JP5175233B2 - Tablet counting and filling device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet counting and filling equipment for filling the container by counting the number of tablets.

  In general, a tablet counting and filling apparatus that counts and fills tablets is known that transports tablets using a vibration transport mechanism. FIG. 12 is a schematic view schematically showing a conventional tablet counting and filling apparatus. As shown in FIG. 12, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 100 includes a hopper 101 into which a tablet 110 is loaded, a vibration transport mechanism 102 that receives the tablet 110 from the hopper 101 and transports the tablet 110 from its receiving position to a transport end, and the vibration transport mechanism. The powder receiving unit 103 that receives the tablet powder arranged in the conveyance path 102 arranged along the conveyance path, the suction mechanism 104 that sucks the tablet powder of the powder receiving unit 103, and the conveyance of the vibration conveyance mechanism 102 A counting device 105 that counts the tablets 110 that are dropped from the end, and a funnel-shaped guide portion 106 that guides the tablets 110 counted by the counting device 105 to the container 120 are provided.

  The tablet counting and filling apparatus 100 puts the tablets 110 into the hopper 101, the tablets 110 are transferred from the hopper 101 to the vibration transport mechanism 102, and are vibrated by the vibration transport mechanism 102 to align the tablets. The tablet 110 is transported to the transport end and dropped into the container 120 via the guide unit 106 and filled. The tablet counting and filling apparatus 100 counts the falling tablets 110 with the counting apparatus 105 installed in the dropping path in which the tablets 110 fall, and fills the container 120 with a predetermined number of tablets 110. In addition, when exchanging the container 120, the vibration conveyance mechanism 102 is once stopped.

  The tablet counting and filling apparatus 100 has a conveyance speed capable of filling 300 to 400 tablets per minute, for example. In addition, since the tablet counting and filling apparatus 100 uses the vibration conveyance mechanism 102 in the conveyance path of the tablet 110, the powder generated by the tablet 110 being rubbed is easily produced, so the powder receiving portion provided along the conveyance path It is necessary to install a large suction mechanism 104 for collecting the powder generated from the tablet falling on 103.

http: // www. isida. co. jp / products / 280. php (Ishida Co., Ltd .: Chewable tablet compatible tablet counter JZ33-15K type [as of March 2, 2009])

However, the conventional tablet counting and filling apparatus has the following problems.
Since the tablet counting and filling apparatus employs the vibration conveyance mechanism, powder is easily generated from the tablet, and a large suction mechanism corresponding to the generated powder is required.
In addition, the tablet counting and filling apparatus is scheduled to stop the conveying operation until the filled container is replaced with the next empty container by temporarily stopping the vibration conveying mechanism when the preset quantity is reached. Since the tablets that were not used were vibrated and transported, there was a high possibility that they would fall due to aftershocks or transport inertia, and it was difficult to maintain the accuracy of the filling quantity. Furthermore, since the tablet counting and filling device is conveyed by vibration, depending on the type of tablet, the timing of dropping from the vibration conveyance mechanism changes, and even when a shutter is provided in the path, the quantity varies. There was a case. In addition, the tablet may be scratched or chipped by the shutter.

Furthermore, since the tablet counting and filling apparatus employs a vibration conveyance mechanism, it is difficult to increase the conveyance speed per minute from 300 to 400 tablets per minute.
The tablet counting and filling device is a device that generates a large amount of tablet powder because the state in which tablets rub against each other due to the vibration of the vibration conveyance mechanism continues during conveyance, and performs a cleaning operation of the machine against the scattering of the generated tablet powder. It was necessary to disassemble many parts, and maintenance such as cleaning work was difficult.
Further, the tablet counting and filling apparatus generates a loud noise because the vibration conveyance mechanism vibrates, and the working environment is remarkably deteriorated. Furthermore, since the tablet counting and filling apparatus consumes a lot of energy due to the vibration or the operation accompanying suction, power consumption is greatly increased.

The present invention was devised to solve the above-described problems, minimizes the generation of tablet powder from tablets, has no mistake in the quantity filled into a container with a simple configuration, and has a conventional conveyance speed. device to 1.5-4 times faster than the, also maintenance becomes easy, further, almost no noise, power consumption and to provide a small tablet counting and filling equipment.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a tablet counting and filling apparatus in which tablets are put into a hopper, conveyed by a conveying mechanism, counted by a counting means, and filled into a storage container. The transport mechanism includes a first transport mechanism and a second transport mechanism that are arranged with a step in the vertical direction, and the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are spirals having a spiral groove formed on a peripheral surface thereof. a groove rod, a guide rod arranged parallel to the spiral groove rod each comprise a rotary drive means for rotating the spiral groove rod, the first transport mechanism, the tablets from the hopper at the lower end of the hopper The tablet is guided by the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod that is rotated by the rotation driving means in the gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod that can be received and guided to the first transport end. Transport and before A second transport mechanism receives a tablet from the first transport end, and a spiral of the spiral groove rod that is rotated by the rotation driving means in a gap that enables the tablet to be transported between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod. Guided by the groove, the tablet is transported to the second transport end, the transported tablet is transferred to the path where the counting means is installed, and is installed below the transport end side of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism. The groove pitch of the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod of the second transport mechanism on the position side where the tablet is received from the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism is the groove of the spiral groove on the transport end side of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism. It was formed smaller than the pitch, and the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism was formed at the same groove pitch .

  With this configuration, when the tablet counting and filling device receives a tablet from the hopper into a gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod, the tablet counting and filling device is guided by the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod rotating by the rotation driving means. It is transported by moving in the transport direction. In the tablet counting and filling device, the gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod becomes a conveyance path, and the spiral groove is rotated even if there are tablets arranged in the spiral groove or tablets located between the spiral grooves. Thus, the tablet is guided and moved in the transport direction along the spiral groove. Therefore, tablets positioned in the transport path that is the gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod can be pushed and conveyed by the tablets positioned in the spiral groove, whether or not they are positioned in the spiral groove. become. The tablet counting and filling device transports the tablet by the transport mechanism and drops it from the transport end, and fills the container while counting the dropped tablet by the counting means.

