WO2024116496A1

WO2024116496A1 - Continuous tablet production system

Info

Publication number: WO2024116496A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/030846
Authority: WO
Inventors: 智仁岡林
Original assignee: 株式会社ダイセル
Priority date: 2022-12-01
Filing date: 2023-08-28
Publication date: 2024-06-06

Abstract

This continuous tablet production system comprises an automatic tableting machine for producing tablets, an automatic packaging machine for packaging the tablets produced by the automatic tableting machine, and a conveying device for conveying the tablets produced by the automatic tableting machine to the automatic packaging machine, wherein the conveying device conveys the tablets on the basis of the tablet production speed of the automatic tableting machine and the tablet packaging speed of the automatic packaging machine.

Description

Continuous tablet production system

This disclosure relates to a continuous tablet production system.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a tablet manufacturing system. This manufacturing system includes a tablet press and a temporary storage hopper that temporarily stores the tablets pressed by the tablet press.

JP 2001-170136 A

In the above manufacturing system, for example, if the strength of the tablets is low, there is a risk that any tablet stored in the temporary storage hopper may be damaged or worn down by the weight of the other tablets.

The present disclosure aims to provide a continuous tablet production system that can prevent tablets from being damaged or worn during the tablet manufacturing process.

The continuous tablet production system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes an automatic tablet press that produces tablets, an automatic packaging machine that packages the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press, and a conveying device that conveys the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press to the automatic packaging machine, and the conveying device conveys the tablets based on the tablet production speed of the automatic tablet press and the tablet packaging speed of the automatic packaging machine.

The continuous tablet production system according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is the continuous tablet production system according to the first aspect, further comprising a tablet printer that prints arbitrary information on the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press, and the conveying device includes a first conveying device that conveys the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press to the tablet printer, and a second conveying device that conveys the tablets printed by the tablet printer to the automatic packaging machine, the first conveying device conveying the tablets based on the tablet production speed of the automatic tablet press and the tablet printing speed of the tablet printer, and the second conveying device conveying the tablets based on the tablet printing speed of the tablet printer and the tablet packaging speed of the automatic packaging machine.

The continuous tablet production system according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is the continuous tablet production system according to the first or second aspect, and the tablets are thin tablets.

The fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a continuous tablet production system that is a continuous tablet production system that relates to any one of the first to third aspects, and the conveying device includes one or more conveying lines.

The tablet continuous production device according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a tablet continuous production system according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the conveying device includes a storage box, and the storage box is configured to store one or more tablets.

The sixth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a continuous tablet production system that is the same as the fifth aspect, in which the storage box moves parallel to the installation surface of the automatic tablet press.

The seventh aspect of the present disclosure relates to a continuous tablet production system that is the same as the fifth or sixth aspect, and the movement path of the storage box is an ellipse or a circle in a plan view.

The eighth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a continuous tablet production system that is the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in which the storage box moves so that its height position changes relative to the installation surface of the automatic tablet press.

The continuous tablet production system disclosed herein can prevent tablets from being damaged or worn during the tablet manufacturing process.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a continuous tablet production system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first conveying device of FIG. 2 . A plan view of a first conveying device and its surroundings provided in a continuous tablet production system of a first modified example. A front view of a first conveying device and its surroundings provided in a tablet continuous production system of a second modified example.

Below, a continuous tablet production system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are given the same reference numerals and their description will not be repeated. In the numerical ranges described in stages in this embodiment, the upper limit or lower limit described in a certain numerical range may be replaced with the upper limit or lower limit of another numerical range described in stages. Furthermore, separately described upper and lower limits, upper and lower limits, or lower and lower limits may each be combined to form a numerical range.

[1. Overall configuration of continuous tablet production system]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a continuous tablet production system 10 (hereinafter referred to as "continuous production system 10"). Tablets produced by the continuous production system 10 are, for example, orally disintegrating tablets (thin tablets) disclosed in WO2017/038455 and the like. The preferred range of the tablet thickness is 0.5 mm to 1.8 mm, 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, 0.8 mm to 1.8 mm, 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm, or 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. The tablet thickness may vary depending on the part of the tablet. When the tablet thickness varies depending on the part, for example, the maximum thickness may be defined as the tablet thickness.

There are no particular limitations on the tablet dosage form, and any shape known to those skilled in the art (e.g., true flat tablet, standard R-face, sugar-coated R-face, flat rounded corner tablet (flat), flat corner tablet (flat), and double R-face, etc.) may be used. The diameter of the tablet can be set as appropriate. The diameter of the tablet is preferably, for example, about 12 mm or more, e.g., about 12 mm to 18 mm.

