WO2021246422A1 - Tablet discharging device and medicine packaging machine having tablet discharging device - Google Patents

Tablet discharging device and medicine packaging machine having tablet discharging device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021246422A1
WO2021246422A1 PCT/JP2021/020906 JP2021020906W WO2021246422A1 WO 2021246422 A1 WO2021246422 A1 WO 2021246422A1 JP 2021020906 W JP2021020906 W JP 2021020906W WO 2021246422 A1 WO2021246422 A1 WO 2021246422A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tablet
tablets
flat plate
circular flat
release device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2021/020906
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
司郎 大村
繁幸 山本
大毅 芳賀
Original Assignee
株式会社トーショー
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Publication of WO2021246422A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021246422A1/en

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/30—Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tablet release device capable of releasing drugs such as tablets one by one and a drug packaging machine that packages and discharges the released drugs.
  • Patent Document 1 A drug packaging device that can count a predetermined number of capsules and capsules and then enclose them in one individual package has been put into practical use, which greatly contributes to the efficiency of dispensing operations and the prevention of erroneous administration. I've done it.
  • Patent Document 2 A countermeasure against this is a hand-spreading conveyor device having a plurality of squares (Patent Document 2), but this requires a lot of manual work, and further automation and efficiency have been required.
  • a drug feeder (which may be called a general-purpose tablet release device) capable of delivering drugs of various shapes and sizes, not exclusively for a specific drug shape and size, has been developed. There are three.
  • the drug feeder described in Patent Document 3 is provided with a rotary container that can rotate around the axis and a lead-out portion that guides the drug to the outside from the outer wall of the rotary container. Then, a height regulating member that regulates the height of the lead-out portion in front of the lead-out portion so that the drug is discharged one by one from the lead-out portion, and a width regulating member that regulates the width of the drug on the peripheral portion of the rotary container. Is provided.
  • FIG. 23 and 24 are explanatory views showing the operation of the conventional tablet release device, and the above configuration will be schematically described with reference to the drawings.
  • FIG. 23 shows the behavior when a circular or oval tablet passes through the conventional width regulating member portion, but the plurality of tablet groups proceed in the direction of arrow Y1 and the width regulating member side including the outer wall G1 and the distribution guide plate G2. Come in.
  • the tablet itself has an R shape, so the tablet T1 that has entered first advances in the exit direction Y2, and the next tablet T2 can be excluded. ..
  • the main problem to be solved by the present invention is to replace a simple cylindrical frame without requiring a complicated mechanism for changing the regulation dimensions of the height regulation member and the width regulation member.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet release device capable of releasing tablets one by one from a group of one type of tablets.
  • the tablet release device of the present invention is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a substantially horizontal plane, a circular flat plate on which a tablet can be placed and rotated, and a circular plate above the circular flat plate.
  • the cylindrical frame having a slight gap with the flat plate and having an open bottom surface and not rotating, which is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the circular flat plate, and the charged tablets are collectively housed.
  • a tablet batch container formed inside the cylindrical frame body, and a tablet formed inside the cylindrical frame body, having an inlet, an outlet, and a restricting body, and released from the tablet batch container.
  • the rotation of the circular flat plate and the restrictor sequentially regulate the orientation of the tablets so that they can be transported at intervals. It has an outlet portion provided in the cylindrical frame body to be discharged from the small chamber of the above, and an opening for separating overlapping tablets having a wide gap according to the traveling direction of the tablet at the lower part of the restricting body.
  • restricting the orientation of tablets means laying up standing tablets, aligning oval tablets in the longitudinal direction, aligning semi-circular or polygonal tablets in a stable direction, etc. However, it is sufficient if any of them can be implemented.
  • the tablet release device in the present invention is different from the dedicated tablet release device that specially releases a single type of tablet, and even if the width or thickness of the tablet changes, each tablet is accurately counted and released. It is a general-purpose tablet release device that can be used.
  • the tablets released from the tablet batch storage unit can be separated into tablets one by one by the frictional transport force given to the tablets by the circular flat plate and the function of the orientation regulation by the regulator of each small room. can.
  • the regulator preferably has a flat plate structure that shields a part of the tablet transport portion and stands up in a substantially vertical direction, and has a simple structure and can release one tablet at a time.
  • the regulator is a simple member and the tablet is transported with only one side in contact with the regulator, there are few elements in which the tablet is pinched or caught, so there are various shapes such as semicircle and rhombus. The transport performance for tablets is maintained.
  • a tablet releasing device capable of releasing one tablet at a time from a group of a plurality of single-type tablets without requiring a mechanism for changing the regulated dimensions of the height-regulating member and the width-regulating member. ..
  • a tablet release device capable of releasing tablets one by one while maintaining the transport performance for tablets having various shapes such as a semicircle shape and a rhombus shape.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of another embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation of the conventional tablet release apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation of the conventional tablet release apparatus.
  • the tablet release device and the drug packaging machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
  • the tablet release device will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to tablets, and can be applied to drugs such as capsules.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the drug packaging machine 1 according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a part of the inside is seen through.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drug packaging machine according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of two front and rear slide shelves in which a dedicated tablet storage container 3 is arranged.
  • Three front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c arranged laterally when viewed from the front are attached to the housing of the drug packaging machine 1. These front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c are stored in the back side during the operation of the drug packaging machine 1, and are manually or electrically pulled out forward when replenishing tablets, etc., and dedicated tablet storage containers are provided from the left and right sides. 3 is designed to be attached and detached.
  • the slide shelves 2a to 2c are located below the vertical chute 9 and the vertical chute 9 which form a drop path for dropping the tablets P housed in the plurality of dedicated tablet storage containers 3 arranged therein. It has a lower opening 10 and a storage shutter 11 below the lower opening 10 for storing the tablet P.
  • the drug packaging machine 1 puts the diagonal chute 12 arranged below the slide shelves 2a to 2c, the hopper 14 arranged at the lower part of the diagonal chute 12, and the tablet P charged from the hopper 14 into the packing paper 18. It has a packaging machine 17 for packaging and a control unit 15.
  • dedicated tablet storage container installation stands 4 are arranged orthogonally in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction on the left and right sides of these front-rear slide shelves 2a to 2c.
  • dedicated tablet storage container installation stands 4 to which the dedicated tablet storage container 3 can be attached and detached are arranged in two rows on the left and right when viewed from the drawer direction, and a plurality of them are arranged in the drawer direction.
  • the slide shelves 2a to 2c have the same configuration, they are particularly referred to as slide shelves 2 in FIG.
  • the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 has a coupling 6 that can be engaged with a part of the dedicated tablet storage container 3, and a motor 5 that is a drive source for rotationally driving the coupling 6.
  • the coupling 6 at the shaft end of the motor 5 of the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 engages with the lower coupling 8 of the rotary blade 7. It has become like.
  • the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 detects the passage of the tablet P with a sensor (not shown), and then notifies the control unit 15 of the drop of the tablet P.
  • the tablet P falls inside the vertical chute 9 and falls from the lower opening 10 provided at the lower part of the slide shelves 2a to 2c.
  • the tablet P that falls from the lower opening 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is once accumulated in the storage shutter 11 of the slide shelf.
  • the storage shutters 11 of the three front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c arranged horizontally are opened at the same time, and the tablet P is dropped onto the oblique chute 12.
  • the tablets that fall along the slope of the oblique chute 12 are collected at the central lower exit 13, and further temporarily accumulated at the hopper 14 of the packaging machine 17.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drug packaging machine that implements one embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
  • the tablet release device 100 is a device that can accurately count and release each tablet even if the width and thickness of the tablets change.
  • the tablet release device 100 is mounted on the frontmost side of the slide shelf 2a.
  • three upper and lower tablet release devices 100 are mounted inside the front small door 16 of the slide shelf 2a.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the slide shelf 2a is housed in the back side and the packaging operation is possible.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the slide shelf 2a is pulled out and the dedicated tablet storage container 3 can be attached and detached.
  • FIG. 5 shows a state in which the front small door 16 is opened and the tablet discharging device 100 is further pulled out so that the operator can operate the tablet.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view (closed state) of an embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view (open state) of the tablet release device
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section of the tablet release device 100.
  • 9 and 9 are rear views of the tablet release device
  • FIG. 10 is a plan view of the tablet release device 100 with a part of the upper body removed
  • FIGS. 11 to 13 are partial cross-sectional views of the tablet release device 100.
  • FIG. 14 is a plan view of a part of the tablet release device 100 (cylindrical frame).
  • the tablet release device 100 is composed of a lower main body 101 and an upper main body 102, and the upper main body 102 can be opened and closed by rotating about a shaft 103 with respect to the lower main body 101. ing.
  • the lock claw 105 linked to the lock button 104 provided on the upper main body 102 engages with the lock hole 106 provided on the lower main body 101, so that the upper main body with respect to the lower main body 101 as shown in FIG. 102 closes and becomes one.
  • a circular flat plate 107 forming the bottom surface of the tablet storage portion is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the lower main body 101.
  • the circular flat plate 107 is provided with a substantially horizontal plane, and radial protrusion ribs 108 are formed from the inner circumference to the outer circumference on the substantially horizontal plane, and a motor M01 is interposed at the center of rotation thereof via a bevel gear 109. It is attached and rotationally drives the circular flat plate 107.
  • the protruding rib 108 on the surface of the circular flat plate 107 enhances the friction carrying force for the contained tablet, and may be a rough surface that increases the friction coefficient on the surface of the circular flat plate 107. However, since the tablet placed on the circular flat plate 107 is scraped by the rough surface or the scraps thereof remain and cleaning is required, the surface of the circular flat plate 107 is smoothed and the protrusion rib 108 is formed. It is preferable to provide it.
  • the "substantially horizontal plane" here includes a surface shape that is horizontal enough to allow the tablet P to be placed on the upper surface and increases the friction coefficient to the extent that the tablet P can be conveyed. Shows.
  • the circular flat plate 107 and the motor M01 can be removed from the motor M01, the circular flat plate 107 can be removed and cleaned.
  • a cylindrical frame having a cylindrical flat plate 107 in a closed state, surrounding the outer peripheral portion in a cylindrical shape, and having a plurality of continuous small chambers inside.
  • the body 110 is fixed by screws 110a and screws 110b as shown in FIG.
  • the cylindrical frame body 110, the tablet batch accommodating portion 121 formed inside the cylindrical frame body 110, and the plurality of small chambers do not rotate, and are between the circular flat plate 107 and the cylindrical frame body 110.
  • the gap is a small gap so that the tablet does not get caught or pop out.
  • a tablet batch storage unit 121 provided inside the cylindrical frame 110 and a plurality of continuous small chambers will be described.
  • the tablet batch storage unit 121 is located near the center of the circular flat plate 107, directly below the small lid 113 provided on the upper surface of the upper main body 102, with the lower main body 101 and the upper main body 102 of the tablet release device 100 closed. , A circular flat plate 107 and a restrictor hanging from above (shown by a dotted line around the tablet batch storage portion 121 in FIG. 14).
  • the fifth chamber 126 is continuously formed in a maze shape. In this way, a plurality of small rooms are arranged in order along the transport path of the tablet P, and when it is particularly necessary to state the order, the first, second, and second chambers are arranged in order from the upstream side of the transport path of the tablet P. Expressed as 3 ...
  • the tablet batch storage unit 121 has a slope-shaped restricting body 121a on the left side in front of the tablet P in the transport direction Y1, and an elastic body restricting body 121b on the right side of the point in the transport direction Y2.
  • the slope-shaped regulator 121a is a regulator having a slope that rises outward from the passage portion of the tablet P.
  • the slope-shaped restrictor 121a is a restrictor whose cross section forms an obtuse angle with the circular flat plate 107 as shown in FIG. 11, or is a wedge-shaped structure that gently inclines outward from the passage portion. It can also be expressed as a regulator with a cross section.
  • the elastic body restrictor 121b is a restrictor substantially perpendicular to the circular flat plate 107, and is an elastic body such as a rubber plate or a resin plate having a spring property, which can be bent by the pressure when the amount of tablets is large. It is formed.
  • the tablet P tries to pass through the space sandwiched between the slope-shaped restricting body 121a and the elastic body restricting body 121b, the tablet P repelled by the elastic force from the elastic body regulating body 121b is shown in FIG. It is possible to move while riding on the slope.
  • one side is a vertical restricting body 121e which is a part of the cylindrical frame 110, and the other side is a slanted restricting body.
  • the body is 121f.
  • the slope-shaped regulator 121f is a regulator having a slope that rises outward from the passage portion of the tablet, similar to the slope-shaped regulator 121a described above.
  • an outlet 121h of the tablet batch storage unit 121 is provided as shown in FIG. 13 (C-C cross section of FIG. 10). This part is also the entrance of the first room 122 of the small rooms.
  • the tablet P is conveyed along the vertical plate 107 toward the center of the circular flat plate 107, and the tablet is conveyed in the second chamber 123 as in the transport direction Y5. It is provided with an exit 122b of the first chamber 122 to be carried out to.
  • the area is defined by a regulatory body that also serves as a wall surface as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 14, in addition to the special description. Similarly, for each small room described below, it is assumed that the area is defined by a regulatory body other than the special mention.
  • the second chamber 123 includes a vertical restricting body 123a in which the tablet is transported along the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and the second chamber 123 in which the tablet is carried out to the third chamber 124 as in the transport direction Y6.
  • the exit 123b and the like are provided.
  • the third chamber 124 has a vertical restricting body 124a in which the tablet is transported along the inner peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and a third chamber 124 in which the tablet is carried out to the fourth chamber 125 as in the transport direction Y7. It is provided with an outlet 124b of the chamber 124.
  • the vertical restrictor 122a is a restrictor that guides the tablet P from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107.
  • the vertical restrictor 123a which is a regulator that guides the tablet P from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107, are alternately provided.
  • a restrictor for inducing the tablet P from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side is provided, and the tablet P that moves toward the outer peripheral side by centrifugal force when the circular flat plate 107 is rotated is provided. , It can be gently guided to the inner peripheral side to loosen the lump of the tablet P.