The tablet counting and filling device receives the tablet from the hopper into the gap between the guide rod and the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism, transports the tablet to the transport end of the first transport mechanism, and delivers it to the second transport mechanism. Then, the tablet counting and filling apparatus receives the gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod by the second conveyance mechanism, guides the tablet to the spiral groove by the rotation of the spiral groove rod, and conveys the tablet to the conveyance end. The tablet counting and filling apparatus can reliably align the tablets by transporting the tablets by the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism.

Furthermore, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, the second transport mechanism is configured such that the groove pitch of the spiral groove formed on the spiral groove rod is gradually closer to the transport end than the position where the tablet is received. The groove pitch may be widened.
With this configuration, the tablet counting and filling device can receive more tablets than the uniform spiral groove pitch at the receiving side position, and also guides the spiral groove to move and transport the tablets. The tablets can be aligned and sent to the transport end, and the wide groove pitch on the transport end side allows the tablets to be sent out from the transport end to the next place at a constant interval.

In the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the guide bar may be arranged on the left and right along the spiral groove bar.
With this configuration, the tablet counting and filling apparatus forms a transport path by a gap between the left and right guide bars of the spiral groove rod, and can align and transport the tablets to the left and right of the spiral groove rod.

In the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, the transport mechanism may be configured such that the spiral groove bars and the guide bars are arranged in multiple rows in the horizontal direction.
With this configuration, the tablet counting and filling apparatus can shorten the time for filling the tablets into the container by providing the multi-row conveyance mechanism.

Furthermore, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 5 of the present invention, the tablet counting and filling apparatus includes a control unit that controls a rotation driving unit of the second transport mechanism, and the control unit includes an input unit, a storage unit, a comparison unit, A configuration including a drive control unit and a reset unit may be employed.

  With this configuration, the tablet counting and filling device inputs a tablet filling quantity and a reference quantity set in advance via the input unit, stores them in the storage unit, and stores the tablet quantity counted from the counting means and the reference quantity. When the number of tablets counted by the comparison unit and counted as the reference quantity reaches, a first control signal is output to the drive control unit. Then, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus, the drive control unit controls the rotation driving means by the first control signal so that the rotation speed is slower than the preset rotation speed of the spiral groove rod. Furthermore, the tablet counting and filling apparatus compares the filling quantity with the number of tablets counted by the counting means, and when the counted number of tablets reaches the filling quantity, the tablet counting and filling apparatus sends a second control signal to the drive control part. Output. Then, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus, the drive control unit controls the rotation driving means by the second control signal to stop the spiral groove rod. Furthermore, the tablet counting and filling device resets the numerical value of the count sent from the counting means for comparison of the comparison unit based on the reset signal from the input unit or the outside by the reset unit. 3 control signals are output. Then, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus, the drive control unit controls the rotation driving means according to the third control signal to rotate the stopped spiral groove rod at a preset number of rotations.

Moreover, the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention is arranged toward the transport path of the tablets transported by the transport mechanism, and images the appearance of the transported tablets by the imaging means, and images the image. It is good also as a structure provided with the imaging detection means which detects the chip | tip of the said tablet from an image.
With this configuration, the tablet counting and filling apparatus captures the tablets conveyed by the conveyance mechanism with the imaging unit, and uses the captured images, for example, with the imaging detection unit based on the reflection state of light in the tablets of the captured images. By detecting the presence or absence of chipping of tablets, defective products of tablets can be eliminated.

In the tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention, the rotation driving means of the first transport mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission gear provided in a gear box that transmits rotation from the drive motor. The rotation driving means of the second transport mechanism may include a drive motor for each spiral groove rod of the second transport mechanism.

Tablet counting and filling equipment according to the present invention is excellent effects described below.
The tablet counting and filling device conveys the tablets received by moving the tablets by guiding the rotating spiral grooves that support and rotate the tablets between the spiral groove rods and the guide rods that form the spiral grooves. Can be transported accurately. Therefore, the operation of filling the container with the tablet is 1.5 to 4 times faster than the conventional apparatus. In addition, the tablet counting and filling device can make the entire device compact by reducing the width of the conveying path as a whole device as compared with a device that conveys by conventional vibration, and the generation of tablet powder is extremely small, and the conveying route Maintenance such as cleaning is easy. Furthermore, the tablet counting and filling apparatus has almost no noise, and the power consumption is less than half that of the conventional apparatus.

The tablet counting and filling apparatus is provided with a transport mechanism as a first transport mechanism and a second transport mechanism with a step in the vertical direction, thereby ensuring a good alignment state of the tablets to be transported and ensuring a state in which counting is easy. Can do.
The tablet counting and filling device can receive more tablets than those with a uniform groove pitch by changing the groove pitch of the spiral groove, and can send out the tablets at a timing that is easy to deliver or count at the transport end. It becomes possible.

The tablet counting and filling apparatus can convey more tablets by providing guide rods on the left and right sides of the spiral groove rod, or by arranging the conveyance mechanisms in multiple rows.
Even if the tablet counting and filling device performs the tablet filling operation at a high speed, when it approaches the set quantity, the rotation speed is made slower than the current rotation speed, and the tablet is conveyed by the spiral groove rod, It becomes possible to more accurately count the quantity filled in the container.

The tablet counting and filling apparatus can detect the chipping of the tablet by including the imaging detection means, and can discharge the defective tablet together with the container .