The continuous production system 10 includes an automatic tablet press 20, a tablet printer 30, an automatic packaging machine 40, and a conveying device 50. The automatic tablet press 20, the tablet printer 30, and the automatic packaging machine 40 may be publicly known devices. The tablet manufacturing process performed by the continuous production system 10 includes, for example, a tablet press process, a printing process, and a packaging process. The tablet press process is performed by the automatic tablet press 20. The printing process is performed by the tablet printer 30. The packaging process is performed by the automatic packaging machine 40. The continuous production system 10 is configured so that the tablet press process, the printing process, and the packaging process are performed continuously. In other words, the tablet manufacturing process performed by the continuous production system 10 does not include a process of temporarily storing tablets between the tablet press process and the packaging process.

The automatic tablet press 20 is, for example, a rotary tablet press (multi-station tablet press). The automatic tablet press 20 may also be an automatic single-shot tablet press (single-station tablet press). The automatic tablet press 20 includes a main body 21 that presses tablets, a powder remover 22 that removes powder from the tablets pressed by the main body 21, and a hopper 23 that supplies tablet raw materials to the main body 21.

The tablet printer 30 prints arbitrary information on the surface of the tablets that have been de-powdered by the de-powderer 22. The automatic packaging machine 40 packages one or more tablets on which the arbitrary information has been printed by the tablet printer 30.

The conveying device 50 includes a first conveying device 60 and a second conveying device 70. The first conveying device 60 conveys tablets that have been pressed and de-powdered by the automatic tablet press 20 to the automatic packaging machine 40. The second conveying device 70 conveys tablets that have been printed by the tablet printer 30 to the automatic packaging machine 40.

2. Configuration of the conveying device
2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the first transfer device 60. The first transfer device 60 includes a rotating platen 61, a rotating shaft 62, a transfer line 63, and a return line 64.

The turntable 61 is arranged parallel to the installation surface 80 (see Figure 1) of the continuous production system 10. Tablets that have been de-powdered by the de-powder machine 22 are sent to the turntable 61. The turntable 61 has a mounting surface 61A on which the tablets are placed. The rotating shaft 62 is connected to the turntable 61. As the rotating shaft 62 rotates in the direction XA of the arrow in Figure 2, the turntable 61 rotates in the direction XA relative to the conveying line 63 and the return line 64, and conveys the tablets placed on the mounting surface 61A to the conveying line 63. The turntable 61 may also convey the tablets placed on the mounting surface 61A to the conveying line 63 by vibration.

The conveying line 63 conveys the tablets to the tablet printing machine 30. The number of conveying lines 63 that the first conveying device 60 has can be selected arbitrarily. In this embodiment, the first conveying device 60 has two conveying lines 63. The first conveying device 60 may have one, or three or more conveying lines 63. The conveying lines 63 are arranged so as to be in contact with the placement surface 61A.

The conveying line 63 has an entrance 63A and an exit 63B. Tablets placed on the loading surface 61A of the turntable 61 pass through the entrance 63A. Tablets that have passed through the conveying line 63 pass through the exit 63B. The exit 63B is connected to the tablet printing machine 30.

The return line 64 sends back to the conveying line 63 those tablets that have not passed through the entrance 63A, among those sent by the turntable 61 toward the conveying line 63. The number of return lines 64 possessed by the first conveying device 60 can be selected arbitrarily. In this embodiment, the first conveying device 60 has two return lines 64. The first conveying device 60 may have one, or three or more return lines 64. The return lines 64 are positioned so as to be in contact with the placement surface 61A.

The return line 64 has an entrance 64A and an exit 64B. Tablets that did not pass through the entrance 63A pass through the entrance 64A. Tablets that have passed through the return line 64 pass through the exit 64B. Tablets that have passed through the exit 64B are sent again by the turntable 61 toward the conveying line 63.

The conveying speed VX of the first conveying device 60 configured as described above is determined so that the tableting process and the printing process can be carried out continuously, in other words, so that there is no need to store tablets between the tableting process and the printing process. The conveying speed VX of the first conveying device 60 is determined based on the tablet production speed VA of the automatic tablet press 20 and the tablet printing speed VB of the tablet printer 30. The conveying speed VX of the first conveying device 60 includes, for example, the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 62. The tablet production speed VA of the automatic tablet press 20 includes, for example, the tableting speed by the main body 21 and the tablet removal speed by the powder remover 22. The printing speed VB of the tablet printer 30 includes the speed at which the tablet printer 30 prints on the tablets.