  • a restrictor for guiding the tablet P from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 is provided to accelerate the tablet P to the outer peripheral side and transport the tablet P to widen the interval between the tablets P. Can be done.
  • tablets can be released one by one at appropriate intervals, and at the same time, tablets of various shapes are not subject to strict height restrictions or width restrictions. Transport performance is maintained.
  • FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the vertical restrictor 124a of the third chamber 124 of the embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
  • the outlet 124b which is the outlet portion of the vertical restricting body 124a of the third chamber 124, has a substantially arc-shaped overlapping tablet separation opening having a wide gap at the lower portion according to the traveling direction of the tablet.
  • Part 124b (overlapping tablet separation mechanism) is formed. The action of the overlapping tablet separation mechanism will be described later.
  • the fourth chamber 125 is a vertical restricting body 125a in which the tablet is transported along the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and the fourth chamber 125 in which the tablet is carried out to the fifth chamber 126 as in the transport direction Y8. It is provided with an outlet 125b of 125.
  • the fifth chamber 126 has a vertical restrictor 126a in which the tablet is conveyed along the outer circumference of the circular flat plate 107.
  • the vertical restricting body 126a has a gentler angle with respect to the tablet transport direction than the other vertical restricting bodies 125a.
  • An outlet portion 115 is provided in the cylindrical frame body 110 in the vicinity of the terminal portion indicated by the transport direction Y9 of the vertical restricting body 126a.
  • the outlet portion 115 is opened so that the tablet P can fall, but the tablet P is opened and closed by the solenoid 116 so that the tablet on the circular flat plate 107 does not accidentally fall except when the tablet is discharged.
  • the dynamic shutter 117 is provided on the upper body 102 side.
  • an outlet chute 114 for receiving the released tablet is provided at the tip of the outlet portion 115.
  • a tablet drop sensor S1 which is a transmission type optical sensor is provided below the entrance of the exit chute 114, and the number of tablets passing by the tablet drop sensor S1 is counted.
  • a reflective sensor S2 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107, thereby detecting the presence or absence of passage of the tablet P, and if the tablet P does not pass for a certain period of time, a signal from the reflective sensor S2 is provided.
  • the control unit 15 is notified, and the control unit 15 controls to reduce the number of noises of the motor M01. It is also possible to widen the tablet gap. In this way, the drop interval of the tablet P can be controlled by the drop detection means arranged near the outlet end 115.
  • the number of small rooms may be less than 5.
  • the structure may be simpler and the manufacturing cost may be reduced.
  • the tablet may have a diamond-shaped irregular shape that is difficult to handle in the dedicated tablet container 3, or a round tablet may be cut in half. It is a tablet in the shape of a tablet, or a special tablet that has been newly released and the dedicated tablet storage container 3 has not yet been prepared.
  • the tablet release device 100 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 5, the small lid 113 at the top is opened, and the corresponding special tablet is contained in the number of tablets specified in the prescription. Are loaded into the tablet release device 100, respectively.
  • the amount to be loaded does not necessarily have to match the specified quantity of the prescription, and may be larger than that. However, in this case, the remaining tablets remain after the packaging of the prescription is completed. Work to collect by processing is required.
  • the tablet P is a tablet batch storage unit 121 separated from the circular flat plate 107 almost directly below the small lid 113. It is stored in the tablet batch storage unit 121.
  • the solenoid 116 is driven to open the rotary shutter 117 so that the tablet can be dropped from the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107.
  • the arrow Y2 portion is the first narrow path 121c that limits the amount of tablet entry, but one side is a slope-shaped restrictor 121a and the opposite side is an elastic body restrictor 121b, and a plurality of tablets are not clogged in this narrow path.
  • the tablet P partially rides on the slope-shaped restricting body 121a, or the elastic body regulating body 121b bends, thereby reducing the amount of tablets passing through.
  • the regulators arranged so as to sandwich the tablet P of the first bottleneck 121c toward the first small room 122, at least one side has a slope rising outward from the passage portion. It is a regulator that has.
  • the tablets P are reduced but are connected or overlapped.
  • the tablet P is conveyed to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 along the slope-shaped restricting body 121a, and is introduced into the next second bottleneck 121d as shown by the arrow Y3.
  • the second narrow path 121d has a vertical restricting body 121e on one side and a slanting restricting body 121f on the opposite side as in the BB cross section of FIG. 12, and the width W1 of the passage formed by the two restricting bodies is , It is set slightly wider than the maximum width tablet that can be handled by this cylindrical frame 110.
  • the maximum tablet width that can be handled is 7 mm. It should be noted that there are many cases where the minor axis and the major axis are different in the deformed tablet, but in the first bottleneck 121c, the posture of the tablet P is generally longitudinally oriented with respect to the traveling direction.
  • the "maximum tablet width obtained" may be the width in the minor axis direction of the tablet P.
  • the cylindrical frame 110 of this example can handle tablets having a tablet spoke of 7 mm to 4.5 mm.
  • two tablets P are arranged side by side in the width W1 to prevent the tablet P having a width of 8 mm from being clogged.
  • the width of the portion sandwiched between the vertical regulator 121e and the slope regulator 121f is such that the two tablets P having the minimum handleable width pass side by side. It is desirable to set it to a degree that does not exist.
  • the tablets P are gradually aligned toward the outlet 121g of the second bottleneck 121d.
  • the tablet P is guided to the inner peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 as shown by the arrow Y4, and enters the first chamber 122 from the outlet 121h of the tablet batch storage unit 121 as shown by the cross section CC of FIG.
  • the outlet width W2 of the outlet 121h is set to be sufficiently wider than the tablet width that can be handled, that is, W2> W1.
  • the wall surface is brought into contact with only one side of the tablet P to generate a transport force.
  • an oblong-diameter tablet (minor diameter 6 mm ⁇ This is because it is desirable to move the tablet P with as little resistance as possible, that is, without getting caught in the outlet 121h, even when the posture of the tablet P such as (major diameter 12 mm) changes and tries to pass.
  • the tablet introduced into the first chamber 122 is conveyed toward the center of the circular flat plate 107 along the vertical restrictor 122a as shown by the arrow Y5, and has the same structure as the cross section CC of the first chamber. Enter the second room 123 from the exit 122b of the first room.
  • the tablet introduced into the second chamber 123 is conveyed in the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107 along the vertical restrictor 123a as shown by the arrow Y6, and has the same shape as the cross section CC of the first chamber. Enter the third room 124 from the exit 123b of the second room.
  • the tablets P are aligned and conveyed along the vertical regulators 122a and 123a on one side, and the tablets P along the vertical regulators 123a in the second chamber are circular flat plates. Since the speed in the circumferential direction increases toward the outer peripheral side of 107, it is possible to increase the distance between the tablets in a row.
  • the tablet P is in contact with the third chamber vertical regulator 124a and is transported from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side, but the lower portion of the third chamber vertical regulator 124a is the progress of the tablet P. It has a substantially arc-shaped opening for separating overlapping tablets 124b (overlapping tablet separation mechanism) in which the gap becomes wider in the direction.
  • FIG. 16 An opening 124b for separating overlapping tablets having such a stepped shape will be described.
  • the tablet P3 in contact with the circular flat plate 107 proceeds toward the inner peripheral side (to the left side in FIG. 15) by the rotational force of the circular flat plate 107 and the guidance of the third chamber vertical restrictor 124a.
  • the upper corner of the tablet P3 is separated from the upper side of the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b, so that the tablet P3 can be moved to the next fourth chamber 125 side as shown by the arrow Y7.
  • the upper tablet P4 overlapping the tablet P3 is blocked from advancing by the upper side of the overlapping tablet separation month opening 124b, and as shown in FIGS. 16 to 17, the two tablets are broken into one tablet at a time. Can be done.
  • the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b is close to the end of the tablet transport path, and is the outlet of the third chamber 124 of the third chamber vertical regulator 124a that guides the tablet while decelerating from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side. It is preferable to provide it in the vicinity from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of separation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be provided in another regulatory body. It may be advantageous from the overall configuration.
  • the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b is not strictly height-controlled, and there is almost no need to change it according to the tablets P3 and P4.
  • the packaging machine 17 detects it as an abnormality in the output waveform of the tablet drop sensor S1 which is a transmissive optical sensor and outputs a signal. This is because it is possible to prevent the counting mismatch by stopping.
  • the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b may have not only an arc shape but also a staircase shape such that a stepped gap is widened between the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b and the floor surface. good.
  • the tablet introduced into the fourth chamber 125 is conveyed in the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107 as shown by the arrow Y8 along the vertical restrictor 125a.
  • the tablet P is accelerated as it moves from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side, so that the tablet spacing is gradually widened.
  • the tablet P enters the fifth chamber 126 from the outlet 125b of the fourth chamber having the same shape as the cross section CC of the first chamber 122.
  • the tablet P introduced into the fifth chamber 126 is transported along the vertical regulator 126a.
  • the vertical restrictor 126a of the fifth chamber 126 extends from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107, but the angle formed with respect to the transport direction is small (in other words, the tangent line of the circle). Since it is close to the direction), the frictional transport force to the tablet P becomes large. Therefore, the speed is further increased, and the tablet P is sufficiently spaced from the next tablet P to fall from the outlet portion 115 to the outlet chute 114.
  • the tablet drop sensor S1 counts the falling tablets P, and when the tablet quantity separately instructed is reached, the tablet drop sensor S1 instructs the motor M01 to stop via the control unit 15, and when the motor M01 stops, the next There is no danger of the tablets falling.
  • the tablet transport interval in front of the outlet portion 115 is monitored by the reflective sensor S2, and when the tablet spacing becomes smaller than the value specified in advance, the control unit 15 performs before the count of the tablet drop sensor S1.
  • the tablets P are dropped one by one, and when all the tablets P for the prescription have been dropped, the drive of the solenoid 116 is released, the rotary shutter 117 is closed, and the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107 is closed. Then, the tablet P cannot be dropped.
  • the tablets P do not remain on the circular flat plate 107, but if more than the specified number of tablets are added, the tablets P remain, and the tablets P remain. Cannot be detected. Therefore, after the prescription operation is completed, the solenoid 116 is driven again to open the rotary shutter 117, the circular flat plate 107 is rotated for a certain period of time, and if the tablet drop sensor S1 does not detect the passage of the tablet, the circular flat plate is used. It is preferable to perform a residue confirmation operation for determining that there was no tablet residue in 107.
  • the tablet drop sensor S1 detects the passage of the tablet P in the residual confirmation operation
  • the passed tablet is collected in a wrapping paper portion separate from the prescription package, and the circular flat plate 107 is further rotated for a certain period of time. Detects whether or not the tablet P passes. If the passage of the tablet P is not detected in these residual confirmation operations, the tablet release device 100 completes the present formulation operation.
  • FIG. 22 is a plan view of a part (cylindrical frame 110c) which is another embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
  • the size and shape of the tablet differ greatly depending on the type of tablet, and the single tablet release device 100 described above may not be able to handle the tablet, or even if the tablet can be handled, the efficiency and performance may not be satisfied.
  • the cylindrical frame 110 containing the tablet batch storage unit 121 and a plurality of small chambers is collectively combined. If it can be replaced, it will take less time for adjustment and trial run, which is extremely preferable.
  • the tablet release device 100 Since the tablet release device 100 has a certain degree of tolerance for size and shape, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated device for individual tablets. For example, for large tablets, medium-sized tablets, small tablets, etc. By preparing a limited type of cylindrical frame 110, it is possible to handle a wide range of tablet types.
  • the cylindrical frame 110c shown in FIG. 22 is a modified example in which only the width W1 of the second bottleneck 121d is formed narrower than the cylindrical frame 110 described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 14. With such a configuration, the tablet release device 100 "for small tablets" can be realized.
  • the cylindrical frame 110c of this modification can handle tablets having a tablet width of 4.5 mm to 3 mm.
  • the fixing method is not limited to screws, and may be fixed by a magnet or elastic fitting such as snap fit. In some cases, the structure and replacement work may be simplified.
  • a tablet release device 100 "for large tablets" can be realized. As described above, it has been confirmed that tablets having a tablet width of about 3 mm to about 12 mm can be processed by properly using several types of cylindrical frame bodies 110 for small tablets and large tablets.
  • cylindrical frame 110 with different settings such as the shape and angle of the slope-shaped restricting body, the size of each small room, the dimensions of the exit of each small room, and the extending direction of the vertical restricting body on the plane. In this case, it is possible to handle tablets having a wider range of dimensions and shapes.
  • FIGS. 23 and 24 As described above, as described in detail so far, the conventional problems described in FIGS. 23 and 24 are solved by the regulation / alignment effect on the tablets by the tablet batch storage unit 121, the plurality of small rooms, and various regulators. can do. This point will be described in detail.
  • regulatory members G1 and G2 for regulating the transport path of the tablet flowing in the Y1 direction according to the width of the tablets T1 and T2 have been known. In such a configuration, only one of the adjacent tablets T1 and T2 enters the gap between the regulating member G1 and the regulating member G2, is aligned and transferred, and is sequentially discharged from the outlet Y2.
  • FIG. 23 and 24 regulatory members G1 and G2 for regulating the transport path of the tablet flowing in the Y1 direction according to the width of the tablets T1 and T2 have been known. In such a configuration, only one of the adjacent tablets T1 and T2 enters the gap between the regulating member G1 and the regulating member G2, is aligned and transferred
  • the regulator regulates the amount of entry by providing a barrier at the stage of advancing the tablet group received in a batch to the next step, but the regulator is a wall perpendicular to both sides of the circular flat plate 107. Instead, one side should be vertical and the other side should be sloped to prevent tablet clogging.
  • the tablet on the circular flat plate 107 is always guided by contacting the regulated body on only one side without being restricted on both sides thereof. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tablet from being clogged or damaged.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention is expected to be widely used in dispensing pharmacies and the like, and has great industrial applicability.