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a tablet counting and filling apparatus according to the present invention with a part thereof omitted. FIG. It is a front view which shows typically the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A) is a top view which shows the 1st conveyance mechanism of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention, (b) is a top view which shows the 2nd conveyance mechanism of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the state from the fall channel | path side of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the state of the tablet conveyed by the 2nd conveyance mechanism of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(d) is a top view which shows typically the state which conveyed the tablet to the conveyance end with the 2nd conveyance mechanism of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(h) is a schematic diagram which shows typically the flow of operation | movement of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control means of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows typically the other structure of the tablet conveyed with the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. (A)-(c) is a side view which shows typically an example of the filling method of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows typically the other structure in the fall channel | path of the tablet counting filling apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the conventional tablet counting and filling apparatus typically.

Hereinafter, a tablet counting and filling apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each drawing, the size relationship between the configuration of the tablet counting and filling device and the tablet to be used or the position of the tablet may be appropriately deformed.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 is configured to align the tablets W while transporting them, count a preset quantity, and fill the container V. This tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 mainly includes a hopper 2 for feeding tablets W, a transport mechanism 3 for transporting tablets W, a counting means 14 for counting tablets W, and a control means 20. Here, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 is provided with an imaging unit 22 such as a CCD camera above a predetermined conveyance path of the conveyance mechanism 3, and image data captured by the imaging unit 22 is stored in the control unit 20. It is configured so that it is possible to determine whether or not the tablet W in the transport path Sr is sent to the imaging detection means 23.

  The tablets W used in the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 can be transported, counted, and filled as long as a circular portion exists in the external shape of a tablet such as a circular tablet, a capsule tablet, or a rugby ball type. In particular, if the outer shape of the tablet W is provided with a circular portion such as a disc shape, a lens shape, a rugby ball shape, a troche or the like, or a capsule tablet, it can rotate stably and at high speed. Can be transported. Moreover, the tablet W can be handled even if the surface is coated like a sugar-coated tablet or not coated like a plain tablet. Furthermore, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 can transport the tablet W even if it has a substantially triangular shape that does not have a circular portion in its external shape.

  The hopper 2 loads and stores the tablets W and delivers the tablets W to one end side of the first transport mechanism 4 of the transport mechanism 3. The hopper 2 is wide open at the top and narrowed down at the bottom. When the tablet W is delivered to the first transport mechanism 4, the hopper 2 does not overflow on the side of the first transport mechanism 4 to be received. It is formed as follows.

  The transport mechanism 3 transports the tablets W from the hopper 2 to the counting means 14 and includes a first transport mechanism 4 and a second transport mechanism 9 that are arranged in two stages in the vertical direction. . The transport mechanism 3 will be described as an example in which the first transport mechanism 4 and the second transport mechanism 9 are provided with 10 transport paths for tablets W.

  The first transport mechanism 4 is installed on the support table 16, receives and aligns the tablets W sent from the hopper 2, transports them to the transport end (first transport end), and delivers them to the second transport mechanism 9. is there. The first transport mechanism 4 includes a spiral groove rod 5 in which a spiral groove 5 a is formed, a guide rod 6 installed in parallel along the spiral groove rod 5, and the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide rod 6 are rotated. First support means 8 that is freely supported, and first rotation drive means 7 that rotates the spiral groove rod 5 that is rotatably supported by the first support means 8 are provided. The first transport mechanism 4 is positioned between the position of the spiral groove 5a and the spiral groove 5a when the tablet W to be transported is guided and transported to the spiral groove 5a through the transport path Sr. It can be transported even in a state.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (a), the spiral groove rod 5 includes a transport portion 5A in which a spiral groove 5a is formed at a position where the tablet W is aligned on the peripheral surface during transport, and a transport end of the transport portion 5A. A thin shaft portion 5b formed continuously at one end portion, and has another shaft end portion 5c and one side shaft end portion 5d continuously from the thin shaft portion 5b and the transport portion 5A, respectively. doing.

  The spiral groove 5a is formed on the circumferential surface of the rod at the same groove pitch, and the groove is formed, sized and deep so as to correspond to the size of the tablet W. In addition, the formation angle with respect to the axial direction of the spiral groove 5a is formed corresponding to the type of the tablet W. The spiral groove 5a may have a groove width that may be larger or smaller than the diameter (length) of the tablet W, as long as the tablet W can be disposed at the position of the spiral groove 5a. Further, when the spiral groove 5a is changed depending on the type of the tablet W to be handled, the groove pitch, the groove shape, and the groove depth of the spiral groove 5a are changed by replacing the spiral groove rod 5. In addition, although the spiral groove 5a is formed so that it may become the same groove pitch in the 1st conveyance mechanism 4, you may change a groove pitch like the 2nd conveyance mechanism 9 mentioned later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thin shaft portion 5b can drop the tablet W transported on the transport path Sr together with the guide thin shaft portion 6b of the guide rod 6 described later at a position beyond the transport portion 5A. It is formed to be thin enough to be the diameter of the shaft.
The other-side shaft end portion 5c is formed at one end of the spiral groove rod 5, and is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to be rotatably supported by a first support means 8 described later.
The one-side shaft end portion 5d is formed at the other end of the spiral groove rod 5, and is formed so as to be driven and supported by first support means 8 described later. Accordingly, the one-side shaft end portion 5d is formed in a gear shape, or formed so that a gear can be installed.

  The guide rod 6 is a guide for guiding the tablet W to be moved by the spiral groove rod 5 and for transporting the tablet W in cooperation with the spiral groove rod 5. The guide bar 6 is formed at a position corresponding to the transport part 5A, which is a section in which the spiral groove 5a of the spiral groove bar 5 is formed, and a guide part 6a formed in a cylindrical shape for guiding the transport of the tablet W. The guide thin shaft portion 6b formed continuously at one end of the guide portion 6a. Further, one end guide end portion 6d and another end guide end portion 6c supported by first support means 8 described later are formed at both end positions of the guide rod 6. Here, the guide rod 6 is supported by the first support means 8 in a state where it does not rotate.

