not project. Therefore, the tablets 9 transported at the other widthwise positions W3 to W6 of the annular transport mechanism 20 do not come into contact with the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72. Therefore, the tablet 9 that does not need to be transferred between the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 can pass through the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72.

As shown in FIG. 8, the width-direction dimension of the tablets 9 to be conveyed is D, the width-direction arrangement interval of the plurality of tablets 9 is P, and the width of the first convex portion 712 in the generatrix direction on the first side surface 710. The width of the second side surface 720 of the second convex portion 722 in the generatrix direction is A. In this case, it is preferable that the first convex portion 712 and the second convex portion 722 satisfy the dimensional relationship of the following mathematical expression (1).
P> A / 2 + D / 2 (1)

By satisfying the relationship of the mathematical expression (1), it is possible to prevent the tablets 9 conveyed in the adjacent row in the width direction from contacting the first convex portion 712 or the second convex portion 722. Therefore, the tablet 9 that does not need to be transferred between the first inclined drum 71 and the second inclined drum 72 is transferred to the downstream side of the transport path without contacting the first convex portion 712 and the second convex portion 722. Can be transported.

Similar projections are provided on the third tilt drum 73, the fourth tilt drum 74, the fifth tilt drum 75, and the sixth tilt drum 76. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary contact between the plurality of tablets 9 transported by the annular transport mechanism 20 and the inclined drums 73 to 76.

<3-2. About block members>
As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8, the first tilt drum 71 has a first block member 714. The first block member 714 is close to the first side surface 710 at a position on the downstream side (for example, 90 ° downstream side) in the rotation direction with respect to the position facing the second tilt drum 72 around the first tilt drum 71. Are arranged. The first block member 714 is fixed to the non-rotating shaft of the first tilt drum 71 and the case of the first motor 71M. Therefore, even when the first tilting drum 71 rotates, the first block member 714 is kept non-rotating.

When the delivery of the tablet 9 from the first tilt drum 71 to the second tilt drum 72 fails, the tablet 9 is further rotated while being sucked and held in the first suction hole 711. However, the tablet 9 contacts the first block member 714 before approaching the holding surface 220 of the annular transport mechanism 20 again. Then, the tablet 9 that has come into contact with the first block member 714 is disengaged from the first suction hole 711 and is blown off below the first inclined drum 71. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered from the first tilting drum 71 to the second tilting drum 72 from approaching the holding surface 220 of the annular transport mechanism 20 again and contacting the subsequent tablet 9.

In particular, the first block member 714 of this embodiment has a cylindrical side surface. The cylindrical side surface includes an inclined surface 714 a that is inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the first inclined drum 71. The tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered is wiped off toward the outer peripheral side of the first inclined drum 71 by contacting the inclined surface 714a of the first block member 714. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tablet 9 blown off by the first block member 714 from coming into contact with the subsequent tablet 9 held by the first inclined drum 71.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8, the second tilt drum 72 has a second block member 724. The second block member 724 is arranged close to the second side surface 720 at a position on the downstream side (for example, 90 ° downstream side) in the rotation direction with respect to the position facing the conveyor belt 22 around the second inclined drum 72. To be done. The second block member 724 is fixed to the non-rotating shaft of the second tilt drum 72 and the case of the second motor 72M. Therefore, even when the second tilt drum 72 rotates, the second block member 724 is kept non-rotating.

When the delivery of the tablet 9 from the second tilt drum 72 to the annular transport mechanism 20 fails, the tablet 9 further rotates while being sucked and held in the second suction hole 721. However, the tablet 9 contacts the second block member 724 before approaching the first tilting drum 71 again. Then, the tablet 9 that has come into contact with the second block member 724 is removed from the second suction hole 721 and is blown off below the second inclined drum 72. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered from the second tilt drum 72 to the annular transport mechanism 20 from approaching the first tilt drum 71 again and coming into contact with the subsequent tablet 9.

