JP2023005411A - Conveying belt and conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveying belt that can convey solid preparations in stabilized postures regardless of their shapes.SOLUTION: A conveyor belt 50 has an adsorption part 52 which is formed along the longitudinal direction of a strip-shaped belt body 51, and by adsorbing an adsorption part 52 from the back side of the belt body 51 can adsorb solid preparations 90 on the surface side of the belt body 51, the adsorption part 52 has a shape in which multiple space parts 53 having front side openings 54 and back side openings 56 are partially overlapped and linked in the longitudinal direction BL of the belt body 51, the space parts 53 have front side openings 54 communicating with each other through constricted parts 55 and have taper parts 57 tapered toward back side openings 56 inside thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a conveyor belt and a conveyor, and more particularly to a conveyor belt and a conveyor used for conveying solid preparations such as tablets and capsules.

As a belt for conveying solid preparations such as tablets, Patent Document 1 discloses a belt-shaped belt body 101, a groove 102 extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt body 101, and a bottom surface of the groove 102, as shown in the plan view of FIG. A transport belt 100 is disclosed that includes a plurality of air intake holes 103 formed therein. The transport belt 100 sucks the tablets from the back side of the belt body 101 through the air intake holes 103 and the grooves 102 to adsorb the tablets to the surface of the belt body 101 and transports them. It can be carried out.

WO2014/013973

As shown in the side view of FIG. 9, the conventional conveyor belt 100 is curved when the solid preparation 110 to be conveyed has a curved surface 111, such as an elliptical shape when viewed from the side. When the surface 111 is adsorbed and held by the grooves 102 of the conveyor belt 100, the solid preparations 110 come into contact with each other at two points on both sides of the grooves 102 in the width direction. I was afraid. For this reason, there is a risk that the orientation of the tablet may change during inspection or printing of the solid preparation 110, and inspection accuracy and printing accuracy may be degraded.

In addition, there is a risk that dust and dirt may accumulate between the air intake holes 103 formed in the groove 102, and if this clumps up and blocks the air intake holes 103, the adsorption power of the solid preparation 110 is reduced. There was a risk that the rocking of the solid preparation 110 would become greater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor belt and a conveyor that can convey a solid preparation in a stable posture regardless of its shape.

The object of the present invention is to provide a strip-shaped belt body in which a suction portion communicating between the front and back is formed along the longitudinal direction, and by sucking the suction portion from the back side of the belt body, the surface side of the belt body is The conveying belt is capable of adsorbing a solid preparation on the belt body, wherein the adsorption section has a shape in which a plurality of space sections having front side openings and back side openings are partially overlapped and connected in the longitudinal direction of the belt body. The plurality of space portions are formed by a conveying belt in which the front side openings communicate with each other via constricted portions and each of which has a tapered portion inside thereof that tapers toward the back side opening. It is preferable that the back side openings are separated from each other.

In this conveying belt, it is preferable that the edge portion on the surface side of the suction portion has a shape in which a plurality of arcuate portions are connected at the constricted portion. It is preferable that the pitch of the arcuate portions is set smaller than the transport direction length of the solid preparation to be transported.

Further, the above object of the present invention includes the above-described conveyor belt, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a suction device, and the conveyor belt is formed endlessly so that the surface side is exposed, and the above-described second belt is provided. This is achieved by a conveying device that winds around one pulley and a second pulley and adsorbs the solid preparation to the conveying belt by the suction of the suction device in at least a part of the conveying path.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the conveying belt and conveying apparatus which can stabilize a posture and convey solid preparations regardless of the shape can be provided.

1 is a schematic front view of a conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1; 1A and 1B are a main part plan view and a main part cross-sectional view of a conveying belt according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4A and 4B are a main part plan view and a main part cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the conveying belt shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 4A and 4B are a main part plan view and a main part cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the conveying belt shown in FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part showing a modification of the conveying belt shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of main parts showing another modification of the conveying belt shown in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main portion of a conventional conveyor belt; FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part of the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 8;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The conveying device 1 shown in FIG. 1 can adsorb and convey solid preparations 90 such as tablets and capsules supplied from the feeding device 10 .