It is desirable that the guide portion 6a is formed on a mirror surface so that friction with the tablets W being conveyed is reduced. Further, the surface may be coated with a coating film such as fluorine so that the friction with the tablet W is reduced.
The guide thin shaft portion 6b is formed at a position corresponding to the thin shaft portion 5b of the spiral groove rod 5 so as to have a diameter capable of dropping the tablets W that have been conveyed.

  Here, the diameters of the conveying portion 5A of the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide portion of the guide rod 6 are formed to the same size, and the thin shaft portion 5b of the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide thin shaft portion 6b of the guide rod 6 are formed. The diameters of these are formed to the same dimension. Further, the spiral groove rod and the guide rod 6 are arranged so as to be at the same position in the height direction, and the installation interval is such that the tablet W positioned in the spiral groove 5a of the spiral groove rod 5 does not fall. Is set. That is, the tablet W is supported in a state where it is dropped into the gap between the conveying portion 5A of the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide portion 6a of the guide rod 6, and when the spiral groove rod 5 rotates, the tablet W is positioned in the spiral groove 5a. In the state, the interval is set so as to be able to be conveyed.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the first support means 8 is installed on the support table 16 and rotatably supports one side shaft end portion 5 d of the spiral groove rod 5, and one side of the guide rod 6. One side support portion 8a for supporting the guide end portion 6d and the other side support portion for supporting the other side guide end portion 6c of the guide rod 6 while rotatably supporting the other side shaft end portion 5c of the spiral groove rod 5. Part 8b.
The one-side support portion 8a has a gear box therein and is formed so that a driving force from the first rotation driving means 7 described later can be transmitted to the one-side shaft end portion 5d of the spiral groove rod 5. In addition, the one side support part 8a is provided in the state which the gear was combined so that all the spiral groove sticks 5 may become the same rotation direction here. Further, the one-side support portion 8a supports the guide rod 6 without rotating at a position where the one-side guide end portion 6d of the guide rod 6 is supported.

The other side support portion 8b includes a bearing (not shown) so as to rotatably support the other side shaft end portion 5c of the spiral groove rod 5, and also supports the other side guide end portion 6c of the guide rod 6. A support portion (not shown) is provided.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the one-side support portion 8 a is installed on the side end side from the position where the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide rod 6 receive the tablet W from the hopper 2. Moreover, the other side support part 8b is installed in the position which straddles the 2nd conveyance mechanism mentioned later.

  The first rotation drive means 7 includes a drive motor 7a, a shaft connection portion 7b connected to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 7a, and a transmission gear 7c that transmits the rotation from the shaft connection portion 7b. The drive motor 7a generates a desired rotation of a servo motor or the like. The transmission gear 7c transmits the rotation from the drive motor 7a to a gear box provided in the one side support portion 8a via the shaft connection portion 7b.

  In addition, below the position where the tablets W of the hopper 2 are supplied, that is, below the position where the tablets W of the first transport mechanism 4 are received, a receiving tray (see FIG. (Not shown) may be provided.

  Since the first transport mechanism 4 has the configuration as described above, the first rotation driving means 7 is actuated, and the spiral groove rod 5 is rotated to be ready for transport. When the tablet W that has been sent is sent from the supply port of the hopper 2, it is received by the transport path Sr between the spiral groove bar 5 and the guide bar 6. The first transport mechanism 4 is configured such that the spiral groove 5a is rotated by the rotating spiral groove bar 5 so that the tablet W is guided by the spiral groove 5a or positioned in the state where the guide bar 6 is positioned. It can be transported in the range of the transport section 5A along the guide section 6a. The tablet W is arranged at a position along the rotating spiral groove 5a, and is guided by the guide portion 6a of the guide rod 6 and is conveyed by rotating from the receiving position to the conveyance end (first conveyance end). The

  The tablets W transported to the end of the transport section 5A of the first transport mechanism 4 are further fed out in the direction of the transport path, so that the thin shaft section 5b of the spiral groove bar 5 and the guide thin shaft section 6b of the guide bar 6 are conveyed. To reach the position. As a result, in the first transport mechanism 4, since the interval is larger than the transport path, the tablet W falls and is delivered to the second transport mechanism 9. Note that the spiral groove rod 5 is rotated to the right when the spiral groove 5a is formed in an inclination (see FIGS. 1 to 3) that is obliquely upward to the right with respect to the transport direction, and left with respect to the transport direction. If the slope is obliquely upward, it is rotated counterclockwise.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the second transport mechanism 9 is provided at a position below the first transport mechanism with a step difference from the first transport mechanism 4. The second transport mechanism 9 is for receiving the tablet W from the first transport mechanism 4, transporting it to the transport end, and putting the tablet W into the container V via the counting means 14. The second transport mechanism 9 includes a spiral groove rod 10 in which a spiral groove 10a is formed, a guide rod 11 installed in parallel to the spiral groove rod 10, and the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11 are rotatable. Second supporting means 13 for supporting, and second rotation driving means 12 for rotating the spiral groove rod 10 rotatably supported by the second supporting means 13 are provided.

  In addition, the spiral groove rod 10 includes a conveying portion 10A in which a spiral groove 10a is formed, a thin shaft portion 10b, a one-side shaft end portion 10d, and an other-side shaft end portion 10c. Furthermore, the guide bar 11 includes a guide portion 11a, a guide thin shaft portion 11b, a one-side guide end portion 11d, and an other-side guide end portion 11c.