In particular, the second block member 724 of this embodiment has a cylindrical side surface. The cylindrical side surface includes an inclined surface 724a inclined with respect to the rotation direction of the second inclined drum 72. The tablets 9 that have failed to be delivered come off toward the outer peripheral side of the second inclined drum 72 by contacting the inclined surface 724a of the second block member 724. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tablet 9 blown off by the second block member 724 from coming into contact with the subsequent tablet 9 held by the second inclined drum 72.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the first tilt drum 71, the second tilt drum 72, and a mechanism that supports these drums. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, the reversing mechanism 70 of the present embodiment has an adjusting mechanism 77 that adjusts the distance between the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 in the width direction. The adjusting mechanism 77 is located below the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72. As the adjusting mechanism 77, for example, a mechanism having a ball screw extending in the width direction and a nut moving in the width direction by the rotation of the ball screw is used. When the widthwise interval of the tablets 9 in the annular transport mechanism 20 is changed according to the type of the tablets 9 to be processed, the administrator of the tablet printing apparatus 1 operates the adjustment mechanism 77 to perform the first tilt. The widthwise interval between the drum 71 and the second inclined drum 72 is adjusted.

Further, the reversing mechanism 70 of the present embodiment has a cover 78 that covers the upper portion of the adjusting mechanism 77 and a recovery box 79. The cover 78 is located between the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72 and the adjusting mechanism 77. The collection box 79 is located below the adjustment mechanism 77. The tablets 9 blown off by the first block member 714 or the second block member 724 described above are recovered in the recovery box 79 directly or after coming into contact with the cover 78. Since the cover 78 covers the upper part of the adjusting mechanism 77, the tablets 9 do not enter the adjusting mechanism 77. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tablets 9 from being mixed in the gaps between the respective members in the adjusting mechanism 77.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cover 78 of this embodiment has a first cover 781 and a second cover 782. The first cover 781 is fixed to the first tilt drum 71. The second cover 782 is fixed to the second tilt drum 72. Each of the first cover 781 and the second cover 782 is a mountain-shaped plate extending in the width direction and partially overlaps with each other. When the adjustment mechanism 77 is operated, the first cover 781 and the second cover 782 relatively move in the width direction while maintaining the state of partially overlapping each other. For this reason, the first cover 781 and the second cover 782 constitute a series of covers 78 having no gap in the width direction as a whole, regardless of the gap in the width direction between the first tilt drum 71 and the second tilt drum 72. Therefore, regardless of the widthwise interval between the first tilting drum 71 and the second tilting drum 72, it is possible to prevent the dropped-out tablets 9 from entering the adjusting mechanism 77.

The third tilt drum 73, the fourth tilt drum 74, the fifth tilt drum 75, and the sixth tilt drum 76 are also provided with the same block members as the first block member 714 and the second block member 724 described above. ing. Therefore, the tablets 9 that have failed to be delivered can be blown off also on the inclined drums 73 to 76. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered from coming into contact with the subsequent tablet 9.

In addition, below the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 and below the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76, the same adjustment mechanism 77, cover 78, and recovery box 79 as described above are used. An adjustment mechanism, a cover, and a collection box are provided. Thus, the widthwise distance between the third tilt drum 73 and the fourth tilt drum 74 and the widthwise distance between the fifth tilt drum 75 and the sixth tilt drum 76 can be adjusted according to the situation. Further, the tablets 9 removed by the block member can be collected in the collection box 79 while preventing the tablets 9 from mixing into the adjusting mechanism 77.

<3-3. About sensor>
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the annular transport mechanism 20 of the present embodiment has a sensor 25 that detects the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered to the reversing mechanism 70. The sensor 25 is located downstream of the reversing mechanism 70 in the transport path and upstream of the carry-in drum 13 in the transport path. Further, the sensor 25 is provided at a position facing the first area A1 of the conveyor belt 22. When there is a tablet 9 that is conveyed while being held in the suction hole 221 of the first area A1 of the conveyor belt 22 at that position, the sensor 25 detects it and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 90.