The second conveying device 70 has substantially the same configuration as the first conveying device 60, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The turntable 61 of the second conveying device 70 is sent with tablets that have been printed by the tablet printer. The conveying line 63 of the second conveying device 70 conveys the tablets that have been printed to the automatic packaging machine 40. The outlet 63B is connected to the automatic packaging machine 40.

The conveying speed VY of the second conveying device 70 is determined so that the printing process and the packaging process can be carried out continuously, in other words, so that there is no need to store the tablets between the printing process and the packaging process. The conveying speed VY of the second conveying device 70 is determined based on the tablet printing speed VB of the tablet printer 30 and the tablet packaging speed VC of the automatic packaging machine 40. The conveying speed VY of the second conveying device 70 includes, for example, the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 62. The printing speed VB of the tablet printer 30 includes the speed at which the tablet printer 30 prints on the tablets. The packaging speed VC of the automatic packaging machine 40 includes the speed at which the automatic packaging machine 40 packages the tablets.

[3. Function of the continuous production system]
Tablets compressed by the main body 21 of the automatic tablet press 20 have powder removed by a powder remover 22, and are transported to the tablet printer 30 by a first transport device 60. Since the transport speed VX is determined based on the production speed VA and the printing speed VB, the tablets are continuously transported from the automatic tablet press 20 to the tablet printer 30. Tablets printed by the tablet printer 30 are transported to the automatic packaging machine 40 by a second transport device 70. Since the transport speed VY is determined based on the printing speed VB and the packaging speed VC, the tablets are continuously transported from the tablet printer 30 to the automatic packaging machine 40.

[4. Effects of continuous production system]
<4-1>
The tablets are continuously transported from the automatic tablet press 20 to the tablet printer 30. Since there is no need to temporarily store the tablets between the tablet pressing process by the automatic tablet press 20 and the printing process by the tablet printer 30, damage to the tablets can be suppressed during the tablet manufacturing process.

<4-2>
The tablets are continuously transported from the tablet printer 30 to the automatic packaging machine 40. Since there is no need to temporarily store the tablets between the printing process by the tablet printer 30 and the packaging process by the automatic packaging machine 40, damage to the tablets can be suppressed during the tablet manufacturing process.

<4-3>
In the tablet manufacturing process, there is no need to temporarily store the tablets, so damage to the tablets can be prevented even if the tablets are thin tablets.

5. Modifications
The above embodiments are examples of forms that the continuous tablet production system according to the present disclosure can take, and are not intended to limit the forms. Each aspect disclosed in this specification can be combined with any other features disclosed in this specification. The continuous tablet production system according to the present disclosure can take forms different from those exemplified in the above embodiments. One example is a form in which a part of the configuration of the above embodiment is replaced, changed, or omitted, or a form in which a new configuration is added to the above embodiment. The present disclosure is not limited by the above embodiments, but is limited only by the scope of the claims. Below are some examples of modified versions of the above embodiments. The above embodiment and the following modified versions can be combined with each other as long as they are not technically inconsistent.

<5-1>
The specific configuration of the first conveying device 60 can be changed arbitrarily. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first conveying device 160 and its periphery provided in the continuous production system 100 of the first modified example. The first conveying device 160 has a storage box 161 capable of storing one or more tablets from which powder removal has been completed by the powder remover 22. The storage box 161 moves parallel to the installation surface 80 (see FIG. 1). The movement path RA of the storage box 161 in a plan view can be selected arbitrarily. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the movement path RA is an ellipse. The movement path RA may be a circle, a rectangle, or a square. The number of storage boxes 161 that the first conveying device 160 has can be selected arbitrarily. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the first conveying device 160 has 12 storage boxes 161. The first conveying device 160 may have 1 to 11 storage boxes 161, or 13 or more storage boxes 161. After the storage box 161 moves from the powder remover 22 to a position facing the tablet printing machine 30, it feeds the stored tablets into the tablet printing machine 30, for example, by tilting it toward the tablet printing machine 30.

Figure 4 is a front view of the first conveying device 260 and its surroundings provided in the continuous production system 200 of the second modified example. The first conveying device 260 has a storage box 261 capable of storing one or more tablets that have been cleared by the powder remover 22. The storage box 261 moves so that its position in the height direction changes relative to the installation surface 80 (see Figure 1). The movement path RB of the storage box 261 in the front view can be selected arbitrarily. In the example shown in Figure 4, the movement path RB is rectangular. The movement path RB may also be a circle, an ellipse, or a square. The number of storage boxes 261 that the first conveying device 260 has can be selected arbitrarily. In the example shown in Figure 4, the first conveying device 260 has 16 storage boxes 261. The first conveying device 260 may have 1 to 15 storage boxes 261, or 16 or more storage boxes 261. After the storage box 261 moves from the powder remover 22 to a position facing the tablet printer 30, it feeds the stored tablets into the tablet printer 30, for example by tilting it toward the tablet printer 30.