Abstract

Provided are a tablet discharging device capable of discharging tablets one by one from a group of multiple tablets by using a simple configuration, and a medicine packaging machine incorporated with the tablet discharging device.　The present invention has: a circular flat plate having a substantially level surface and being rotatable with tables placed on an upper surface thereof; a non-rotating cylindrical frame body disposed above the circular flat plate so as to surround the outer periphery of the circular flat plate with a small gap from the circular flat plate and having an open bottom; a tablet collective accommodation part formed on the inner side of the cylindrical frame body and collectively accommodating tablets thrown therein; multiple continuous compartments formed on the inner side of the cylindrical frame body, having an entrance, an exit, and a regulating body, and allowing the tablets discharged from the tablet collective accommodation part to be sequentially conveyed at intervals, with the directions of the tablets being regulated by rotation of the circular flat plate and the regulating body; an exit part provided on the cylindrical frame body and through which the tablets being separately conveyed in a raw are discharged from the last compartment; and an overlapped-tablet separating opening part disposed at a lower part of the regulating body and widening along the traveling direction of the tablets.

Description

錠剤放出装置、錠剤放出装置を有する薬剤分包機Drug packaging machine with tablet release device, tablet release device
　本発明は、錠剤等の薬剤を１つずつ放出可能な錠剤放出装置及び放出された薬剤を分包して払出す薬剤分包機に関する。 The present invention relates to a tablet release device capable of releasing drugs such as tablets one by one and a drug packaging machine that packages and discharges the released drugs.
　調剤業務において、数百種類にも及ぶ多様な形状やサイズの錠剤やカプセル剤等の薬剤を処方箋に従って、たとえば朝昼晩で２週間分４２回分を、それぞれ１回分ずつ、所定の複数種類の錠剤やカプセル剤を所定数計数した上で、１ケの個包に封入することができる薬剤分包装置（特許文献１）が実用化して、調剤業務の効率化と誤服用の防止などに大きく寄与してきた。 In the dispensing business, hundreds of drugs of various shapes and sizes, such as tablets and capsules, are dispensed according to the prescription, for example, 42 doses for 2 weeks in the morning, day and night, one dose each, and multiple types of prescribed tablets. A drug packaging device (Patent Document 1) that can count a predetermined number of capsules and capsules and then enclose them in one individual package has been put into practical use, which greatly contributes to the efficiency of dispensing operations and the prevention of erroneous administration. I've done it.
これらの装置にあっては、各薬剤の形状やサイズに対応した専用の薬剤繰出し容器が用いられるので、ジェネリック薬剤の増加などによって新薬が発売されるごとに、専用の薬剤繰出し容器を新規に作成する必要があり、必要なタイミングでの分包ができないという問題があった。 In these devices, a dedicated drug delivery container corresponding to the shape and size of each drug is used, so every time a new drug is released due to an increase in generic drugs, a new dedicated drug delivery container is created. There was a problem that it was necessary to do so and it was not possible to package at the required timing.
また持ち込みといって、他の薬局で処方された薬剤を分包だけを依頼されるケースでも、当該薬局でその薬剤用の薬剤繰出し容器がないと、やはり分包を行うことができない。 In addition, even in the case of bringing in a drug prescribed by another pharmacy and requesting only the packaging, if the pharmacy does not have a drug delivery container for the drug, the packaging cannot be performed.
これに対する対応策が、複数のマスを有する手撒きコンベア装置（特許文献２）であるが、これは手作業が多く、さらなる自動化・効率化が求められていた。 A countermeasure against this is a hand-spreading conveyor device having a plurality of squares (Patent Document 2), but this requires a lot of manual work, and further automation and efficiency have been required.
それに対して近年、特定の薬剤形状やサイズ専用ではなく、種々の形状やサイズの薬剤を繰出し可能な薬剤フィーダ（汎用錠剤放出装置と言ってもよい）が開発されており、その一例として特許文献３がある。 On the other hand, in recent years, a drug feeder (which may be called a general-purpose tablet release device) capable of delivering drugs of various shapes and sizes, not exclusively for a specific drug shape and size, has been developed. There are three.
特許文献３記載の薬剤フィーダでは、軸回転可能な回転容器と、回転容器の外壁から薬剤を外へ導く導出部が設けられている。そして、導出部から薬剤が１つずつ放出されるように導出部の手前で導出部の高さを規制する高さ規制部材と、回転容器の周縁部に薬剤の幅を規制する幅規制部材とを設けている。 The drug feeder described in Patent Document 3 is provided with a rotary container that can rotate around the axis and a lead-out portion that guides the drug to the outside from the outer wall of the rotary container. Then, a height regulating member that regulates the height of the lead-out portion in front of the lead-out portion so that the drug is discharged one by one from the lead-out portion, and a width regulating member that regulates the width of the drug on the peripheral portion of the rotary container. Is provided.
　しかしながら、高さ規制部材と幅規制部材の構造を、特許文献３記載例では、多関節リンクによって実現しているが、この構造が複雑であるという問題がある。 However, although the structure of the height regulating member and the width regulating member is realized by the articulated link in the example described in Patent Document 3, there is a problem that this structure is complicated.
　これとは別に、移動機構をモータによって代替して、指定寸法に自動設定する方法もあるが、この方法でも制御や多数の錠剤に関する設定寸法をプログラム上に保持する必要があって、全体的には複雑な構成にならざるを得ないという問題がある。 Apart from this, there is also a method of automatically setting the specified dimensions by substituting the moving mechanism with a motor, but even with this method, it is necessary to hold the set dimensions for control and many tablets in the program, and overall Has the problem that it has to be a complicated configuration.
図２３、図２４は、従来の錠剤放出装置の動作を示す説明図であり、上記構成を図にて、模式的に説明する。
　図２３は従来の幅規制部材部を円形、長円錠剤が通過するときの挙動であるが、複数の錠剤群は矢印Ｙ１方向に進み、外壁Ｇ１と、振り分けガイド板Ｇ２からなる幅規制部材側に入ってくる。 23 and 24 are explanatory views showing the operation of the conventional tablet release device, and the above configuration will be schematically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 23 shows the behavior when a circular or oval tablet passes through the conventional width regulating member portion, but the plurality of tablet groups proceed in the direction of arrow Y1 and the width regulating member side including the outer wall G1 and the distribution guide plate G2. Come in.
たまたま２ケの錠剤が接近した状態で進入しても、錠剤自体がＲ形状をしているので、先に進入した錠剤Ｔ１は出口方向Ｙ２方向に進み、次の錠剤Ｔ２は排除することができる。 Even if two tablets happen to enter in close proximity, the tablet itself has an R shape, so the tablet T1 that has entered first advances in the exit direction Y2, and the next tablet T2 can be excluded. ..
一方、図２４のように半錠形状の揚合は、錠剤がＲ形状でない部分があるので、先に幅規制部材側に進入した錠剤Ｔ３のＲ形状部に、Ｔ４の半錠角部が突っ込んで、この２錠剤が幅規制部材の入口においてブリッジ状態で詰まってしまうことがあり得ていた。 On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24, since the tablet has a portion that is not R-shaped in the half-tablet shape, the half-tablet corner portion of T4 is thrust into the R-shaped portion of the tablet T3 that has previously entered the width regulating member side. Therefore, it was possible that these two tablets would be clogged in a bridge state at the entrance of the width regulating member.
特許第６２５５５２８号公報Japanese Patent No. 6255528 特許第５０２０１７４号公報Japanese Patent No. 502174 特許第５９５０８７６号公報Japanese Patent No. 5950876
本発明が解決しようとする主な課題は、高さ規制部材や幅規制部材の規制寸法を変更するための複雑な機構を要することなく、単純な円筒状枠体を交換するだけで複数の単一種類錠剤の群れから、１錠ずつ錠剤を放出できる錠剤放出装置を提供することにある。 The main problem to be solved by the present invention is to replace a simple cylindrical frame without requiring a complicated mechanism for changing the regulation dimensions of the height regulation member and the width regulation member. An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet release device capable of releasing tablets one by one from a group of one type of tablets.
また、かかる構成によれば、半円形状や菱形などの多様な形状の錠剤に対する搬送性能を維持して、錠剤を１錠ずつ放出することができる。 Further, according to such a configuration, it is possible to release the tablets one by one while maintaining the transport performance for the tablets having various shapes such as a semicircle shape and a rhombus shape.
本発明の錠剤放出装置は、上述した課題を解決すべくなされたもので、略水平面を有し、上面に錠剤を載置して回転可能な円形平板と、前記円形平板の上方で、前記円形平板とは僅かな間隙を有し、前記円形平板の外周を囲うように設けられた、底面が開放されている、回転しない円筒状枠体と、投入された錠剤を一括して収容する、前記円筒状枠体の内側に形成された錠剤一括収容部と、前記円筒状枠体の内側に形成され、入り口と出口と規制体とを有し、前記錠剤一括収容部から放出される錠剤を、前記円形平板の回転と前記規制体とによって、順次、錠剤の向きを規制し、間隔をあけて搬送できるようにする、複数の連続した小部屋と、整列し離間して搬送される錠剤を最後の前記小部屋から放出する、前記円筒状枠体に設けた出口部と、前記規制体の下部に、錠剤の進行方向に従って隙間が広くなる、重なり錠剤分離用開口部と、を有する。 The tablet release device of the present invention is designed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a substantially horizontal plane, a circular flat plate on which a tablet can be placed and rotated, and a circular plate above the circular flat plate. The cylindrical frame having a slight gap with the flat plate and having an open bottom surface and not rotating, which is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the circular flat plate, and the charged tablets are collectively housed. A tablet batch container formed inside the cylindrical frame body, and a tablet formed inside the cylindrical frame body, having an inlet, an outlet, and a restricting body, and released from the tablet batch container. The rotation of the circular flat plate and the restrictor sequentially regulate the orientation of the tablets so that they can be transported at intervals. It has an outlet portion provided in the cylindrical frame body to be discharged from the small chamber of the above, and an opening for separating overlapping tablets having a wide gap according to the traveling direction of the tablet at the lower part of the restricting body.
なお、ここで、錠剤の向きを規制するとは、立位の錠剤を寝かせることや、長円形錠剤を長手方向に揃えることや、半円形や多角形の錠剤を安定した方向に位置を整えることなどが含まれるが、そのいずれかを実施できればよいものとする。 Here, restricting the orientation of tablets means laying up standing tablets, aligning oval tablets in the longitudinal direction, aligning semi-circular or polygonal tablets in a stable direction, etc. However, it is sufficient if any of them can be implemented.
本発明における錠剤放出装置は、単一種類の錠剤に特化して放出を行う専用錠剤放出装置とは異なり、錠剤の幅や厚さが変化しても、それぞれの錠剤を正確に計数して放出することができる汎用錠剤放出装置である。 The tablet release device in the present invention is different from the dedicated tablet release device that specially releases a single type of tablet, and even if the width or thickness of the tablet changes, each tablet is accurately counted and released. It is a general-purpose tablet release device that can be used.
このようにすると、錠剤一括収容部から放出される錠剤を、円形平板が錠剤に対して与える摩擦搬送力とそれぞれの小部屋の規制体による向きの規制の働きによって１錠ずつに分離することができる。 In this way, the tablets released from the tablet batch storage unit can be separated into tablets one by one by the frictional transport force given to the tablets by the circular flat plate and the function of the orientation regulation by the regulator of each small room. can.
ここで、規制体は、錠剤搬送部の一部を遮蔽し、略鉛直方向に屹立する平板構造が好適であり、単純な構造で、１錠ずつの放出が可能となる。 Here, the regulator preferably has a flat plate structure that shields a part of the tablet transport portion and stands up in a substantially vertical direction, and has a simple structure and can release one tablet at a time.
更に、規制体が単純な部材であり、錠剤が規制体にほぼ片側のみを接して搬送されるため、錠剤が挟まったり引っかかったりする要素が少ないため、半円形状や菱形などの多様な形状の錠剤に対する搬送性能が維持される。 Furthermore, since the regulator is a simple member and the tablet is transported with only one side in contact with the regulator, there are few elements in which the tablet is pinched or caught, so there are various shapes such as semicircle and rhombus. The transport performance for tablets is maintained.
すなわち、具体的には図２３、図２４に示した従来の幅規制部材Ｇ１とＧ２のうち、Ｇ２を具備する必要がなく、結果としてＧ１とＧ２の間隔で半錠等の異形錠剤がブリッジして搬送不能を起こさなくなる。 That is, specifically, among the conventional width regulating members G1 and G2 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, it is not necessary to provide G2, and as a result, irregular tablets such as half tablets are bridged at intervals of G1 and G2. It will not cause inability to transport.
本発明によれば、高さ規制部材や幅規制部材の規制寸法を変更する機構を要することなく、複数の単一種類錠剤の群れから、１錠ずつ放出できる錠剤放出装置を提供することができる。 According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tablet releasing device capable of releasing one tablet at a time from a group of a plurality of single-type tablets without requiring a mechanism for changing the regulated dimensions of the height-regulating member and the width-regulating member. ..
また、本発明によれば、半円形状や菱形などの多様な形状の錠剤に対する搬送性能を維持して、錠剤を１錠ずつ放出できる錠剤放出装置を提供することができる。 Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tablet release device capable of releasing tablets one by one while maintaining the transport performance for tablets having various shapes such as a semicircle shape and a rhombus shape.