  Note that the second transport mechanism 9 has the same basic configuration as the first transport mechanism 4, and the different parts are the configuration of the spiral groove 10 a of the spiral groove rod 10 and the second rotation for rotating the spiral groove rod 10. The drive means 12 is installed for each spiral groove rod 10. The difference between the second transport mechanism 9 and the first transport mechanism 4 will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration will be simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the spiral groove rod 10 of the second transport mechanism 9, one end of the transport unit 10 </ b> A is disposed immediately below the thin shaft portion 5 b of the first transport mechanism 4. The spiral groove rod 10 is formed such that the spiral groove 10a has a small groove pitch on the tablet W receiving side and gradually increases the groove pitch on the tablet W conveyance end side. Here, the groove pitch of the spiral groove 10a of the spiral groove rod 10 is smaller on the receiving side than the spiral pitch of the spiral groove 5a in the spiral groove rod 5 of the first transport mechanism 4 and larger on the transport end side. Is set. The spiral groove rod 10 can receive more tablets W at the position where the tablet W is received compared to the structure of the uniform groove pitch by changing the groove pitch of the spiral groove 10a, and the position of the transport end. In this case, since the interval between the grooves is larger, the timing interval when counting is wider than that with the uniform groove pitch, and accurate counting can be performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the positional relationship between the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11 is the same as the positional relationship between the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide rod 6 of the first transport mechanism 4 already described. Further, except for the configuration of the guide rod 11 and the conveyance section 10A of the spiral groove rod 10, the spiral groove rod 5 and the guide rod 6 of the first conveyance mechanism 4 already described are the same. Further, the second support means 13 for supporting the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11 rotatably supports the one-side shaft end portion 10d of the spiral groove rod 10 and the one-side guide end portion 11d of the guide rod 11. The other side support part 13b which supports the other side guide end part 11c of the guide bar 11, while rotatably supporting the other side shaft end part 10c of the spiral groove rod 10, It has. The second support means 13 has the same configuration as the first support means 8. Further, the one side support portion 13a is arranged below the first transport mechanism 4 and supported on the support table 16, and the other side support portion 13b is located at a position straddling beyond the counting means 14 described later. Supported on top.

  The one-side support portion 13a of the second support means 13 has a structure of a gear installed therein because the second rotation drive means 12 described later includes the same number of drive motors 12a as the spiral groove rod 10. Is a simplified configuration. Further, the configuration of the portion that supports the guide rod 11 is the same as that of the first support means 8. The second rotation driving means 12 includes a drive motor 12a and a shaft connecting portion 12b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide passage 19 a for the tablet W formed in a hopper shape is installed below the position where the second transport mechanism 9 receives the tablet W, and the second transport mechanism 9 has a second guide path 19 a. A tray 19 b is installed below the transport path Sr of the transport mechanism 9.

  When the tablet W is sent out from the first transport mechanism 4 and delivered via the guide passage 19a, the second transport mechanism 9 is moved along the transport path Sr between the transport portion 10A of the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11. receive. The second transport mechanism 9 is located between the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11 because the spiral groove rod 10 is rotated by operating the drive motor 12a of the second rotation drive means 12. When the tablet W is positioned in the spiral groove 10a, the tablet W is guided along the spiral groove 10a, and is guided by the guide portion 11a of the guide bar 11 to move while rotating from the receiving position to the transport end (second transport end). It is conveyed by doing. Note that the spiral groove rod 10 is rotated to the right when the spiral groove 10a is formed in an inclination (see FIGS. 1 to 3) that is obliquely upward to the right with respect to the transport direction, and left with respect to the transport direction. If the slope is obliquely upward, it is rotated counterclockwise.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the second transport mechanism 9 is configured to send the tablet W to the drop passage 15 via the counting means 14 at the transport end (second transport end). The tablets W arranged on the left and right of 10 fall alternately to the drop passage 15 (see FIG. 6). In addition, the 2nd conveyance mechanism 9 ensures that the tablet W is aligned by forming conveyance part 10A longer than the 1st conveyance mechanism 4, and lengthens the thin shaft part 10b, and is sent out. The tablet W is set so that it can be stored even if it jumps out forward to some extent by the momentum of conveyance.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the counting means 14 counts the tablets that are transported and sent out by the second transport mechanism 9. This counting means 14 is installed for each spiral groove rod 10 and is used when counting tablets W such as an optical sensor capable of judging and counting the state in which light is blocked by dropping tablets W. Sensors are used. In the case of using the optical sensor, the light irradiation unit and the light receiving unit are configured such that two or more air chambers are arranged between the position where the tablet W falls and the light irradiation unit and the light receiving unit. (For details, see Japanese Patent No. 3041343). Therefore, the counting means 14 does not adhere to the light receiving surface or the like even when the tablet powder generated from the tablet W is falling as the tablet W is dropped. There is nothing to do.

  Further, the counting means 14 sets a first reference when counting the tablet W by the light shielding amount with which the optical path is shielded when sensing the tablet W, and the light shielding amount is a reference. Tablets W are counted (counted). Here, the counting means 14 is provided with a comparison value of the light shielding amount or the light shielding time in two or more stages so that the light receiving portion receives light in a stepwise manner smaller than the above-mentioned reference. Therefore, the tablet W passing through the counting means 14 can be counted as a tablet W having no normal chipping as long as it is the first reference light shielding amount or light shielding time, and the second reference light shielding amount or When it is the light shielding time, it is possible to sense that the tablet W is missing. Therefore, when sensing that the tablet W is missing, the entire container V can be discharged to a different route from the regular product.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drop passage 15 is a passage for storing the tablet W in the container V. The drop passage 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape, is continuously attached to the counting means 14, and has a lower end disposed in the container V. The falling passage 15 is formed in a funnel shape so that the passage gradually narrows from the top to the bottom.

  The container V is arranged at the lower end of the drop passage 15 and stores a preset number of tablets W. The container V is not particularly limited in its shape, size, material and color. It should be noted that the mounting table on which the container V is mounted is configured so that an operator can replace the container V manually, or the container is moved when a preset quantity is formed by being formed in the shape of a conveyor. It does not matter as a structure to do.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the control unit 20 mainly controls the transport mechanism 3, and performs calculation, comparison, and determination based on information (data) from the input unit (touch panel of the display unit) and the like. A computer having a CPU for performing the above and the like, and includes an input unit 20a, a storage unit 20b, a comparison unit 20c, a drive control unit 20d, a reset unit 20e, and an imaging detection means 23 (see FIG. 2). Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the input part 20a inputs the filling quantity of the tablet W with which the container V is filled, a reference quantity, or a reset signal from input means, such as a touch panel. In the input unit 20a, a reset signal is input together with the filling quantity and the reference quantity. The reference quantity is a value smaller than the filling quantity arbitrarily determined by the operator in advance. For example, when the filling quantity is 100 tablets, it is a quantity such as 90 to 95 tablets, and the counting means 14 sets the filling quantity. Any value may be used as long as a predetermined interval is reached by the filling quantity so that the tablets can be reliably counted.