When the tablet 9 fails to be delivered from the first area A1 of the transport belt 22 to the first tilt drum 71, the third tilt drum 73, or the fifth tilt drum 75, the tablet 9 will be a suction hole of the transport belt 22. While being adsorbed and held by the 221, the sheet is conveyed to the downstream side of the conveying path. However, the tablet 9 is detected by the sensor 25 before approaching the carry-in drum 13 again. When detecting the tablet 9, the sensor 25 transmits a detection signal to the control unit 90. When the control unit 90 receives the detection signal from the sensor 25, the control unit 90 stops the transportation motor 23 to stop the transportation of the tablets 9 by the annular transportation mechanism 20.

In this way, the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered from the conveyor belt 22 to the first tilt drum 71, the third tilt drum 73, or the fifth tilt drum 75 approaches the carry-in drum 13 again and the subsequent tablets The contact with 9 can be prevented.

A mechanism for removing the tablets 9 may be provided downstream of the sensor 25 in the transport path and upstream of the carry-in drum 13 in the transport path. Then, when the control unit 90 receives the detection signal from the sensor 25, the control unit 90 may operate the mechanism to wipe off the tablet 9 that has failed to be delivered. As a mechanism for removing the tablets 9, for example, a blow mechanism similar to the first blow mechanism B1 or the second blow mechanism B2 may be used.

<4. Modification>
Although the main embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

In the above embodiment, each of the first to sixth inclined drums 71 to 76 has a conical side surface. However, the side surfaces of the first to sixth tilt drums 71 to 76 may be polygonal pyramids such as a quadrangular pyramid, a hexagonal pyramid, and an octagonal pyramid.

Further, in the above embodiment, the print unit 30 was provided with the four heads 31. However, the number of heads 31 included in the printing unit 30 may be 1 to 3, or 5 or more.

Further, the tablet printing apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment has a printing unit 30, a first camera 40, a second camera 50, and a drying mechanism 60 as processing units that process the tablets 9 on the transport path of the annular transport mechanism 20. Was equipped with. However, the tablet printing apparatus 1 may include only some of these processing units. Moreover, the tablet printing apparatus 1 may include another processing unit.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the tablet 9 is conveyed along the circular conveyance path has been described. However, the granular material conveying device of the present invention moves the position of the granular material in the width direction while conveying the granular material along the non-circular conveying path and inverting the granular material in a part of the conveying path. It may be one.

Also, the detailed configuration in the device may be different from each drawing of the present application. Further, the respective elements appearing in the above-described embodiments and modifications may be appropriately combined within a range where no contradiction occurs.

<5. Invention from another viewpoint (1)>
In addition, if "suppressing contact between the failed particulate matter and the subsequent particulate matter" is set as the first problem, the "first convex portion" and the "second convex portion" are not essential requirements. Instead of this, the invention in which the “first block member” and the “second block member” are essential requirements can be extracted from the above-described embodiment.

The invention relates to, for example, "a conveying mechanism that conveys a plurality of granular materials while holding them in a state of being arranged in the width direction, and at the reversing position on the conveying path of the conveying mechanism, reverses the front and back of the granular material, and A reversing mechanism for moving a position in the width direction of the object, wherein the reversing mechanism has a first side surface of a conical or pyramidal shape centered on a first axis inclined with respect to the width direction. A drum, and a second inclined drum that is adjacent to the first inclined drum in the width direction and has a second side surface that is conical or pyramidal about a second axis inclined with respect to the width direction. The first side surface has a first suction hole, the second side surface has a second suction hole, and the first inclined drum is transported at a first position in the width direction of the transport mechanism. The particulate matter that is adsorbed and held in the first adsorption hole while While rotating about an axis and delivering the granular material to the second adsorption hole, the second inclined drum is adsorbing and retaining the granular material delivered from the first adsorption hole in the second adsorption hole, The granular material is delivered to a second position in the width direction of the transport mechanism by rotating around the second axis, and the first inclined drum is downstream in the rotational direction from a position facing the second inclined drum. And further includes a non-rotating first block member that is close to the first side surface, and the second inclined drum is close to the second side surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the position facing the transport mechanism. The granular material conveying device further having a non-rotating second block member. ”

According to the present invention, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the first inclined drum to the second inclined drum fails, the particulate matter remaining in the first suction holes is wiped off by the first block member. Further, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the second tilt drum to the transport mechanism fails, the particulate matter remaining in the second suction holes is wiped off by the second block member. As a result, it is possible to prevent the granular material that has failed to be delivered from coming into contact with the subsequent granular material. Further, it is possible to combine the present invention with each of the elements appearing in the above-described embodiments and modifications.