本発明に係る薬剤分包機の一実施形態の正面図である。It is a front view of one Embodiment of the drug packaging machine which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る薬剤分包機の一実施形態の部分断面図である。It is a partial cross-sectional view of one Embodiment of the drug packaging machine which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置を実装した薬剤分包機の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of the drug packaging machine which mounted the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 図３に示された薬剤分包機の動作の一例を示す斜視図である。It is a perspective view which shows an example of the operation of the medicine packing machine shown in FIG. 図３に示された薬剤分包機の動作の一例を示す斜視図である。It is a perspective view which shows an example of the operation of the medicine packing machine shown in FIG. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の断面図である。It is sectional drawing of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の背面図である。It is a back view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の平面図である。It is a top view of the embodiment of the tablet releasing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の部分断面図である。It is a partial cross-sectional view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の部分断面図である。It is a partial cross-sectional view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の部分断面図である。It is a partial cross-sectional view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の一部の平面図である。It is a partial plan view of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の説明図である。It is explanatory drawing of one Embodiment of the tablet release apparatus which concerns on this invention. 図１５に示す部分の動作説明図である。It is operation explanatory drawing of the part shown in FIG. 図１５に示す部分の動作説明図である。It is operation explanatory drawing of the part shown in FIG. 図１５に示す部分の他の実施形態の説明図である。It is explanatory drawing of the other embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 図１８に示す部分の他の実施形態の動作説明図である。It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the other embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 図１８に示す部分の他の実施形態の動作説明図である。It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the other embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 図１８に示す部分の他の実施形態の動作説明図である。It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the other embodiment of the part shown in FIG. 本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の他の実施形態の一部の平面図である。FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of another embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention. 従来の錠剤放出装置の動作を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation of the conventional tablet release apparatus. 従来の錠剤放出装置の動作を示す説明図である。It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation of the conventional tablet release apparatus.
以下、実施形態に係る錠剤放出装置及び薬剤分包機を、図面を用いて説明する。
本実施形態では、錠剤放出装置を例にして説明するが、錠剤に限定されるものではなく、カプセル剤等の薬剤にも適用可能である。 Hereinafter, the tablet release device and the drug packaging machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, the tablet release device will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to tablets, and can be applied to drugs such as capsules.
図１は本発明に係る薬剤分包機１の一実施形態の正面図であり、一部、内部を透視した状態を示している。また、図２は本発明に係る薬剤分包機の一実施形態の部分断面図であり、専用錠剤収容容器３を配列した前後スライド棚２部分の断面図である。 FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the drug packaging machine 1 according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a part of the inside is seen through. Further, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drug packaging machine according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of two front and rear slide shelves in which a dedicated tablet storage container 3 is arranged.
薬剤分包機１の筐体には、前面から見て横方向に配列した３台の前後スライド棚２ａ～２ｃが取り付けられている。これらの前後スライド棚２ａ～２ｃは、薬剤分包機１の動作中は奥側に収納されていて、錠剤の補充等の場合に手動あるいは電動で前方に引き出され、左右の側面から専用錠剤収容容器３を脱着するようになっている。
　スライド棚２ａ～２ｃは、それぞれに配置された複数の専用錠剤収容容器３に収容された錠剤Ｐを、下方に落下させるための落下経路を構成する垂直シュート９と、垂直シュート９の下方に位置する下部開口１０と、下部開口１０よりも下方にあって、錠剤Ｐを貯留するための貯留シャッタ１１と、を有している。
　薬剤分包機１は、スライド棚２ａ～２ｃよりも下方に配置された斜めシュート１２と、斜めシュート１２の下部に配置されたホッパ１４と、ホッパ１４から投入された錠剤Ｐを分包紙１８に包装するための包装機１７と、制御部１５と、を有している。 Three front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c arranged laterally when viewed from the front are attached to the housing of the drug packaging machine 1. These front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c are stored in the back side during the operation of the drug packaging machine 1, and are manually or electrically pulled out forward when replenishing tablets, etc., and dedicated tablet storage containers are provided from the left and right sides. 3 is designed to be attached and detached.
The slide shelves 2a to 2c are located below the vertical chute 9 and the vertical chute 9 which form a drop path for dropping the tablets P housed in the plurality of dedicated tablet storage containers 3 arranged therein. It has a lower opening 10 and a storage shutter 11 below the lower opening 10 for storing the tablet P.
The drug packaging machine 1 puts the diagonal chute 12 arranged below the slide shelves 2a to 2c, the hopper 14 arranged at the lower part of the diagonal chute 12, and the tablet P charged from the hopper 14 into the packing paper 18. It has a packaging machine 17 for packaging and a control unit 15.
これらの前後スライド棚２ａ～２ｃの左右には図２に示すように専用錠剤収容容器設置台４が前後方向、上下方向に直交配列している。言い換えるとスライド棚２ａ～２ｃのそれぞれには、専用錠剤収容容器３を脱着可能な専用錠剤収容容器設置台４が引き出し方向から見て左右２列に配置されるとともに、引き出し方向において複数並べられている。なお、スライド棚２ａ～２ｃの構成は共通であるので、図２においては特にスライド棚２として表記している。
　専用錠剤収容容器設置台４は、専用錠剤収容容器３の一部と係合可能なカップリング６と、カップリング６を回転駆動するための駆動源たるモータ５と、を有している。
　専用錠剤収容容器設置台４のモータ５の軸端のカップリング６は、専用錠剤収容容器３が専用錠剤収容容器設置台４に装着されると、回転羽根７の下部カップリング８と係合するようになっている。 As shown in FIG. 2, dedicated tablet storage container installation stands 4 are arranged orthogonally in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction on the left and right sides of these front-rear slide shelves 2a to 2c. In other words, on each of the slide shelves 2a to 2c, dedicated tablet storage container installation stands 4 to which the dedicated tablet storage container 3 can be attached and detached are arranged in two rows on the left and right when viewed from the drawer direction, and a plurality of them are arranged in the drawer direction. There is. Since the slide shelves 2a to 2c have the same configuration, they are particularly referred to as slide shelves 2 in FIG.
The dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 has a coupling 6 that can be engaged with a part of the dedicated tablet storage container 3, and a motor 5 that is a drive source for rotationally driving the coupling 6.
When the dedicated tablet storage container 3 is mounted on the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4, the coupling 6 at the shaft end of the motor 5 of the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 engages with the lower coupling 8 of the rotary blade 7. It has become like.
そして、制御部１５からの錠剤払い出し指令によってモータ５が回転すると、回転羽根７が回転し内蔵する錠剤Ｐが専用錠剤収容容器設置台４を通過して１錠ずつ放出される。このとき専用錠剤収容容器設置台４は、図示しないセンサで、錠剤Ｐの通過を検出した上で、制御部１５へ錠剤Ｐの落下を報知する。錠剤Ｐは、垂直シュート９の内部を落下していき、スライド棚２ａ～２ｃの下部に設けられた下部開口１０から、落下していく。 Then, when the motor 5 is rotated by the tablet payout command from the control unit 15, the rotary blade 7 rotates and the built-in tablet P passes through the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 and is released one by one. At this time, the dedicated tablet storage container installation table 4 detects the passage of the tablet P with a sensor (not shown), and then notifies the control unit 15 of the drop of the tablet P. The tablet P falls inside the vertical chute 9 and falls from the lower opening 10 provided at the lower part of the slide shelves 2a to 2c.
　図１のように下部開口１０から落下する錠剤Ｐは、スライド棚の貯留シャッタ１１に一旦集積される。 The tablet P that falls from the lower opening 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is once accumulated in the storage shutter 11 of the slide shelf.
　次に、横に配列する３台の前後スライド棚２ａ～２ｃの貯留シャッタ１１を同時に開放して、錠剤Ｐを斜めシュート１２に落下させる。斜めシュート１２の斜面に沿って落下する錠剤は中央下部出口１３に集められ、さらに包装機１７のホッパ１４で、さらに一旦集積される。 Next, the storage shutters 11 of the three front and rear slide shelves 2a to 2c arranged horizontally are opened at the same time, and the tablet P is dropped onto the oblique chute 12. The tablets that fall along the slope of the oblique chute 12 are collected at the central lower exit 13, and further temporarily accumulated at the hopper 14 of the packaging machine 17.
次にホッパ１４のシャッタを開いて、連続して搬送される分包紙１８の１包分のスペースに落下させることで、複数の錠剤Ｐが、１包に収容することができる。 Next, by opening the shutter of the hopper 14 and dropping it into the space for one packet of the packaging paper 18 that is continuously conveyed, a plurality of tablets P can be contained in one packet.
各棚のどの場所に配置した専用錠剤収容容器３の錠剤であっても、他の錠剤に遅れることなく１包に収納することができる。 Even the tablets in the dedicated tablet storage container 3 placed in any place on each shelf can be stored in one package without delaying the other tablets.
図３は本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態を実装した薬剤分包機の斜視図である。 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drug packaging machine that implements one embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
錠剤放出装置１００とは、専用錠剤収容容器３とは異なり、錠剤の幅や厚さが変化しても、それぞれの錠剤を正確に計数して放出することができる装置である。 Unlike the dedicated tablet storage container 3, the tablet release device 100 is a device that can accurately count and release each tablet even if the width and thickness of the tablets change.
錠剤放出装置１００は、スライド棚２ａの最前面側に搭載されることが望ましい。特に図４、図５で示すように、スライド棚２ａの前面小扉１６の内側に、上下３台の錠剤放出装置１００が搭載されている。なお、図３はスライド棚２ａが奥側に収納され、分包動作が可能な状態を示す図である。 It is desirable that the tablet release device 100 is mounted on the frontmost side of the slide shelf 2a. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, three upper and lower tablet release devices 100 are mounted inside the front small door 16 of the slide shelf 2a. Note that FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the slide shelf 2a is housed in the back side and the packaging operation is possible.
また、図４はスライド棚２ａを引き出して、専用錠剤収容容器３の脱着が可能な状態を示す図である。さらに、図５は前面小扉１６を開いて、さらに錠剤放出装置１００を引き出して、操作者の操作を可能とする状態を示している。 Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the slide shelf 2a is pulled out and the dedicated tablet storage container 3 can be attached and detached. Further, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the front small door 16 is opened and the tablet discharging device 100 is further pulled out so that the operator can operate the tablet.
なお、スライド棚２ａにのみ３台の錠剤放出装置１００を搭載した例を示したが、他のスライド棚２ｂ、２ｃの最前面にも錠剤放出装置１００を複数搭載するように変更することも可能である。 Although an example in which three tablet release devices 100 are mounted only on the slide shelf 2a is shown, it is possible to change the slide shelf 2b and 2c so that a plurality of tablet release devices 100 are also mounted on the front surface of the other slide shelves 2b and 2c. Is.
次に、図６は本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の斜視図（閉状態）、図７は同じく錠剤放出装置の斜視図（開状態）、図８は同じく錠剤放出装置１００の断面図、図９は同じく錠剤放出装置の背面図、図１０は同じく錠剤放出装置１００の上本体の一部を取り除いた状態の平面図、図１１～図１３は同じく錠剤放出装置１００の部分断面図、図１４は同じく錠剤放出装置１００の一部〈円筒状枠体〉の平面図である。 Next, FIG. 6 is a perspective view (closed state) of an embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a perspective view (open state) of the tablet release device, and FIG. 8 is a cross section of the tablet release device 100. 9 and 9 are rear views of the tablet release device, FIG. 10 is a plan view of the tablet release device 100 with a part of the upper body removed, and FIGS. 11 to 13 are partial cross-sectional views of the tablet release device 100. , FIG. 14 is a plan view of a part of the tablet release device 100 (cylindrical frame).
錠剤放出装置１００は、図６に示すように、下本体１０１と上本体１０２から構成されており、上本体１０２は下本体１０１に対して軸１０３を中心に回動することで開閉可能となっている。 As shown in FIG. 6, the tablet release device 100 is composed of a lower main body 101 and an upper main body 102, and the upper main body 102 can be opened and closed by rotating about a shaft 103 with respect to the lower main body 101. ing.
すなわち、上本体１０２に設けられたロックボタン１０４に連動したロック爪１０５が
、下本体１０１に設けられたロック穴１０６に係合することで、図６のように下本体１０１に対して上本体１０２が閉じて一体となる。 That is, the lock claw 105 linked to the lock button 104 provided on the upper main body 102 engages with the lock hole 106 provided on the lower main body 101, so that the upper main body with respect to the lower main body 101 as shown in FIG. 102 closes and becomes one.
また、ロックボタン１０４を押すことでロック爪１０５とロック穴１０６の係合が解除されて、図７のように下本体１０１に対して上本体１０２が開く開状態となるように設けられている。 Further, by pressing the lock button 104, the engagement between the lock claw 105 and the lock hole 106 is released, and the upper main body 102 is opened with respect to the lower main body 101 as shown in FIG. 7. ..
下本体１０１上面には錠剤収容部の底面を形成する円形平板１０７が回転可能に設けられている。
この円形平板１０７には、略水平面を備え、該略水平面には内周から外周にかけて放射線状の突起リブ１０８が形成されていて、その回転軸心には、モータＭ０１がカサ歯車１０９を介して取り付けられ、円形平板１０７を回転駆動するものである。 A circular flat plate 107 forming the bottom surface of the tablet storage portion is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the lower main body 101.
The circular flat plate 107 is provided with a substantially horizontal plane, and radial protrusion ribs 108 are formed from the inner circumference to the outer circumference on the substantially horizontal plane, and a motor M01 is interposed at the center of rotation thereof via a bevel gear 109. It is attached and rotationally drives the circular flat plate 107.
この円形平板１０７の表面の突起リブ１０８は収容された錠剤に対する摩擦搬送力を強化しているものであり、他に円形平板１０７の表面の摩擦係数を増加させるような粗面としてもよい。しかしながら、円形平板１０７上に載置された錠剤が粗面によって削られる、或いはその削りカスが残留し、その清掃が必要になることから、円形平板１０７の表面は平滑にして、突起リブ１０８を設けることが好適である。このように、ここでいう「略水平面」とは上面に錠剤Ｐを載置可能な程度に水平であり、かつ錠剤Ｐを搬送可能な程度に摩擦係数を増加させるような表面形状を含むことを示している。 The protruding rib 108 on the surface of the circular flat plate 107 enhances the friction carrying force for the contained tablet, and may be a rough surface that increases the friction coefficient on the surface of the circular flat plate 107. However, since the tablet placed on the circular flat plate 107 is scraped by the rough surface or the scraps thereof remain and cleaning is required, the surface of the circular flat plate 107 is smoothed and the protrusion rib 108 is formed. It is preferable to provide it. As described above, the "substantially horizontal plane" here includes a surface shape that is horizontal enough to allow the tablet P to be placed on the upper surface and increases the friction coefficient to the extent that the tablet P can be conveyed. Shows.