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 , the supply device 10 includes a hat-shaped disk 11 , an intermediate ring 12 accommodating the disk 11 , and a rotating ring 13 accommodating the intermediate ring 12 .

The rotating shafts 11a and 13a of the disk 11 and the rotating ring 13 extend vertically, while the rotating shaft 12a of the intermediate ring 12 is arranged so as to be slightly inclined with respect to the rotating shafts 11a and 13a. The rotary shafts 11a, 12a and 13a are connected to individually provided drive sources such as motors (not shown) via reduction gears 11b, 12b and 13b, respectively, and rotate the disk 11, the intermediate ring 12 and the rotary shaft 11a, 12a and 13a. Each ring 13 can be driven to rotate independently.

Conveying portions 12c and 13c are formed along the circumferential direction on the upper portions of the intermediate ring 12 and the rotating ring 13, respectively. The conveying portion 13c of the rotating ring 13 is covered with a ring-shaped protrusion 13d on the radially outer side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 1 includes a first pulley 21 and a second pulley 22 with their respective rotating shafts 21a and 22a arranged horizontally, and a It is provided with an endless belt-like conveying belt 50 wrapped around and a suction device 24 arranged along the conveying direction of the conveying belt 50 . The diameter of the second pulley 22 is smaller than the diameter of the first pulley 21 . The straight portion of the conveyor belt 50 positioned between the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22 becomes horizontal above the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22, is inclined below the pulley 22 of .

As shown in FIG. 2, the first pulley 21 is constructed by connecting two discs 21b and 21c with a space therebetween by a rotating shaft 21a. Like the first pulley 21, the second pulley 22 also has two discs spaced apart from each other and connected by a rotating shaft 22a. In this embodiment, the first pulley 21 is a drive pulley connected to a drive motor (not shown) and the second pulley 22 is a driven pulley. pulley 22 may be used as a drive pulley.

The conveying belt 50 has a strip-shaped belt body 51 having a rectangular cross section, and a suction portion 52 that communicates between the front and back of the belt body 51 along the longitudinal direction of the strip. It is arranged between the plates 21b and 21c. The conveying belt 50 can be made of a soft material such as silicon rubber, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the suction device 24 includes a straight portion 24a arranged in the vicinity of and immediately below a conveying belt 50 extending horizontally between the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22, and a conveying portion of the straight portion 24a. Arc portions 24b and 24c are provided on both sides in the direction. Each of the circular arc portions 24b and 24c is inserted between two discs of the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22, respectively, and the conveying belt wound around the first pulley 21 and the second pulley 22. It is formed to curve in an arc shape along 50 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the suction device 24 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and a slit-shaped suction section 25 is provided along the suction section 52 in a portion of the suction device 24 facing the suction section 52 of the conveying belt 50 . is formed. The inside of the suction device 24 can be evacuated by the operation of a vacuum pump (not shown). can be attracted to the conveyor belt 50 and conveyed together with the conveyor belt 50 .

3(a) is a plan view of the main part of the conveyor belt 50, and FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3(a). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the suction portion 52 is formed in the center of the belt body 51 along the longitudinal direction BL by a plurality of spaces 53 . The plurality of space portions 53 communicate with each of the surface-side openings 54 via the constricted portion 55 , and the solid preparation 90 indicated by broken lines is mainly in contact with and supported by both edges of the constricted portion 55 . The rear side openings 56 of the plurality of spaces 53 are separated from each other.

A tapered portion 57 that tapers from the surface side toward the back side opening 56 is formed inside each space portion 53 . Each tapered portion 57 communicates with the rear side opening 56 via a cylindrical portion 58 having a constant cross section.

FIG. 4 is (a) a plan view and (b) a cross-sectional view for explaining in more detail the configuration of the adsorption portion 52 shown in FIG. A plurality of space portions 53 shown in FIG. 4 represent the plurality of space portions 53 forming the suction portion 52 shown in FIG. 3 with a space therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each space 53 has a circular opening 54 on the surface side, and a tapered portion 57 extends from the opening 54 on the surface side to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 58. It is formed so that the diameter is reduced toward the center.