The filling quantity and the reference quantity input from the input unit 20a are output to the storage unit 20b. A reset signal, which will be described later, input to the input unit 20a is output to the reset unit 20e.
The storage unit 20b is a general storage unit such as a hard disk, an optical disk, or a memory. The storage unit 20b stores a filling quantity, a reference quantity, and the like input from the input unit 20a.

  The comparison unit 20c compares the filling quantity stored in the storage unit 20b with the quantity of tablets W counted by the counting unit 14 and outputs a first control signal to the drive control unit 20d when they become equal. When the reference quantity stored in the storage unit 20b and the quantity of the tablets W counted by the counting unit 14 are equal to each other, the second control signal is output to the drive control unit 20d. Further, the comparison unit 20c resets the quantity value sent from the counting means 14 by a reset control signal from the reset unit 20e described later, and outputs a third output signal to the drive control unit 20d. Since the comparison unit 20c sends a signal each time the counting means 14 counts the number of tablets W, the comparison unit 20c compares it with the reference quantity or the filling quantity each time.

  The reset unit 20e receives a reset signal from the sensor (see FIG. 8) or from the input unit 20a and sends a reset control signal to the comparison unit 20c to reset the quantity counted by the counting unit 14 in the comparison unit 20c. . The reset unit 20e resets the comparison unit 20c when a reset signal that is a signal from the sensor indicating that the container V has been replaced or a reset signal that is input by the operator via the input unit 20a is input. Is output. That is, when a reset control signal is output from the reset unit 20e to the comparison unit 20c, the comparison unit resets the number of tablets counted from the counting unit 14.

  The drive control unit 20d controls the first rotation drive unit 7 and the second rotation drive unit 12 that are rotation drive units of the transport mechanism 3 based on the first to third control signals sent from the comparison unit 20c. . When the drive control unit 20d receives the first control signal from the comparison unit 20c, the drive control unit 20d sends a control signal to the first rotation drive unit 7 and the second rotation drive unit 12 to set the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 which are set in advance. The number of rotations is controlled to a lower number. For example, when the preset rotation speed is 1000 rotations / minute, the rotation speed is controlled to 100 to 500 rotations / minute.

When the drive control unit 20d receives the second control signal from the comparison unit 20c, the drive control unit 20d sends a control signal to the first rotation driving unit 7 and the second rotation driving unit 12 to temporarily rotate the spiral groove rods 5 and 10. Stop. At this time, since the tablet W has reached a preset quantity, the container V is replaced and a new container V is prepared.
Furthermore, when the drive control unit 20d receives the third control signal from the comparison unit 20c, the first rotation driving unit 7 and the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 that have been stopped are set to have a preset number of rotations. A control signal for controlling the second rotation driving means 12 is output.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the monitor 21 can display the state of the tablet W imaged by the touch panel as the input unit and the imaging unit 22 at the same time or by switching. Moreover, the imaging means 22 and the imaging detection means 23 are for imaging the tablets W being transported and determining whether or not the tablets W are missing from the captured images. The imaging means 22 is a CCD camera, for example, and images a plurality of rotating tablets W in the imaging range. Note that the control unit 20 includes an imaging detection unit 23 (see FIG. 2) that determines whether the tablet W is missing from an image that has been captured and sent.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging detection unit 23 is a well-known device. For example, when the reflected light state of the image is detected, the distribution state of the reflected light is not uniform beyond the threshold with respect to the reference. Etc. are judged to be lacking. Here, the imaging means 22 is arranged in the same number as the number of the spiral groove rods 10 and picks up an image of the tablets W that move along the conveyance paths formed on the left and right sides of the spiral groove rods 10. In addition, when the tablet W determined to be missing is detected, the container V filled by the transport path Sr is collected and the tablet W is reinserted.

  With the above configuration, the control unit 20 controls the transport mechanism 3 so as to efficiently perform the filling operation of filling the tablets W with the tablets W. When the replacement operation of the container V is performed with a mechanical configuration, the container V filled with the tablet W missing by the imaging detection means 23 is set to be guided to the discharge passage.

Next, the operation of the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 7A, in the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, the tablet W is put into the hopper 2 by the operator. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the tablet W is loaded into the hopper 2, the tablet is delivered from below the hopper 2 to the proximal end side of the transport path Sr of the first transport mechanism 4 of the transport mechanism 3 ( First step). At this time, since the lower shape of the hopper 2 is designed to gradually deliver the tablet W to the transport mechanism 3, the tablet W does not overflow from the transport path.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (c), FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tablet W fed from the hopper 2 to the transport paths Sr, Sr enters the spiral groove 5a of the spiral groove rod 5 rotated by the first rotation driving means 7. In the guided state, it is guided in the transport direction and guided by the guide portions 6a and 6a of the guide rods 6 and 6, and the positions of the thin shaft portion 5b and the guide thin shaft portion 6b of the first transport mechanism 4 (the first transport mechanism 4). To the first transfer end). The tablets W are arranged in the spiral groove 5a and are aligned by moving. And if the tablet W is a disk shape, it will be conveyed by rotating and moving in the attitude | position (refer FIG. 5 or FIG. 9 (a)) so that a diameter direction may become up and down in the conveyance path | route Sr.

  The second transport mechanism 9 is formed smaller than the groove pitch of the spiral groove 5 a of the first transport mechanism 4. For this reason, even if the tablets W sent in an overlapped state without being positioned in the spiral groove 5a of the first transport mechanism 4 are delivered, the second transport mechanism 9 is allowed to receive the spiral groove 10a with a small groove pitch. It becomes possible to do.