さらに円形平板１０７とモータＭ０１の接続を磁石による結合にすることによって、モータＭ０１から円形平板１０７を取り外しできるようにすることで、円形平板１０７を取り外して清掃するようにすることもできる。 Further, by connecting the circular flat plate 107 and the motor M01 with a magnet so that the circular flat plate 107 can be removed from the motor M01, the circular flat plate 107 can be removed and cleaned.
上本体１０２には錠剤の搬送を規制するために、本体が閉じた状態で円形平板１０７にほぼ接して、その外周部を円筒状に囲み、内側を複数の連続する小部屋を有する円筒状枠体１１０が図７に示すようにネジ１１０ａとネジ１１０ｂによって固定される。 In order to restrict the transport of tablets to the upper main body 102, a cylindrical frame having a cylindrical flat plate 107 in a closed state, surrounding the outer peripheral portion in a cylindrical shape, and having a plurality of continuous small chambers inside. The body 110 is fixed by screws 110a and screws 110b as shown in FIG.
なお、円筒状枠体１１０及びその内部に形成される錠剤一括収容部１２１及び複数の小部屋は、円形平板１０７と異なり、回転することはなく、円形平板１０７と円筒状枠体１１０との間には接触しないような間隙が設けられている。ただしその間隙は、錠剤が挟まったり、飛び出したりしない程度の僅かな間隙である。 In addition, unlike the circular flat plate 107, the cylindrical frame body 110, the tablet batch accommodating portion 121 formed inside the cylindrical frame body 110, and the plurality of small chambers do not rotate, and are between the circular flat plate 107 and the cylindrical frame body 110. There is a gap so that they do not come into contact with each other. However, the gap is a small gap so that the tablet does not get caught or pop out.
図１０によって、円筒状枠体１１０の内側に設けられた錠剤一括収容部１２１と複数の連続する小部屋とについて説明する。 With reference to FIG. 10, a tablet batch storage unit 121 provided inside the cylindrical frame 110 and a plurality of continuous small chambers will be described.
錠剤一括収容部１２１は、錠剤放出装置１００の下本体１０１と上本体１０２とを閉じた状態で、上本体１０２の上面に設けられた小フタ１１３の直下の、円形平板１０７のほぼ中央付近に、円形平板１０７と、上方から垂下する規制体（図１４では、錠剤一括収容部１２１の周囲に点線で示している）とで形成されている。 The tablet batch storage unit 121 is located near the center of the circular flat plate 107, directly below the small lid 113 provided on the upper surface of the upper main body 102, with the lower main body 101 and the upper main body 102 of the tablet release device 100 closed. , A circular flat plate 107 and a restrictor hanging from above (shown by a dotted line around the tablet batch storage portion 121 in FIG. 14).
円筒状枠体１１０と円形平板１０７との間にできる空間には、錠剤一括収容部１２１に引き続き、小部屋としての第１室１２２、第２室１２３、第３室１２４、第４室１２５、第５室１２６が迷路状に連続して形成されている。このように、錠剤Ｐの搬送経路上に沿って順に、複数の小部屋が配置されており、特に順序を述べる必要のあるときには、錠剤Ｐの搬送経路上流側から順に第１、第２、第３・・・と表現する。 In the space created between the cylindrical frame 110 and the circular flat plate 107, following the tablet batch storage unit 121, the first room 122, the second room 123, the third room 124, and the fourth room 125 as small rooms, The fifth chamber 126 is continuously formed in a maze shape. In this way, a plurality of small rooms are arranged in order along the transport path of the tablet P, and when it is particularly necessary to state the order, the first, second, and second chambers are arranged in order from the upstream side of the transport path of the tablet P. Expressed as 3 ...
錠剤一括収容部１２１は、特に、錠剤Ｐの搬送方向Ｙ１の前方の左側に斜面状規制体１２１ａがあり、搬送方向Ｙ２の地点の右側には弾性体規制体１２１ｂが設けられている。 In particular, the tablet batch storage unit 121 has a slope-shaped restricting body 121a on the left side in front of the tablet P in the transport direction Y1, and an elastic body restricting body 121b on the right side of the point in the transport direction Y2.
斜面状規制体１２１ａは図１１（図１０のＡ－Ａ断面）に示すように、錠剤Ｐの通路部分から外へと立ち上がる斜面を有する規制体である。 As shown in FIG. 11 (AA cross section of FIG. 10), the slope-shaped regulator 121a is a regulator having a slope that rises outward from the passage portion of the tablet P.
別の言い方をすれば、斜面状規制体１２１ａは円形平板１０７と断面が図１１に示すように鈍角を形成するような規制体、あるいは、通路部分から外に向けて緩やかに傾斜するくさび状の断面を有する規制体とも表せる。 In other words, the slope-shaped restrictor 121a is a restrictor whose cross section forms an obtuse angle with the circular flat plate 107 as shown in FIG. 11, or is a wedge-shaped structure that gently inclines outward from the passage portion. It can also be expressed as a regulator with a cross section.
弾性体規制体１２１ｂは、円形平板１０７にほぼ垂直な規制体で、錠剤の量が多い場合にその圧力によってたわむことが可能な、例えばバネ性を有するゴム板、樹脂板のような弾性体で形成されている。
斜面状規制体１２１ａは、かかる弾性体規制体１２１ｂとで挟まれた空間を、錠剤Ｐが通過しようとするときには、弾性体規制体１２１ｂからの弾性力で弾かれた錠剤Ｐが図１１に示すように斜面上に乗り上げながら移動可能である。このように錠剤一括収容部から大量の錠剤Ｐが送り出される際に、狭くなった隘路部分に対して過剰の錠剤Ｐが、斜面上に押し上げられて、円形平板１０７に接しなくなり、円形平板１０７の回転による搬送力を失うため、結果として錠剤詰まりが発生しにくくなるという効果を奏する。
かかる構成により、斜面状規制体１２１ａを設けることで搬送中の錠剤Ｐの「詰まり」を低減することができる。 The elastic body restrictor 121b is a restrictor substantially perpendicular to the circular flat plate 107, and is an elastic body such as a rubber plate or a resin plate having a spring property, which can be bent by the pressure when the amount of tablets is large. It is formed.
When the tablet P tries to pass through the space sandwiched between the slope-shaped restricting body 121a and the elastic body restricting body 121b, the tablet P repelled by the elastic force from the elastic body regulating body 121b is shown in FIG. It is possible to move while riding on the slope. When a large amount of tablets P are sent out from the tablet batch storage portion in this way, the excess tablets P are pushed up on the slope with respect to the narrowed bottleneck portion and do not come into contact with the circular flat plate 107, so that the circular flat plate 107 Since the transport force due to rotation is lost, as a result, tablet clogging is less likely to occur.
With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce "clogging" of the tablet P during transportation by providing the slope-shaped restricting body 121a.
更に進んで、搬送方向Ｙ３の地点では、図１２（図１０のＢ－Ｂ断面）に示すように、片側が円筒状枠体１１０の一部である鉛直状規制体１２１ｅ、反対側が斜面状規制体１２１ｆとなっている。 Going further, at the point in the transport direction Y3, as shown in FIG. 12 (cross section BB in FIG. 10), one side is a vertical restricting body 121e which is a part of the cylindrical frame 110, and the other side is a slanted restricting body. The body is 121f.
斜面状規制体１２１ｆは、先に述べた斜面状規制体１２１ａと同様の、錠剤の通路部分から外へと立ち上がる斜面を有する規制体である。 The slope-shaped regulator 121f is a regulator having a slope that rises outward from the passage portion of the tablet, similar to the slope-shaped regulator 121a described above.
次に、搬送方向Ｙ４の先に、図１３（図１０のＣ－Ｃ断面）に示すような、錠剤一括収容部１２１の出口１２１ｈが設けられている。なお、この部分は小部屋のうちの第１室１２２の入口でもある。 Next, at the end of the transport direction Y4, an outlet 121h of the tablet batch storage unit 121 is provided as shown in FIG. 13 (C-C cross section of FIG. 10). This part is also the entrance of the first room 122 of the small rooms.
第１室１２２は、図１４に示すように、錠剤Ｐがそれに沿って円形平板１０７の中心方向へと搬送される鉛直状規制体１２２ａと、搬送方向Ｙ５のように、錠剤が第２室１２３へと搬出される第１室１２２の出口１２２ｂと、を備えている。 In the first chamber 122, as shown in FIG. 14, the tablet P is conveyed along the vertical plate 107 toward the center of the circular flat plate 107, and the tablet is conveyed in the second chamber 123 as in the transport direction Y5. It is provided with an exit 122b of the first chamber 122 to be carried out to.
また、第１室１２２には、特記して説明する以外にも、図１４に点線で示すような壁面を兼ねた規制体によってその区域が画されている。なお、この後に説明する各小部屋についても同様に、特記以外の規制体によって区域が画されているものとする。 Further, in the first room 122, the area is defined by a regulatory body that also serves as a wall surface as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 14, in addition to the special description. Similarly, for each small room described below, it is assumed that the area is defined by a regulatory body other than the special mention.
第２室１２３は、錠剤がそれに沿って円形平板１０７の外周方向へと搬送される鉛直状規制体１２３ａと、搬送方向Ｙ６のように錠剤が第３室１２４へと搬出される第２室１２３の出口１２３ｂと、を備えている。 The second chamber 123 includes a vertical restricting body 123a in which the tablet is transported along the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and the second chamber 123 in which the tablet is carried out to the third chamber 124 as in the transport direction Y6. The exit 123b and the like are provided.
第３室１２４は、錠剤がそれに沿って円形平板１０７の内周方向へと搬送される鉛直状規制体１２４ａと、搬送方向Ｙ７のように、錠剤が第４室１２５へと搬出される第３室１２４の出口１２４ｂと、を備えている。 The third chamber 124 has a vertical restricting body 124a in which the tablet is transported along the inner peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and a third chamber 124 in which the tablet is carried out to the fourth chamber 125 as in the transport direction Y7. It is provided with an outlet 124b of the chamber 124.
　図１４に点線で示したように、錠剤Ｐが円形平板１０７上を搬送される際には、円形平板１０７の外周側から内周側に錠剤Ｐを誘導する規制体である鉛直状規制体１２２ａと、円形平板１０７の内周側から外周側へ錠剤Ｐを誘導する規制体である鉛直状規制体１２３ａとを交互に設けられている。 As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 14, when the tablet P is conveyed on the circular flat plate 107, the vertical restrictor 122a is a restrictor that guides the tablet P from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107. And the vertical restrictor 123a, which is a regulator that guides the tablet P from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107, are alternately provided.
　具体的には、錠剤Ｐが供給される上流部分では外周側から内周側に錠剤Ｐを誘導する規制体を設けて、円形平板１０７の回転時に遠心力で外周側に寄って行く錠剤Ｐを、緩やかに内周側へ誘導し、錠剤Ｐの塊をほぐすことができる。 Specifically, in the upstream portion where the tablet P is supplied, a restrictor for inducing the tablet P from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side is provided, and the tablet P that moves toward the outer peripheral side by centrifugal force when the circular flat plate 107 is rotated is provided. , It can be gently guided to the inner peripheral side to loosen the lump of the tablet P.
次に、搬送経路の下流では、円形平板１０７の内周側から外周側へ錠剤Ｐを誘導する規制体を設けて、錠剤Ｐを外周側へ加速させて搬送し、錠剤Ｐの間隔を広げることができる。 Next, downstream of the transport path, a restrictor for guiding the tablet P from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 is provided to accelerate the tablet P to the outer peripheral side and transport the tablet P to widen the interval between the tablets P. Can be done.
このような操作を繰り返すことにより、錠剤を1錠ずつ、適切な間隔で放出することができ、併せて、多様な形状の錠剤に対しても、厳しい高さ規制や幅規制を行わないため、搬送性能が維持される。 By repeating such operations, tablets can be released one by one at appropriate intervals, and at the same time, tablets of various shapes are not subject to strict height restrictions or width restrictions. Transport performance is maintained.
図１５は本発明に係る錠剤放出装置の一実施形態の第３室１２４の鉛直状規制体１２４ａの説明図である。 FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the vertical restrictor 124a of the third chamber 124 of the embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
ここで、第３室１２４の鉛直状規制体１２４ａの出口部分である出口１２４ｂは、図１５に示すように、下部が錠剤の進行方向に従って隙間が広くなる、略円弧状の重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂ（重なり錠剤分離機構）を形成している。重なり錠剤分離機構の作用については後述する。 Here, as shown in FIG. 15, the outlet 124b, which is the outlet portion of the vertical restricting body 124a of the third chamber 124, has a substantially arc-shaped overlapping tablet separation opening having a wide gap at the lower portion according to the traveling direction of the tablet. Part 124b (overlapping tablet separation mechanism) is formed. The action of the overlapping tablet separation mechanism will be described later.
第４室１２５は、錠剤がそれに沿って円形平板１０７の外周方向へと搬送される鉛直状規制体１２５ａと、搬送方向Ｙ８のように、錠剤が第５室１２６へと搬出される第４室１２５の出口１２５ｂと、を備えている。 The fourth chamber 125 is a vertical restricting body 125a in which the tablet is transported along the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107, and the fourth chamber 125 in which the tablet is carried out to the fifth chamber 126 as in the transport direction Y8. It is provided with an outlet 125b of 125.
第５室１２６は、錠剤がそれに沿って円形平板１０７の外周へと搬送される鉛直状規制体１２６ａを有している。ここで、鉛直状規制体１２６ａは、錠剤の搬送方向に対してなす角度は、他の鉛直状規制体１２５ａに比べて緩やかに構成されている。 The fifth chamber 126 has a vertical restrictor 126a in which the tablet is conveyed along the outer circumference of the circular flat plate 107. Here, the vertical restricting body 126a has a gentler angle with respect to the tablet transport direction than the other vertical restricting bodies 125a.