<6. Invention from another viewpoint (2)>
Further, if "detecting the particulate matter that has failed to be delivered" is set as the first problem, the "first convex portion" and the "second convex portion" are not essential requirements, and instead, the "sensor" is used. The invention in which is essential can be extracted from the above embodiment.

The invention relates to, for example, "a conveying mechanism that conveys a plurality of granular materials while holding them in a state of being arranged in the width direction, and at the reversing position on the conveying path of the conveying mechanism, reverses the front and back of the granular material, and A reversing mechanism for moving a position in the width direction of the object, wherein the reversing mechanism has a first side surface of a conical or pyramidal shape centered on a first axis inclined with respect to the width direction. A drum, and a second inclined drum that is adjacent to the first inclined drum in the width direction and has a second side surface that is conical or pyramidal about a second axis inclined with respect to the width direction. The first side surface has a first suction hole, the second side surface has a second suction hole, and the first inclined drum is transported at a first position in the width direction of the transport mechanism. The particulate matter that is adsorbed and held in the first adsorption hole while While rotating about an axis and delivering the granular material to the second adsorption hole, the second inclined drum is adsorbing and retaining the granular material delivered from the first adsorption hole in the second adsorption hole, By rotating around the second axis, the granular material is delivered to a second position in the width direction of the carrying mechanism, and the carrying mechanism is located downstream of the position facing the first inclined drum in the carrying direction. A granular material conveying device having a sensor for detecting the granular material. "

According to the present invention, when the delivery of the particulate matter from the transport mechanism to the first inclined drum fails, the particulate matter remaining in the transport mechanism can be detected by the sensor. Further, it is possible to combine the present invention with each of the elements appearing in the above-described embodiments and modifications.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tablet printing device 9 Tablets 10 Carrying-in mechanism 11 Feeder 12 Carrying-in conveyor 13 Carrying-in drum 20 Annular conveying mechanism 21 Pulley 22 Conveying belt 23 Conveying motor 24 Suction mechanism 25 Sensor 30 Printing section 31 Head 40 First camera 50 Second camera 60 Drying Mechanism 70 Inversion mechanism 71 First tilt drum 71M First motor 72 Second tilt drum 72M Second motor 73 Third tilt drum 73M Third motor 74 Fourth tilt drum 74M Fourth motor 75 Fifth tilt drum 75M Fifth motor 76 Sixth tilting drum 76M Sixth motor 77 Adjustment mechanism 78 Cover 79 Recovery box 80 Unloading mechanism 81 Unloading chute 90 Control part 220 Holding surface 221 Suction hole 710 First side surface 711 First suction hole 712 First convex part 714 First block member 714a inclined surface 720 2 side surfaces 721 2nd adsorption | suction hole 722 2nd convex part 724 2nd block member 724a inclined surface 781 1st cover 782 2nd cover A1 1st area | region A2 2nd area | region B1 1st blow mechanism B2 2nd blow mechanism B3 3rd blow Mechanism B4 Fourth blow mechanism