The suction portion 52 has a shape in which a plurality of space portions 53 shown in FIG. 4 are connected in the longitudinal direction BL of the belt body 51 while partially overlapping each other, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). In addition, the upper portions of adjacent tapered portions 57 are integrated and communicated with each other. The edges of the surface-side openings 54 of the respective space portions 53 are partially overlapped with each other, and portions indicated by chain double-dashed lines are cut off to form arcuate portions 60 on both sides in the width direction of the belt body 51. are doing. The edge portion of the suction portion 52 on the surface side has a shape in which a plurality of arcuate portions 60 are connected at a constricted portion 55. formed continuously. In this way, since the suction portions 52 can be formed by arranging the space portions 53 having the same shape in the longitudinal direction BL, the belt body 51 can be easily processed.

Next, the operation of the conveying device 1 having the above configuration will be described. By feeding a plurality of solid preparations 90 such as tablets and capsules onto the disc 11 while rotating the disk 11, the intermediate ring 12 and the rotating ring 13 of the feeding device 10 in the same direction, the solid preparations 90 are subjected to centrifugal force. It receives and moves to the conveying portion 13c of the rotary ring 13 via the conveying portion 12c of the intermediate ring 12. As shown in FIG. In this way, the solid preparations 90 can be aligned in a line on the conveying portion 13 c and conveyed in the rotation direction of the rotating ring 13 .

The solid preparations 90 aligned and conveyed in the feeding device 10 are sucked by the suction unit 25 of the conveying device 1, and are successively sucked by the conveying belt 50 in the vicinity of the lower portion of the first pulley 21 to rise. is linearly conveyed above the second pulley 21 and the second pulley 22 . As shown in FIG. 1, a visual inspection device 30 for performing a visual inspection of the solid preparation 90 is arranged in a portion where the solid preparation 90 is linearly conveyed by the conveying device 1 . The appearance inspection device 30 includes a sensor 31 that detects the approach of the solid preparation 90 conveyed by the conveying device 1, and imaging devices 32 and 33 that pick up images of both sides of the solid preparation 90 detected by the sensor 31 in the horizontal direction. By maintaining the state in which the solid preparation 90 is adsorbed to the conveying belt 50 up to the imaging positions of the imaging devices 32 and 33, the side inspection of the solid preparation 90 can be accurately performed. Alternatively, by arranging a printing device instead of the imaging devices 32 and 33, it is also possible to perform side printing on the solid preparation 90. FIG.

If the suction device 24 is formed from the position where the solid preparation 90 is sucked onto the conveying belt 50 in the arc portion 24b to the necessary portion of the straight portion 24a (for example, the portion where the appearance inspection and printing of the solid preparation 90 are completed) It is sufficient that the solid preparation 90 is adsorbed on the conveying belt 50 in at least part of the conveying route. After the appearance inspection, the solid preparation 90 drops from the conveyor belt 50, is discharged from the discharge chute 100 shown in FIG. 1, and is sent to the next process.

As shown in FIG. 5( a ), the solid preparation 90 adsorbed on the conveying belt 50 is deposited at four locations (two arc-shaped portions surrounded by dotted line circles) at both end edges of the constricted portion 55 of the adsorption portion 52 . 60, 60 sharp point). As a result, even when the solid preparation 90 is adsorbed on the conveying belt 50 in a state inclined with respect to the conveying direction, the rocking of the solid preparation 90 during conveyance is suppressed, and the posture of the solid preparation 90 is stabilized for conveying. Therefore, the inspection accuracy of the solid preparation 90 by the appearance inspection device 30 can be maintained satisfactorily. Alternatively, when a printing device is arranged instead of the visual inspection device 30, the printing accuracy of the solid preparation 90 can be maintained satisfactorily.

The pitch P of the continuous arcuate portions 60 of the adsorption section 52 shown in FIG. is set smaller than the length L of the transport direction. Also, the diameter D of the surface-side opening 54 of the space 53 is preferably set to be smaller than the length L of the solid preparation 90 in the conveying direction T.