鉛直状規制体１２６ａの搬送方向Ｙ９で示す終端部近傍には、円筒状枠体１１０に出口部１１５が設けられている。 An outlet portion 115 is provided in the cylindrical frame body 110 in the vicinity of the terminal portion indicated by the transport direction Y9 of the vertical restricting body 126a.
出口部１１５は、錠剤Ｐが落下できるように開放されているが、錠剤放出時以外には、円形平板１０７上の錠剤が誤って落下することのないように、ソレノイド１１６によって開閉駆動される回動シャッタ１１７が上本体１０２側に設けられている。 The outlet portion 115 is opened so that the tablet P can fall, but the tablet P is opened and closed by the solenoid 116 so that the tablet on the circular flat plate 107 does not accidentally fall except when the tablet is discharged. The dynamic shutter 117 is provided on the upper body 102 side.
更に、出口部１１５の先には、放出された錠剤を受け取る出口シュート１１４が設けられている。 Further, an outlet chute 114 for receiving the released tablet is provided at the tip of the outlet portion 115.
出口シュート１１４の入り口の下方には、透過型光センサである錠剤落下センサＳ１が設けられ、これで通過する錠剤の数量をカウントする。 Below the entrance of the exit chute 114, a tablet drop sensor S1 which is a transmission type optical sensor is provided, and the number of tablets passing by the tablet drop sensor S1 is counted.
さらにシュートを落下する錠剤Ｐは出口シュート出口１１８から、斜めシュート１１９を滑り落下し、前後スライド棚２ａの垂直シュート９の内部を落下していき、さらに下部開口１０から、落下していく。なお、落下後の錠剤Ｐの移動経路については、図１、図２で説明した専用錠剤収容容器３における動作と同様であるため説明を省略する。 Further, the tablet P that drops the chute slides down the diagonal chute 119 from the outlet chute outlet 118, falls inside the vertical chute 9 of the front-rear slide shelf 2a, and further falls from the lower opening 10. Since the movement path of the tablet P after dropping is the same as the operation in the dedicated tablet storage container 3 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the description thereof will be omitted.
また、円形平板１０７の出口部１１５近傍に反射型センサＳ２が設けられ、これによって錠剤Ｐの通過の有無を検出して、一定時間錠剤Ｐの通過がなかったら、かかる反射型センサＳ２からの信号が検出されなかったことによって、錠剤Ｐの放出完了を判定して、円盤の回転を停止する制御を行うことができる。また、錠剤の間隔が制御上で設定した聞隔より狭くなったことを検出した場合は、制御部１５に報知して、制御部１５は、モータＭ０１の騒転数を低下させる制御を行って錠剤問隔を拡大するということも行うことができる。
　このように、出口端１１５近傍に配置した落下検知手段によって、錠剤Ｐの落下間隔を制御することができる。 Further, a reflective sensor S2 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107, thereby detecting the presence or absence of passage of the tablet P, and if the tablet P does not pass for a certain period of time, a signal from the reflective sensor S2 is provided. When is not detected, it is possible to determine that the release of the tablet P is complete and control the rotation of the disk to be stopped. When it is detected that the tablet spacing is narrower than the range set on the control, the control unit 15 is notified, and the control unit 15 controls to reduce the number of noises of the motor M01. It is also possible to widen the tablet gap.
In this way, the drop interval of the tablet P can be controlled by the drop detection means arranged near the outlet end 115.
＜変形例＞
なお、これまでの説明で、小部屋の数を５としたが、これより多くしてもよい。より精緻な錠剤の整列分離効果が得られる揚合もある。 <Modification example>
In the explanation so far, the number of small rooms is set to 5, but it may be larger than this. In some cases, a more precise tablet alignment and separation effect can be obtained.
また、逆に、小部屋の数が５よりも少なくしてもよい。構造がより簡素となり、製造コストが低減することもあり得る。 On the contrary, the number of small rooms may be less than 5. The structure may be simpler and the manufacturing cost may be reduced.
なお、これまでの説明で、規制体のうち、鉛直方向（円形平板に垂直方向）に延びるものを鉛直状規制体として説明したが、必ずしも鉛直方向に限定せず、若干の傾きを有していてもよく、あるいは、鉛直状規制体に代えて斜面状規制体を採用してもよい場合もあり得る。 In the explanation so far, among the restrictors, those extending in the vertical direction (vertical to the circular flat plate) have been described as vertical restrictors, but they are not necessarily limited to the vertical direction and have a slight inclination. Alternatively, a slope-shaped regulator may be adopted instead of the vertical regulator.
次に、このような構成の錠剤放出装置１００の動作を説明する。 Next, the operation of the tablet release device 100 having such a configuration will be described.
＜分包作業の準備＞
　電子処方箋システムによって、複数種類の錠剤の分包が指示されると、あらかじめ専用錠剤収容容器３に該当錠剤が装填されている揚合は、そこから分包の指示に従って、錠剤を放出する。 <Preparation for packaging work>
When a plurality of types of tablets are instructed to be packaged by the electronic prescription system, the fried tablet in which the corresponding tablets are previously loaded in the dedicated tablet storage container 3 releases the tablets from there according to the instructions for packaging.
該当錠剤が専用錠剤収容容器３に装填されていない場合には、その錠剤は、専用錠剤収容容器３での取り扱いが困難な、菱形のような異形であったり、円形錠剤を半分に切断した半錠形状などの錠剤、あるいは新規に発売されて、まだ専用錠剤収容容器３が準備できていない特殊錠剤である。 If the tablet is not loaded in the dedicated tablet container 3, the tablet may have a diamond-shaped irregular shape that is difficult to handle in the dedicated tablet container 3, or a round tablet may be cut in half. It is a tablet in the shape of a tablet, or a special tablet that has been newly released and the dedicated tablet storage container 3 has not yet been prepared.
処方箋でこの特殊錠剤が指定された場合は、錠剤放出装置１００を図５のように引き出して、上部の小フタ１１３を開いて、該当の特殊錠剤を処方箋に指定される数量分だけ内部の錠剤を錠剤放出装置１００にそれぞれ装填する。 When this special tablet is specified in the prescription, the tablet release device 100 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 5, the small lid 113 at the top is opened, and the corresponding special tablet is contained in the number of tablets specified in the prescription. Are loaded into the tablet release device 100, respectively.
ただし、装填する量は必ずしも処方箋の指定数量に一致させる必要はなく、それより多ければよいが、この場合は当該処方の分包が完了した後に、残りの錠剤が残留するので、これを別の処理にて回収する作業が必要になる。 However, the amount to be loaded does not necessarily have to match the specified quantity of the prescription, and may be larger than that. However, in this case, the remaining tablets remain after the packaging of the prescription is completed. Work to collect by processing is required.
＜錠剤放出装置への錠剤投入＞
上本体１０２の上面に設けられた小フタ１１３を開いて、所定の錠剤を人手によって投入すると、そのほぼ真下は円形平板１０７に対して区切られた錠剤一括収容部１２１であるので、錠剤Ｐは錠剤一括収容部１２１に収容される。 <Injecting tablets into the tablet release device>
When the small lid 113 provided on the upper surface of the upper main body 102 is opened and a predetermined tablet is manually inserted, the tablet P is a tablet batch storage unit 121 separated from the circular flat plate 107 almost directly below the small lid 113. It is stored in the tablet batch storage unit 121.
次にソレノイド１１６を駆動して、回動シャッタ１１７を開いて、円形平板１０７の出口部１１５から錠剤が落下可能としておく。 Next, the solenoid 116 is driven to open the rotary shutter 117 so that the tablet can be dropped from the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107.
＜錠剤一括収容部での動作＞
次に円形平板１０７が駆動されると錠剤一括収容部１２１に収容されている複数の錠剤群は図１１のＡ－Ａ断面のような重なりあった状態で、下側から円形平板１０７による摩擦力によって矢印Ｙ１方向に付勢される。 <Operation in the tablet batch storage unit>
Next, when the circular flat plate 107 is driven, the plurality of tablet groups housed in the tablet batch storage unit 121 are overlapped as shown in the cross section of AA in FIG. 11, and the frictional force due to the circular flat plate 107 is applied from below. Is urged in the direction of arrow Y1.
さらに進んで矢印Ｙ２部分は錠剤の進入量を制限する第１の隘路１２１ｃであるが、片側は斜面状規制体１２１ａ、対向側は弾性体規制体１２１ｂとして、複数の錠剤がこの隘路で詰まらないように、部分的に錠剤Ｐが斜面状規制体１２１ａに乗り上げたり、弾性体規制体１２１ｂが撓んだりして、通過する錠剤量を少なくする。
　このように、第１の小部屋である第１室１２２に向かう第１の隘路１２１ｃの錠剤Ｐを挟むように配置される規制体のうち、少なくとも片側は、通路部分から外へと立ち上がる斜面を有する規制体である。かかる構成により、錠剤Ｐを挟むように位置する規制体のうち、ほぼ弾性体規制体１２１ｂ側のみを接して搬送されるため、錠剤Ｐが挟まったり引っかかったりする要素が少なく済んで、半円形状や菱形などの多様な形状の錠剤に対する搬送性能が維持される。 Further, the arrow Y2 portion is the first narrow path 121c that limits the amount of tablet entry, but one side is a slope-shaped restrictor 121a and the opposite side is an elastic body restrictor 121b, and a plurality of tablets are not clogged in this narrow path. As described above, the tablet P partially rides on the slope-shaped restricting body 121a, or the elastic body regulating body 121b bends, thereby reducing the amount of tablets passing through.
In this way, of the regulators arranged so as to sandwich the tablet P of the first bottleneck 121c toward the first small room 122, at least one side has a slope rising outward from the passage portion. It is a regulator that has. With this configuration, among the restrictors located so as to sandwich the tablet P, only the elastic body restrictor 121b side is contacted and transported, so that there are few elements in which the tablet P is pinched or caught, and the shape is semicircular. The transport performance for tablets of various shapes such as diamonds and rhombuses is maintained.
このように隘路１２１ｃを通過した状態でも、錠剤Ｐは少なくなるものの連なったり、重なったりしている。錠剤Ｐは斜面状規制体１２１ａに沿って、円形平板１０７の外周側に搬送され、矢印Ｙ３のように次の第２の隘路１２１ｄに導入される。 Even in the state of passing through the bottleneck 121c in this way, the tablets P are reduced but are connected or overlapped. The tablet P is conveyed to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 along the slope-shaped restricting body 121a, and is introduced into the next second bottleneck 121d as shown by the arrow Y3.
この第２の隘路１２１ｄは、図１２のＢ－Ｂ断面のごとくに片側は鉛直状規制体１２１ｅ、対向側は斜面状規制体１２１ｆとして、この二つの規制体で形成される通路の幅Ｗ１は、この円筒状枠体１１０で扱いうる最大幅錠剤よりも若干広く設定されている。 The second narrow path 121d has a vertical restricting body 121e on one side and a slanting restricting body 121f on the opposite side as in the BB cross section of FIG. 12, and the width W1 of the passage formed by the two restricting bodies is , It is set slightly wider than the maximum width tablet that can be handled by this cylindrical frame 110.
例えば通路の幅Ｗ１＝８ｍｍとすると、扱い得る最大錠剤の幅は７ｍｍとなる。なお異形錠剤で短径と長径が異なる揚合が多いが、第１の隘路１２１ｃで、錠剤Ｐの姿勢は概ね進行方向に対して長手向きになっているので、通路の幅Ｗ１でいう「扱い得る最大錠剤幅」は、錠剤Ｐの短径方向の幅とすればよい。 For example, if the width of the passage W1 = 8 mm, the maximum tablet width that can be handled is 7 mm. It should be noted that there are many cases where the minor axis and the major axis are different in the deformed tablet, but in the first bottleneck 121c, the posture of the tablet P is generally longitudinally oriented with respect to the traveling direction. The "maximum tablet width obtained" may be the width in the minor axis direction of the tablet P.
一方で扱い得る最少錠剤幅はＷ１／２＋α、例えばＷ＝８ｍｍであれば４ｍｍ＋α＝４．５ｍｍと設定する。すなわちこの例の円筒状枠体１１０では錠剤輻７ｍｍ～４．５ｍｍの錠剤が取り扱い得ることになる。例えば４ｍｍ幅の錠剤であると、この幅Ｗ１に２錠の錠剤Ｐが並んで、８ｍｍ幅となって詰まってしまう恐れがあることを防止するためのものである。このように、第２の隘路１２１ｄでは、鉛直状規制体１２１ｅと斜面状規制体１２１ｆとに挟まれた部分の幅は、扱いうる最小錠剤幅の２錠の錠剤Ｐが並んで通過してしまわない程度に設定されることが望ましい。 On the other hand, the minimum tablet width that can be handled is set to W1 / 2 + α, for example, 4 mm + α = 4.5 mm if W = 8 mm. That is, the cylindrical frame 110 of this example can handle tablets having a tablet spoke of 7 mm to 4.5 mm. For example, in the case of a tablet having a width of 4 mm, two tablets P are arranged side by side in the width W1 to prevent the tablet P having a width of 8 mm from being clogged. As described above, in the second bottleneck 121d, the width of the portion sandwiched between the vertical regulator 121e and the slope regulator 121f is such that the two tablets P having the minimum handleable width pass side by side. It is desirable to set it to a degree that does not exist.
このような寸法関係を維持することによって、第２の隘路１２１ｄの出口１２１ｇに向かって、徐々に錠剤Ｐが連なった整列状態になる。 By maintaining such a dimensional relationship, the tablets P are gradually aligned toward the outlet 121g of the second bottleneck 121d.
次に錠剤Ｐは矢印Ｙ４のごとく円形平板１０７の内周側に導かれ、図１３の断面Ｃ－Ｃで示すように錠剤一括収容部１２１の出口１２１ｈから第１室１２２に入っていく。 Next, the tablet P is guided to the inner peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107 as shown by the arrow Y4, and enters the first chamber 122 from the outlet 121h of the tablet batch storage unit 121 as shown by the cross section CC of FIG.