  As shown in FIGS. 7D, 4, and 6, when the tablet is delivered from the first transport mechanism 4 to the second transport mechanism 9, the tablet W has a gap between the spiral groove rod 10 and the guide rod 11. These positions are transported to the positions of the respective thin shaft portions 10b and the guide thin shaft portions 11b of the second transport mechanism 9 (the second transport mechanism 9, that is, the transport end of the transport mechanism 3). As shown in FIG. 6, the tablets W that have been transported to the transport end are alternately sent out from the transport paths Sr and Sr on the left and right of the spiral groove rod 10 toward the drop passage 15.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the spiral groove rod 10 is rotated, for example, when the tablet W of one transport path Sr is sent toward the drop passage 15, the spiral groove rod 10 is rotated 180 degrees from that state. When rotated, as shown in FIG. 6B, the tablets W in the other transport path Sr are sent out toward the drop path 15. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the second transport mechanism 9 causes the clearance between the spiral groove rod 10 and the left and right guide rods 11 by the rotation of the spiral groove rod 10 every 180 degrees. And the tablets W are alternately sent out toward the drop passage 15 (second step).

  Therefore, the tablets W transported by the second transport mechanism 9 and sent out to the drop passage 15 are not easily overlapped when counted by the counting means 14 located in the path of the drop passage 15 and are easily counted. You can pass through the location.

  As shown in FIGS. 7E, 7F, 4 and 5, the tablets W sent to the drop passage 15 are counted by the counting means 14 and filled into the container V (third step). The counted signal is sent to the control means 20 to determine the quantity to be filled in the container V. In the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, when the counting quantity reaches the reference quantity after reaching the reference quantity, a control signal is issued from the control means 20 to make the rotation of the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 slower than the set rotation. Yes. Therefore, the counting means 14 can reliably count the tablets W.

  When the filling quantity is reached, the counted signal is sent to the control means 20. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 (f), in the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, the first rotation driving means 7 and the second rotation driving means 12 of the transport mechanism 3 (the first transport mechanism 4 and the second transport mechanism 9) are connected. A signal for stopping the operation is sent from the control means 20 to temporarily stop the transport operation of the transport mechanism 3.

  The tablets W being transported by the transport mechanism 3 are mostly located in the spiral groove 5a or the spiral groove 10a when the transport operation of the transport mechanism 3 is temporarily stopped. Will not be sent out. Further, even in the tablet W positioned between the spiral groove 5a or the spiral groove 10a, even if inertia occurs in the transport direction, the front and rear tablets W are prevented from moving and are not sent out.

  If the container V is replaced with an empty one while the transport of the tablets W is stopped, a signal is sent again from the control means 20 to the first rotation drive means 7 and the second rotation drive means 12 to transfer the tablets W. The transport operation resumes. In the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, the replacement of the container V and the resumption of the conveying operation are performed manually by the operator, or the container V is replaced mechanically such as a conveyor (not shown), and a sensor (not shown) is used. The replacement of the container V may be determined mechanically.

  Since the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 operates with the above-described configuration, the tablets W can be accurately counted and filled into the container V at high speed. Further, when the container V is replaced, the tablet W is placed and supported in the spiral groove 5a or the spiral groove 10a even if the transport operation in the transport mechanism 3 is stopped. Even if the rotation of 10 stops, it hardly moves due to inertia in the transport direction. Therefore, in the tablet counting and filling device 1, counting of the tablets W is performed in a substantially complete state. Moreover, since the clearance of the conveyance path | route Sr is large, even if the tablet count filling apparatus 1 has a certain amount of fragments of the tablet W, it will fall from the conveyance path | route Sr during conveyance, and will be filled with the container V. Can be prevented.

  Note that the types of tablets W that can be handled by the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 are, for example, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), circular tablets W1 or cylinders that are hemispherical at both ends. Even the capsule-like tablet W2 having a shape can be transported. As shown in FIG. 9B, in the case of the tablet W2, the cylindrical portion is rotated and conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction as indicated by an arrow.

  In the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, the spiral groove rods 10 of the second transport mechanism 9 are sent from the respective transport paths Sr by rotating at a constant rotation speed of, for example, 1000 rotations / minute. Although the counting timing of the tablets W is fixed, for example, a configuration in which the tablets W are filled into one container V from the plurality of spiral groove rods 10 may be used. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the case where the tablet W is counted and filled in one container V by all five spiral groove rods 10 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the spiral groove rod 10 will be described as a case where one rotates at a low speed and the other four operate at a normal rotation or a high-speed rotation.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (a), if the predetermined amount set for the tablet W is, for example, 1000 tablets, the spiral groove rods 10 are operated until the number of tablets reaches 990 tablets. When it becomes 990 tablets by 14, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the four spiral groove bars 10 that have been rotating at high speed are stopped by a signal from the control means 20 (see FIG. 2). Then, by filling the remaining 10 tablets up to 1000 with the low-speed rotating spiral groove rod 10, it is possible to reliably count and fill the containers V without making a mistake. . Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), when reaching a preset 1000 tablets, the spiral groove rod 10 which has been rotated at a low speed is also stopped by a signal from the control means 20.

Thus, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 can conveniently perform an operation corresponding to the number of containers V to be filled by changing the rotational speed of the spiral groove rod 10. In FIG. 10, as another example of different settings, when all the spiral groove rods 10 are rotated at high speed and reach the reference quantity, 4 are stopped and the remaining one is set to be low speed. I do not care.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 may be configured to temporarily stop the dropping of the tablet W in the dropping path of the dropping path 15 and install a flap mechanism 18 that holds the tablet W. The flap mechanism 18 operates in accordance with a control signal output simultaneously with a signal for stopping the transport mechanism 3 from the control means 20 when the quantity of tablets W set in the container V is filled and replaced. A flap plate 18a capable of holding the coming tablet W, and an operating portion 18b that operates to move the flap plate 18a to the dropping path and to close or open the dropping path are provided.