Claims

A transport mechanism that transports while holding a plurality of granular materials arranged in the width direction,
A reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of the granular material at the reversing position on the conveying path of the conveying mechanism and moving the position of the granular material in the width direction,
Equipped with
The inversion mechanism is
A first tilt drum having a conical or pyramidal first side surface centered on a first axis inclined with respect to the width direction;
A second inclined drum which is adjacent to the first inclined drum in the width direction and has a second side surface of a cone shape or a pyramid shape centered on a second axis inclined with respect to the width direction;
Have
The first side surface is
A first convex portion projecting outward,
A first suction hole provided in the first convex portion;
Have
The second side surface is
A second convex portion projecting outward,
A second suction hole provided in the second convex portion;
Have
The first inclined drum rotates about the first axis while adsorbing and holding the granular material conveyed at the first position in the width direction of the conveying mechanism in the first adsorption hole, 2 Pass the granular material to the adsorption holes,
The second inclined drum rotates around the second axis while adsorbing and holding the particulate matter transferred from the first adsorption hole in the second adsorption hole, and the second inclined drum in the width direction of the conveyance mechanism. A granular material conveying device for delivering the granular material to the second position.
The granular material conveying device according to claim 1,
The first convex portion is a circular ring centered on the first axis,
The said 2nd convex part is a granular material conveyance apparatus which is an annular shape centering | focusing on the said 2nd axis | shaft.
The granular material conveying device according to claim 1 or 2,
The widthwise dimension of the granular material conveyed by the conveying mechanism is D,
The interval in the width direction of the plurality of granular objects conveyed by the conveyor mechanism is P,
A width of the first convex portion in the generatrix direction on the first side surface and a width of the second convex portion in the generatrix direction on the second side surface are A,
And when
P> A / 2 + D / 2
Granular material conveying device that satisfies the relationship of.
The granular material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The reversing mechanism has a third tilting drum and a fourth tilting drum, which have the same structure as the first tilting drum and the second tilting drum, on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the first tilting drum and the second tilting drum. Has a tilting drum,
The granular material conveying device in which the granular material conveyed at the third position in the width direction of the conveying mechanism moves to the fourth position in the width direction by the third tilt drum and the fourth tilt drum.
The granular material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The first tilting drum has a non-rotating first block member that is close to the first side surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the position facing the second tilting drum,
The said 2nd inclination drum is a granular material conveyance apparatus which has the non-rotating 2nd block member which adjoins the said 2nd side surface in the downstream of the position which opposes the said conveyance mechanism in the rotation direction.
The granular material conveying device according to claim 5,
The first block member has a first inclined surface for brushing off the granular material rotating together with the first suction hole toward the outer peripheral side of the first inclined drum,
The granular material conveying device, wherein the second block member has a second inclined surface for brushing off the granular material that rotates together with the second suction holes toward the outer peripheral side of the second inclined drum.
The granular material conveying device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein
The inversion mechanism is
An adjusting mechanism that is located below the first tilt drum and the second tilt drum, and that adjusts a gap in the width direction between the first tilt drum and the second tilt drum;
A cover positioned between the adjusting mechanism and the first tilting drum and the second tilting drum;
A granular material conveying device further comprising:
The granular material conveying device according to claim 7,
The cover is
A first cover whose relative position to the first tilt drum is fixed;
A second cover whose relative position to the second tilt drum is fixed;
Have
The granular material conveying device in which the first cover and the second cover are relatively moved in the width direction while overlapping each other by the adjusting mechanism.
The granular material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The granular material conveying device, wherein the conveying mechanism has a sensor for detecting the granular material on the downstream side of the conveying path with respect to the position facing the first inclined drum.
The granular material conveying device according to claim 9,
The granular material transport device further comprising a control unit that stops the transport mechanism based on a detection signal of the sensor.
The granular material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The granular material conveying device, wherein the granular material is a tablet.
A granular material treating apparatus comprising the granular material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
The transport mechanism transports the granular material along an annular transport path,
The granular material processing apparatus further comprising a processing unit that performs a predetermined processing on the surface of the granular material at the processing position on the transport path.
The granular material processing apparatus according to claim 12,
The processing unit is
An apparatus for treating particulate matter, including a printing unit that prints on the surface of the particulate matter by an inkjet method.
It is a granular material processing apparatus of Claim 12 or Claim 13, Comprising:
The processing unit is
A granular material processing apparatus including a camera for photographing the surface of the granular material.