In the second modified continuous production system 200, the storage box 261 moves so that its height position changes relative to the installation surface 80, so that, for example, the positions of the powder remover 22 and the tablet printer 30 in the height direction can be made different. This increases the degree of freedom in arranging the elements that make up the continuous production system 200. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the tablet printer 30 is arranged at a lower position in the height direction than the powder remover 22.

The first conveying device 60 may be a drop type that drops tablets from the powder remover 22 toward the tablet printer 30, or a robot arm or belt conveyor that conveys tablets from the powder remover 22 to the tablet printer 30. Note that each of the modified examples relating to the first conveying device 60 can also be applied to the second conveying device 70 in the same manner.

<5-2>
In the above embodiment, the tablet printing machine 30 and the second conveying device 70 may be omitted from the continuous production system 10. In this modification, the automatic tablet press 20 and the automatic packaging machine 40 are connected via the first conveying device 60.

<5-3>
In the above embodiment, the conveying speed VX of the first conveying device 60 is predetermined based on the production speed VA and the printing speed VB, but the conveying speed VX may be feedback-controlled based on the production speed VA and the printing speed VB. Similarly, the conveying speed VY may be feedback-controlled based on the printing speed VB and the packaging speed VC.

<5-4>
At least one of the automatic tablet press 20, the tablet printer 30, and the automatic packaging machine 40 is preferably configured to automatically stop when an operation error occurs due to, for example, tablet blockage or the like. In this modification, at least one of the automatic tablet press 20 and the tablet printer 30 may be configured to send a signal indicating an operation error to the first conveying device 60 when an operation error occurs. In this modification, at least one of the tablet printer 30 and the automatic packaging machine 40 may be configured to send a signal indicating an operation error to the second conveying device 70 when an operation error occurs. In this modification, at least one of the first conveying device 60 and the second conveying device 70 is preferably configured to automatically stop when a signal indicating an operation error is received.

<5-5>
In the above embodiment, the continuous production system 10 may further include a detection device that detects defective tablets, including cracks and chips, among the tablets transported by the transport device 50. In this modification, the continuous production system 10 is preferably configured so that, when a defective tablet is detected by the detection device, the defective tablet can be automatically removed from the transport device 50. In this modification, even if the tablets include defective tablets, the tablets can be continuously produced without stopping the production line.

<5-6>
In the above embodiment, the first conveying device 60 and the second conveying device 70 have the same configuration, but the first conveying device 60 and the second conveying device 70 may have different configurations.

10, 100, 200: Continuous tablet production system 20: Automatic tablet press 30: Tablet printing machine 40: Automatic packaging machine 50: Conveying device 60, 160, 260: First conveying device 70: Second conveying device 80: Installation surface 161, 261: Storage box RA: Movement path

Claims

An automatic tablet press for producing tablets;
an automatic packaging machine that packages the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press;
A conveying device that conveys the tablets manufactured by the automatic tablet press to the automatic packaging machine,
A continuous tablet production system, wherein the conveying device conveys the tablets based on the tablet production speed of the automatic tablet press and the tablet packaging speed of the automatic packaging machine.
The automatic tablet press further includes a tablet printer for printing any information on the tablets produced by the automatic tablet press.
The conveying device is
A first conveying device that conveys the tablets manufactured by the automatic tablet press to the tablet printing machine;
A second conveying device that conveys the tablets printed by the tablet printing machine to the automatic packaging machine,
The first conveying device conveys the tablets based on the tablet production speed of the automatic tablet press and the tablet printing speed of the tablet printing machine,
The second conveying device conveys the tablets based on a printing speed of the tablet printing machine and a packaging speed of the tablet of the automatic packaging machine.
A continuous tablet production system according to claim 1.
The tablet continuous production system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tablets are thin tablets.
The tablet continuous production system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying device includes one or a plurality of conveying lines.
The transport device includes a storage box,
The tablet continuous production system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage box is configured to store one or more tablets.
The continuous tablet production system according to claim 5 , wherein the storage box moves parallel to a mounting surface of the automatic tablet press.
The tablet continuous production system according to claim 5 , wherein the movement path of the storage box is an ellipse or a circle in a plan view.
The tablet continuous production system according to claim 5 , wherein the storage box is moved so that its position in the height direction changes relative to an installation surface of the automatic tablet press.