ただしこの出口１２１ｈの出口幅Ｗ２は、取扱い得る錠剤幅より十分に広く、すなわちＷ２＞Ｗ１になるように設定されている。第１室１２２以降の搬送は、既に述べた通路の幅Ｗ１と異なり、錠剤Ｐの片面だけに壁面が当接して搬送力が発生するようにしていて、例えば長円径錠剤（短径６ｍｍ×長径１２ｍｍ）のような錠剤Ｐの姿勢が変わって通過しようとするときにも、できるだけ抵抗なく、つまり出口１２１ｈにはひっかかることなく移動することが望ましいためである。 However, the outlet width W2 of the outlet 121h is set to be sufficiently wider than the tablet width that can be handled, that is, W2> W1. In the transport after the first chamber 122, unlike the width W1 of the passage described above, the wall surface is brought into contact with only one side of the tablet P to generate a transport force. For example, an oblong-diameter tablet (minor diameter 6 mm × This is because it is desirable to move the tablet P with as little resistance as possible, that is, without getting caught in the outlet 121h, even when the posture of the tablet P such as (major diameter 12 mm) changes and tries to pass.
〈第１室での動作＞
第１室１２２に導入された錠剤は、鉛直状規制体１２２ａに沿って、矢印Ｙ５のように円形平板１０７の中心方向へと搬送され、先の第１室の断面Ｃ－Ｃと同様の構造の第１室の出口１２２ｂから第２室１２３に入っていく。 <Operation in the first room>
The tablet introduced into the first chamber 122 is conveyed toward the center of the circular flat plate 107 along the vertical restrictor 122a as shown by the arrow Y5, and has the same structure as the cross section CC of the first chamber. Enter the second room 123 from the exit 122b of the first room.
＜第２室での動作＞
第２室１２３に導入された錠剤は、鉛直状規制体１２３ａに沿って、矢印Ｙ６のように円形平板１０７の外周方向へと搬送され、先の第１室の断面Ｃ－Ｃと同様の形態の第２室の出口１２３ｂから第３室１２４に入っていく。 <Operation in the second room>
The tablet introduced into the second chamber 123 is conveyed in the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107 along the vertical restrictor 123a as shown by the arrow Y6, and has the same shape as the cross section CC of the first chamber. Enter the third room 124 from the exit 123b of the second room.
このように、第１室・第２室では、片側の鉛直状規制体１２２ａ、１２３ａに沿って錠剤Ｐを整列搬送し、また第２室の鉛直状規制体１２３ａに沿う錠剤Ｐは、円形平板１０７の外周側に進むに従って、円周方向速度が大きくなるので、連なった錠剤同士の間隔をあけることができる。 As described above, in the first and second chambers, the tablets P are aligned and conveyed along the vertical regulators 122a and 123a on one side, and the tablets P along the vertical regulators 123a in the second chamber are circular flat plates. Since the speed in the circumferential direction increases toward the outer peripheral side of 107, it is possible to increase the distance between the tablets in a row.
＜第３室での動作＞
第３室１２４では、錠剤Ｐは第３室鉛直状規制体１２４ａに接して外周側から内周側に向けて搬送されるが、第３室鉛直状規制体１２４ａの下部は、錠剤Ｐの進行方向に従って隙間が広くなる、略円弧状の重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂ（重なり錠剤分離機構）を有している。 <Operation in the 3rd room>
In the third chamber 124, the tablet P is in contact with the third chamber vertical regulator 124a and is transported from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side, but the lower portion of the third chamber vertical regulator 124a is the progress of the tablet P. It has a substantially arc-shaped opening for separating overlapping tablets 124b (overlapping tablet separation mechanism) in which the gap becomes wider in the direction.
　このような段差形状の重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂについて説明する。
稀に生じうることとして、図１５のように２枚重なって搬送された錠剤Ｐ３、Ｐ４について考える。
　図１６のように、円形平板１０７に接した錠剤Ｐ３は、円形平板１０７の回転力と第３室鉛直状規制体１２４ａの誘導とによって内周側（図１５における左側方向）へと進んでいって、図１６のように錠剤Ｐ３の上角が、重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂの上側から離れることで、矢印Ｙ７のように次の第４室１２５側に移動できる。同時に、錠剤Ｐ３に重なった上側の錠剤Ｐ４は重なり錠剤分離月開口部１２４ｂの上側によって前進を阻止されて、図１６から図１７に示すように、２枚重なりを崩して１枚ずつにすることができる。 An opening 124b for separating overlapping tablets having such a stepped shape will be described.
As a rare case, consider tablets P3 and P4 that are transported in an overlapping manner as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, the tablet P3 in contact with the circular flat plate 107 proceeds toward the inner peripheral side (to the left side in FIG. 15) by the rotational force of the circular flat plate 107 and the guidance of the third chamber vertical restrictor 124a. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the upper corner of the tablet P3 is separated from the upper side of the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b, so that the tablet P3 can be moved to the next fourth chamber 125 side as shown by the arrow Y7. At the same time, the upper tablet P4 overlapping the tablet P3 is blocked from advancing by the upper side of the overlapping tablet separation month opening 124b, and as shown in FIGS. 16 to 17, the two tablets are broken into one tablet at a time. Can be done.
なお、重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂは、錠剤搬送経路の終端に近く、また、錠剤を外周側から内周側へ減速しながら誘導する第３室鉛直状規制体１２４ａの第３室１２４の出口付近に設けることが、分離の効果を高める点から好適であるが、これに限定されず、他の規制体に設けてもよい。全体の構成から有利になる場合もあり得る。 The overlapping tablet separation opening 124b is close to the end of the tablet transport path, and is the outlet of the third chamber 124 of the third chamber vertical regulator 124a that guides the tablet while decelerating from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side. It is preferable to provide it in the vicinity from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of separation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be provided in another regulatory body. It may be advantageous from the overall configuration.
なお、重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂは、厳密な高さ規制ではなく、錠剤Ｐ３、Ｐ４に合わせて変更する必要はほとんどない。万一、重なった複数の錠剤Ｐ３、Ｐ４が続けて落下してしまった場合には、透過型光センサである錠剤落下センサＳ１の出力波形の異常として検出して信号を出して、包装機１７を停止することで、計数不一致を防止することができるためである。 The overlapping tablet separation opening 124b is not strictly height-controlled, and there is almost no need to change it according to the tablets P3 and P4. In the unlikely event that a plurality of overlapping tablets P3 and P4 fall in succession, the packaging machine 17 detects it as an abnormality in the output waveform of the tablet drop sensor S1 which is a transmissive optical sensor and outputs a signal. This is because it is possible to prevent the counting mismatch by stopping.
　また、重なり錠剤分離用開口部１２４ｂは、図１８～図２１に示すように、円弧状の形状だけでなく、床面との間に階段状に隙間が広がるような階段形状を有しても良い。 Further, as shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b may have not only an arc shape but also a staircase shape such that a stepped gap is widened between the overlapping tablet separation opening 124b and the floor surface. good.
〈第４窒での動作〉
第４室１２５に導入された錠剤は、鉛直状規制体１２５ａに沿って、矢印Ｙ８のように円形平板１０７の外周方向へと搬送される。 <Operation in the 4th nitrogen>
The tablet introduced into the fourth chamber 125 is conveyed in the outer peripheral direction of the circular flat plate 107 as shown by the arrow Y8 along the vertical restrictor 125a.
その際には、錠剤Ｐが内周側から外周側に移動するに従って増速されることによって、徐々に錠剤間隔が拡げられる。 At that time, the tablet P is accelerated as it moves from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side, so that the tablet spacing is gradually widened.
その状態で、錠剤Ｐは、先の第１室１２２の断面Ｃ－Ｃと同様の形態の第４室の出口１２５ｂから第５室１２６に入っていく。 In that state, the tablet P enters the fifth chamber 126 from the outlet 125b of the fourth chamber having the same shape as the cross section CC of the first chamber 122.
＜第５室での動作＞
第５室１２６に導入された錠剤Ｐは、鉛直状規制体１２６ａに沿って搬送される。ここで、第５室１２６の鉛直状規制体１２６ａは、円形平板１０７の内周側から外周側へと延伸しているが、その搬送方向に対してなす角度が小さい（言い換えれば、円の接線方向に近い）ため、錠剤Ｐへの摩擦搬送力が大きくなる。したがって、さらに増速され、次の錠剤Ｐとの間隔を十分に開けて、出口部１１５から出口シュート１１４に落下していく。 <Operation in Room 5>
The tablet P introduced into the fifth chamber 126 is transported along the vertical regulator 126a. Here, the vertical restrictor 126a of the fifth chamber 126 extends from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate 107, but the angle formed with respect to the transport direction is small (in other words, the tangent line of the circle). Since it is close to the direction), the frictional transport force to the tablet P becomes large. Therefore, the speed is further increased, and the tablet P is sufficiently spaced from the next tablet P to fall from the outlet portion 115 to the outlet chute 114.
錠剤落下センサＳ１は、落下してくる錠剤Ｐをカウントすることで、別に指示される錠剤数量に達すると、制御部１５を介してモータＭ０１の停止を指示し、モータＭ０１が停止したときには、次の錠剤が落下する恐れはない。 The tablet drop sensor S1 counts the falling tablets P, and when the tablet quantity separately instructed is reached, the tablet drop sensor S1 instructs the motor M01 to stop via the control unit 15, and when the motor M01 stops, the next There is no danger of the tablets falling.
ただし、出口部１１５の手前の錠剤搬送問隔は反射型センサＳ２で監視しており、錠剤間隔があらかじめ指定した値より小さくなった場合には、錠剤落下センサＳ１のカウント以前に制御部１５が、駆動用のモータＭ０１に対して停止を指示することで、モータＭ０１が停止し、次の錠剤が落下する恐れを排除することもできる。 However, the tablet transport interval in front of the outlet portion 115 is monitored by the reflective sensor S2, and when the tablet spacing becomes smaller than the value specified in advance, the control unit 15 performs before the count of the tablet drop sensor S1. By instructing the drive motor M01 to stop, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the motor M01 will stop and the next tablet will fall.
以上のごとくに１包分ずつ落下させ、当該処方分全ての錠剤Ｐを落下し終えたら、ソレノイド１１６の駆動を解除して、回動シャッタ１１７を閉じて、円形平板１０７の出口部１１５を閉鎖して錠剤Ｐの落下を不能とする。 As described above, the tablets P are dropped one by one, and when all the tablets P for the prescription have been dropped, the drive of the solenoid 116 is released, the rotary shutter 117 is closed, and the outlet portion 115 of the circular flat plate 107 is closed. Then, the tablet P cannot be dropped.
ここで最初に投入した錠剤数が処方指定数と同一であれば、円形平板１０７の上には錠剤Ｐは残留しないが、処方指定より多く投入した場合は錠剤Ｐが残量し、しかもそれを検知できない。そのため、処方動作を完了した後には、再度ソレノイド１１６を駆動して回動シャッタ１１７を開いて、円形平板１０７を一定時間回転させ、錠剤落下センサＳ１が錠剤の通過を検知しなければ、円形平板１０７での錠剤残留はなかったものと判定する残留確認動作を行うことが好ましい。 If the number of tablets initially added is the same as the specified number of prescriptions, the tablets P do not remain on the circular flat plate 107, but if more than the specified number of tablets are added, the tablets P remain, and the tablets P remain. Cannot be detected. Therefore, after the prescription operation is completed, the solenoid 116 is driven again to open the rotary shutter 117, the circular flat plate 107 is rotated for a certain period of time, and if the tablet drop sensor S1 does not detect the passage of the tablet, the circular flat plate is used. It is preferable to perform a residue confirmation operation for determining that there was no tablet residue in 107.
かかる残留確認動作において錠剤落下センサＳ１で錠剤Ｐの通過を検知した場合は、この通過した錠剤は、処方包とは別の包装紙部に回収し、さらに円形平板１０７を一定時間回転させて、錠剤Ｐが通過するかどうかを検知する。
　これらの残留確認動作において錠剤Ｐの通過が検知されなければ、錠剤放出装置１００は、本処方動作を完了する。 When the tablet drop sensor S1 detects the passage of the tablet P in the residual confirmation operation, the passed tablet is collected in a wrapping paper portion separate from the prescription package, and the circular flat plate 107 is further rotated for a certain period of time. Detects whether or not the tablet P passes.
If the passage of the tablet P is not detected in these residual confirmation operations, the tablet release device 100 completes the present formulation operation.
なお、これまでの説明で明らかなように、本発明では、錠剤Ｐの搬送経路において、図１１、図１２に示すように、錠剤を両側から挟むような規制体は用いていない。このことから、錠剤Ｐの詰まりや破損などのトラブルの発生は極めて少なく、安定した稼働が期待できる。 As is clear from the above description, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a restrictor that sandwiches the tablet from both sides is not used in the transport route of the tablet P. From this, troubles such as clogging and breakage of the tablet P are extremely few, and stable operation can be expected.
次に、本発明の別の実施形態について説明する。図２２は本発明に孫る錠剤放出装置の別の実施形態である一部（円筒状枠体１１０ｃ）の平面図である。 Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 22 is a plan view of a part (cylindrical frame 110c) which is another embodiment of the tablet release device according to the present invention.
錠剤の寸法・形状は、錠剤の種類による相違が大きく、これまでに説明した単一の錠剤放出装置１００では対応できない、あるいは、対応できても、効率・性能が満足できない場合もあり得る。 The size and shape of the tablet differ greatly depending on the type of tablet, and the single tablet release device 100 described above may not be able to handle the tablet, or even if the tablet can be handled, the efficiency and performance may not be satisfied.
そのような場合について、装置の内部を調整したり、細部の部品を交換したりして対応するのではなく、錠剤一括収容部１２１と複数の小部屋とを内蔵した円筒状枠体１１０を一括して交換する対応ができれば、調整や試運転などの時間が少なくて済み、極めて好ましい。 In such a case, instead of adjusting the inside of the device or exchanging small parts, the cylindrical frame 110 containing the tablet batch storage unit 121 and a plurality of small chambers is collectively combined. If it can be replaced, it will take less time for adjustment and trial run, which is extremely preferable.