If the conveying direction length L of the solid preparation 90 is too long with respect to the pitch P of the arcuate portion 60, the solid preparation 90 tends to swing, while the conveying direction length L of the solid preparation 90 with respect to the pitch P. If is too short, the solid preparation 90 sinks into the pitch P to a large extent, which may make it difficult to inspect and print the entire side surface of the solid preparation 90. Therefore, the pitch P should be L/8<P <L/2 is preferably satisfied.

In addition, a tapered portion 57 that tapers toward the back side opening 56 is formed inside each of the space portions 53 that are connected so as to partially overlap, so that dust and debris that have entered the suction portion 52 can be removed. , can be smoothly discharged from the back side opening 56 along the tapered portion 57 . Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the adsorption force from being lowered due to the retention of foreign substances in the adsorption section 52, and this also makes it possible to stabilize the posture of the solid preparation 90 during transportation. Although the cross-sectional shape of the tapered portion 57 is linear in this embodiment, it may be curved in a convex or concave shape, for example.

The suction portion 52 of the present embodiment has a circular space portion 53 with a surface-side opening 54 that is partially overlapped and connected in the longitudinal direction BL of the belt body 51 . As shown in FIG. 5( a ), since a plurality of arcuate portions 60 are connected at the constricted portion 55 , the solid preparation 90 can be transported from the feeding device 10 or another transporting device to the transporting device 1 . The arcuate portion 60 serves as a guide along the curved surface of the solid preparation 90 when it is conveyed, and the solid preparation 90 can be reliably adsorbed to the predetermined position of the conveying belt 50 . In addition, since the arcuate portion 60 does not have a corner portion where stress concentration is likely to occur, it is possible to stabilize the solid preparation 90 at a predetermined position while suppressing a decrease in the strength of the belt body 51 . However, the shape of the surface-side opening 54 of each space 53 is not necessarily limited to a circular shape. It may have a shape, or may have an elliptical shape as shown in FIG. 6(c).

In the conveying belt 50 of the present embodiment, the back side openings 56 of the plurality of space portions 53 are separated from each other, so that the strength of the belt body 51 is maintained satisfactorily, and each tapered portion 57 is individually sucked to remove dust. etc., can be removed. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of back side openings 56 are communicated with each other in the same manner as the front side openings 54 by, for example, tapering the lower portion of the tapered portion 57 toward the back side openings 56 and expanding the diameter thereof. can also

The conveying belt 50 does not necessarily have to be integral. For example, the conveying belt 50 can be configured by arranging a pair of bilaterally symmetric split belts in parallel in the width direction. can be operated with synchronized timing.

The type of the solid preparation 90 adsorbed and conveyed by the conveyor belt 50 is not particularly limited, such as tablets and capsules. can do.

1 Conveying device 21 First pulley 22 Second pulley 24 Suction device 50 Conveying belt 51 Belt main body 52 Adsorption part 53 Space part 54 Front side opening 55 Constricted part 56 Back side opening 57 Taper part 60 Circular part 90 Solid preparation

Claims (5)

A strip-shaped belt body is formed with an adsorption portion that communicates with the front and back along the longitudinal direction, and by sucking the adsorption portion from the back side of the belt body, a solid formulation can be adsorbed on the front side of the belt body. a conveyor belt,
The suction portion has a shape in which a plurality of space portions having a front side opening and a back side opening are connected in the longitudinal direction of the belt body while partially overlapping each other,
A conveying belt in which the plurality of space portions communicate with each other at the front side openings via constricted portions, and have tapered portions inside each of the plurality of space portions that taper toward the back side openings. 2. The conveying belt according to claim 1, wherein the back side openings are separated from each other. 3. The conveying belt according to claim 1, wherein the surface-side edge portion of the suction portion has a shape in which a plurality of arcuate portions are connected at the constricted portion. 4. The conveying belt according to claim 3, wherein the pitch of the arcuate portions is set smaller than the conveying direction length of the solid preparation to be conveyed. A conveyor belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a first pulley and a second pulley, and a suction device,
The conveying belt is formed in an endless shape so that the surface side is exposed and is wound around the first pulley and the second pulley. Conveying device that adsorbs

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