なお、錠剤放出装置１００は、ある程度の寸法及び形状に対する許容度があることから、個別の錠剤についての専用装置を準備する必要はなく、例えば、大型錠剤用、中型錠剤用、小型錠剤用などの限定した種類の円筒状枠体１１０を準備しておけば、幅広い錠剤の種類に対応が可能である。 Since the tablet release device 100 has a certain degree of tolerance for size and shape, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated device for individual tablets. For example, for large tablets, medium-sized tablets, small tablets, etc. By preparing a limited type of cylindrical frame 110, it is possible to handle a wide range of tablet types.
図２２に示す円筒状枠体１１０ｃは、図１０，図１４で説明した円筒状枠体１１０と比べて、第２の隘路１２１ｄの横幅Ｗ１だけを幅狭く形成した変形例である。
　かかる構成により、「小型錠剤用」の錠剤放出装置１００が実現できる。 The cylindrical frame 110c shown in FIG. 22 is a modified example in which only the width W1 of the second bottleneck 121d is formed narrower than the cylindrical frame 110 described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 14.
With such a configuration, the tablet release device 100 "for small tablets" can be realized.
例えばＷ１＝５ｍｍとすると、扱い得る最大錠剤の幅は４．５ｍｍとなり、最少錠剤幅はＷ１／２＋αとして５ｍｍ／２＋α＝３ｍｍと設定される。すなわちこの変形例の円筒状枠体１１０ｃでは錠剤幅４．５ｍｍ～３ｍｍの錠剤を取り扱うことができる。 For example, if W1 = 5 mm, the maximum tablet width that can be handled is 4.5 mm, and the minimum tablet width is set to 5 mm / 2 + α = 3 mm as W1 / 2 + α. That is, the cylindrical frame 110c of this modification can handle tablets having a tablet width of 4.5 mm to 3 mm.
具体的な交換方法は、図７に示すネジ１１０ａ、１１０ｂを取り外すことで、上本体１０２から円筒状枠体１１０を取り外し、新たに別の円筒状枠体１１０ｃを用意し、その取り付け穴１１０ｄ、１１０ｅに、ネジ１１０ａ、１１０ｂを取り付けることによってそれぞれ上本体１０２に固定する。 As a specific replacement method, by removing the screws 110a and 110b shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical frame 110 is removed from the upper main body 102, another cylindrical frame 110c is newly prepared, and the mounting holes 110d, By attaching screws 110a and 110b to 110e, they are fixed to the upper main body 102, respectively.
なお、この固定方法は、ネジに限定することなく、磁石による固定、スナップフィットのような弾性はめ込みであってもよい。構造や交換作業が簡便になる場合もあり得る。 The fixing method is not limited to screws, and may be fixed by a magnet or elastic fitting such as snap fit. In some cases, the structure and replacement work may be simplified.
同様に、Ｗ１を幅広く形成すれば、「大型錠剤用」の錠剤放出装置１００が実現できる。このように、小型錠剤用や大型錠剤用の数種類の円筒状枠体１１０を使い分けることで、錠剤幅約３ｍｍから約１２ｍｍ程度までの錠剤を処理できることが確認されている。 Similarly, if W1 is widely formed, a tablet release device 100 "for large tablets" can be realized. As described above, it has been confirmed that tablets having a tablet width of about 3 mm to about 12 mm can be processed by properly using several types of cylindrical frame bodies 110 for small tablets and large tablets.
また、その他にも、斜面状規制体の形状や角度、各小部屋の大きさ、各小部屋出口の寸法、鉛直状規制体の平面上での延伸方向など、異なる設定の円筒状枠体１１０を備えてもよく、そのようにすれば、更に広範囲の寸法・形状の錠剤への対応が可能となる。 In addition, the cylindrical frame 110 with different settings such as the shape and angle of the slope-shaped restricting body, the size of each small room, the dimensions of the exit of each small room, and the extending direction of the vertical restricting body on the plane. In this case, it is possible to handle tablets having a wider range of dimensions and shapes.
このように、これまでに詳述したごとく、錠剤一括収容部１２１、複数の小部屋、各種の規制体による錠剤に対する規制・整列効果によって、図２３、図２４で述べた従来の問題点を解決することができる。
　この点について詳しく説明する。
　図２３、図２４に従来例を示すように、錠剤Ｔ１、Ｔ２の幅に合わせてＹ１方向に流れてきた錠剤の搬送経路を規制するための規制部材Ｇ１、Ｇ２が知られていた。このような構成においては、隣接した錠剤Ｔ１、Ｔ２のうち、片方だけが規制部材Ｇ１と規制部材Ｇ２との間隙に入り込むことで、整列・移送され、出口Ｙ２から順次排出される。
　しかしながら、例えば図２４に示すように、半錠の錠剤Ｔ３、Ｔ４や、異形形状の錠剤の場合には、上手く誘導できずに出入り口付近で詰まってしまう懸念があった。
　本実施形態では、規制部材Ｇ１、Ｇ２に相当する規制体を複数設けた際にも、常に片面だけが規制体に接触して案内するようにしたことで、複数の種類の錠剤であっても、１錠ずつ、適切な間隔で放出することができ、併せて、多様な形状の錠剤に対しても、厳しい高さ規制や幅規制を行わないため、搬送性能が維持される。 As described above, as described in detail so far, the conventional problems described in FIGS. 23 and 24 are solved by the regulation / alignment effect on the tablets by the tablet batch storage unit 121, the plurality of small rooms, and various regulators. can do.
This point will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, regulatory members G1 and G2 for regulating the transport path of the tablet flowing in the Y1 direction according to the width of the tablets T1 and T2 have been known. In such a configuration, only one of the adjacent tablets T1 and T2 enters the gap between the regulating member G1 and the regulating member G2, is aligned and transferred, and is sequentially discharged from the outlet Y2.
However, as shown in FIG. 24, for example, in the case of half-tablet tablets T3 and T4 and irregularly shaped tablets, there is a concern that they cannot be guided well and become clogged near the doorway.
In the present embodiment, even when a plurality of regulators corresponding to the regulators G1 and G2 are provided, only one side of the tablet always contacts and guides the regulator, so that even a plurality of types of tablets can be used. Each tablet can be released at an appropriate interval, and the transport performance is maintained because strict height regulation and width regulation are not applied to tablets of various shapes.
すなわち、規制体は、一括で受け入れた錠剤群を次の工程に進む段階で、隘路を設けて、進入量を規制するが、その規制体は円形平板１０７に対して両側に鉛直した壁とするのではなく、片側は鉛直、片側は斜面とすることで錠剤の詰まりを防止することができる。 That is, the regulator regulates the amount of entry by providing a barrier at the stage of advancing the tablet group received in a batch to the next step, but the regulator is a wall perpendicular to both sides of the circular flat plate 107. Instead, one side should be vertical and the other side should be sloped to prevent tablet clogging.
また、上記の場所を含め、ほぼ全ての場所で、円形平板１０７上の錠剤が、その両側を規制されることなく、常に片面だけが規制体に当接して案内されるようになっており、そのために、錠剤の詰まり、損傷を防止することができる。 Further, in almost all places including the above-mentioned places, the tablet on the circular flat plate 107 is always guided by contacting the regulated body on only one side without being restricted on both sides thereof. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tablet from being clogged or damaged.
これによって、円形錠剤はもとより、円形ではない半円状の半錠や、異形形状の錠剤であっても、詰まることなく搬送することができる。 As a result, not only round tablets, but also non-circular semicircular tablets and irregularly shaped tablets can be transported without clogging.
本発明に係る装置は、調剤薬局などで幅広く利用されることが瑚待されており、大いに産業上の利用可能性を有する。 The apparatus according to the present invention is expected to be widely used in dispensing pharmacies and the like, and has great industrial applicability.
１　　　　薬剤分包機
１００　　錠剤放出装置
１０７　　円形平板（回転円盤）
１１０　　円筒状枠体
１２２　　第１室
１２３　　第２室
１２４　　第３室
１２４ｂ　　重なり錠剤分離用開口部
１２５　　第４室
１２６　　第５室 1 Drug packaging machine 100 Tablet release device 107 Circular flat plate (rotary disk)
110 Cylindrical frame body 122 1st room 123 2nd room 124 3rd room 124b Overlapping tablet separation opening 125 4th room 126 5th room

Claims (7)

  1. 　略水平面を有し、上面に錠剤を載置して回転可能な円形平板と、
    　前記円形平板の上方で、前記円形平板とは僅かな間隙を有し、前記円形平板の外周を囲うように設けられた、底面が開放されている、回転しない円筒状枠体と、
    　投入された錠剤を一括して収容する、前記円筒状枠体の内側に形成された錠剤一括収容部と、
    　前記円筒状枠体の内側に形成され、入り口と出口と規制体とを有し、前記錠剤一括収容部から放出される錠剤を、前記円形平板の回転と前記規制体とによって、順次、錠剤の向きを規制し、間隔をあけて搬送できるようにする、複数の連続した小部屋と、
    　整列し離間して搬送される錠剤を最後の前記小部屋から放出する、前記円筒状枠体に設けた出口部と、
    　前記規制体の下部に、錠剤の進行方向に従って隙間が広くなる、重なり錠剤分離用開口部と、
    　を有する錠剤放出装置     A circular flat plate that has a substantially horizontal plane and can be rotated by placing tablets on the upper surface,
    Above the circular flat plate, a non-rotating cylindrical frame having a slight gap from the circular flat plate and having an open bottom surface and provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the circular flat plate.
    A tablet batch storage unit formed inside the cylindrical frame, which collectively stores the charged tablets, and a tablet batch storage unit.
    The tablets formed inside the cylindrical frame, having an inlet, an outlet, and a regulator, and released from the tablet batch container, are sequentially formed by the rotation of the circular flat plate and the regulator. Multiple contiguous chambers that regulate orientation and allow for spaced transportation,
    An outlet provided in the cylindrical frame, which discharges the tablets that are aligned and transported apart from the last small chamber.
    At the bottom of the restrictor, there is an opening for separating overlapping tablets, which widens the gap according to the traveling direction of the tablet.
    Tablet release device with
  2. 　請求項１に記載の錠剤放出装置において、
    　錠剤が前記円形平板上を搬送される際に、前記円形平板の外周側から内周側に錠剤を誘導する規制体と、前記円形平板の内周側から外周側へ錠剤を誘導する規制体とを交互に設けたことを特徴とする錠剤放出装置。     In the tablet release device according to claim 1,
    A regulator that guides the tablet from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the circular flat plate and a regulator that guides the tablet from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the circular flat plate when the tablet is conveyed on the circular flat plate. A tablet release device, characterized in that the tablets are alternately provided.
  3. 　請求項１または２に記載の錠剤放出装置において、
    　前記規制体に、錠剤の片面のみを当接させて搬送することを特徴とする錠剤放出装置。     In the tablet release device according to claim 1 or 2.
    A tablet release device characterized in that only one side of a tablet is brought into contact with the regulated body and conveyed.
  4. 　請求項１乃至３の何れか１つに記載の錠剤放出装置において、
    　前記錠剤一括収容部において、第１の前記小部屋に向かう通路部分の、少なくとも片側に通路部分から外へと立ち上がる斜面を有する規制体を設けたことを特徴とする錠剤放出装置。     In the tablet release device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
    The tablet release device is characterized in that, in the tablet batch storage unit, a regulator having a slope that rises outward from the passage portion is provided on at least one side of the passage portion toward the first small room.
  5. 　請求項１乃至４の何れか１つに記載の錠剤放出装置において、
    　錠剤の搬送経路を形成する前記錠剤一括収容部・前記小部屋・前記規制体の寸法及び／または形状の異なる複数の前記円筒状枠体を交換可能とすることを特徴とする錠剤放出装置。     In the tablet release device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
    A tablet discharging device characterized in that a plurality of cylindrical frames having different dimensions and / or shapes of the tablet batch storage unit, the small room, and the regulated body forming a tablet transport path can be exchanged.
  6. 　請求項５に記載の錠剤放出装置において、
    　前記錠剤一括収容部において、第１の前記小部屋に向かう隘路部分の、幅の異なる複数の前記円筒状枠体を交換可能とすることを特徴とする錠剤放出装置。     In the tablet release device according to claim 5,
    A tablet release device, characterized in that, in the tablet batch storage unit, a plurality of cylindrical frames having different widths in a bottleneck portion toward the first small room can be exchanged.
  7. 　請求項１乃至６の何れか１つに記載の錠剤放出装置を複数搭載し、前記複数の錠剤放出装置からの錠剤をまとめて分包しうることを特徴とする薬剤分包機。 A drug packaging machine equipped with a plurality of tablet release devices according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein tablets from the plurality of tablet release devices can be packaged together.
PCT/JP2021/020906 2020-06-05 2021-06-01 Tablet discharging device and medicine packaging machine having tablet discharging device WO2021246422A1 (en)

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JP2020098976A JP6924463B1 (en) 2020-06-05 2020-06-05 Drug packaging machine with general-purpose tablet release device and general-purpose tablet release device

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3837139A (en) * 1973-07-05 1974-09-24 H Rosenberg Apparatus for handling and counting pills and the like
JP2016525384A (en) * 2013-08-09 2016-08-25 パーセプティメッド インコーポレイテッドＰｅｒｃｅｐｔｉｍｅｄ， Ｉｎｃ． Pill feeder

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2017158947A (en) * 2016-03-11 2017-09-14 フロイント産業株式会社 Tablet printing device, tablet printing method, and medicine management system

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3837139A (en) * 1973-07-05 1974-09-24 H Rosenberg Apparatus for handling and counting pills and the like
JP2016525384A (en) * 2013-08-09 2016-08-25 パーセプティメッド インコーポレイテッドＰｅｒｃｅｐｔｉｍｅｄ， Ｉｎｃ． Pill feeder

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