  Since the flap mechanism 18 is installed, the transport mechanism 3 may be set to operate without having to stop every time the container is replaced. That is, the flap mechanism 18 is actuated by a control signal from the control means 20 at the timing of replacing the container V to close the dropping path, and when a new container V is placed (instructed to the control means by detection of the sensor or The tablet W held by the operator may be released and filled into the container V. In addition, when the tablet W is held in the dropping path by the operation of the flap mechanism 18 without stopping the transport mechanism 3, it is suitable for the case where the container V is replaced by a mechanical operation using, for example, a belt conveyor and a sensor. ing.

  As described above, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 is easy to count the tablets W and performs the filling operation at a high speed in order to transport the tablets W by the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 and the guide rods 6 and 11. Is possible. In addition, since the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 can fill the tablets W at a high speed, the filling capacity of the conventional apparatus can be ensured even if the whole is formed more compact than the conventional apparatus. Furthermore, since the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 uses the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 different from the conveyance by the conventional vibration mechanism, the portion of the tablet W that is difficult to generate the powder of the tablet W and that contacts the tablet W in the conveyance path. There are few, and cleaning etc. become easy.

  In the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, the transport mechanism 3 has been described as the first transport mechanism 4 and the second transport mechanism 9, but either the first transport mechanism 4 or the second transport mechanism 10 may be used as the transport mechanism 3. Good. Further, when the second transport mechanism 10 is used as the transport mechanism 3, the first transport mechanism 9 is extended to the bottom of the hopper 2, and only the second transport mechanism 9 is configured as the transport mechanism 3. It does not matter. Moreover, although it demonstrated as a structure which changes the groove pitch of the spiral groove 10a of the 2nd conveyance mechanism 9, a groove pitch may be constant. Further, in the transport mechanism 3, the guide rods 6, 11 arranged in parallel to the left and right along the spiral groove rods 5, 10 are arranged on either the left or right according to the shape of the container V or the number of fillings. It does not matter.

  In the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1, it has been described that one of the imaging units 22 captures the state of the tablet W that is transported by the left and right transport paths Sr of the spiral groove rod 10. One or a plurality of transport paths Sr may be used. In addition, the hopper 2 of the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 has been described as a configuration in which the tablet W is delivered to the plurality of transport paths Sr, but a small hopper is arranged for each transport path Sr, or a spiral A hopper may be installed for each groove rod 5. Furthermore, the tablet counting and filling apparatus 1 has the same capability as the conventional apparatus by setting the number of rotations of the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 to 300 (rotations / minute). The difference in capacity of the apparatus becomes large, and it is possible to carry the sheet with a rotation speed of 500 to 1500 rotations.

Further, in the tablet counting and filling device 1, when the reference quantity is reached, the spiral groove bars 5 and 10 are rotated when the spiral groove bars 5 and 10 are rotated more slowly than the set number of revolutions to reach the filling quantity. However, it is needless to say that the operation may be performed by setting only the filling quantity without setting the reference quantity.
Furthermore, although the guide rods 6 and 11 have been described as being fixed, they may be configured to rotate. Since the guide rods 6 and 11 serve to guide the tablet W, it is sufficient that the guide rods 6 and 11 can be guided in a state of sliding with respect to the tablet W. Therefore, when rotating, the rotation direction may be either. The materials of the spiral groove rods 5 and 10 and the guide rods 6 and 11 are not particularly limited, such as metal or resin.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tablet count filling apparatus 2 Hopper 3 Conveyance mechanism 4 1st conveyance mechanism 5 Spiral groove rod 5A Conveyance part 5a Spiral groove 5b Thin shaft part 5c Other side shaft end part 5d One side shaft end part 6 Guide bar 6a Guide part 6b Guide fine Shaft portion 6c Other side guide end portion 6d One side guide end portion 7 First rotation drive means 7a Drive motor 7b Shaft connection portion 7c Transmission gear 8 First support means 8a One side support portion 8b Other side support portion 9 Second transport mechanism DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Spiral groove rod 10A Conveying part 10a Spiral groove 10b Thin shaft part 10c Other side shaft end part 10d One side shaft end part 11 Guide rod 11a Guide part 11b Guide thin shaft part 11c Other side guide end part 11d One side guide end part 12 Second rotation drive means 12a Drive motor 12b Shaft connection portion 13 Second support means 13a One side support portion 13b Other side support portion 14 Counting means 15 Drop passage 16 Support table 1 Flap mechanism 18a Flap plate 18b Actuating part 19a Guide passage 19b Dish 20 Control means 20a Input part 20b Storage part 20c Comparison part 20d Drive control part 20e Reset part 21 Monitor 22 Imaging means 23 Imaging detection means Sr Conveyance path V Container W Tablet W1 Tablet W2 tablets

Claims (7)

In the tablet counting and filling device, the tablets are put into the hopper, transported by the transport mechanism, counted by the counting means and filled into the storage container.
The transport mechanism includes a first transport mechanism and a second transport mechanism arranged with a step in the vertical direction, and the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism are spiral grooves each having a spiral groove formed on a peripheral surface. includes a rod, a guide rod arranged parallel to the spiral groove rod, and a rotary drive means for rotating the spiral groove rod respectively,
The first transport mechanism receives a tablet from the hopper at the lower end of the hopper , and rotates by the rotation driving means in a gap that enables the transport of the tablet between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod. Guided by the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod to transport the tablet to the first transport end,
The second transport mechanism receives a tablet from the first transport end and is a gap between the spiral groove rod and the guide rod so that the tablet can be transported. Guided by a spiral groove to transport the tablet to the second transport end, and deliver the transported tablet to the path where the counting means is installed,
The groove pitch of the spiral groove of the spiral groove rod of the second transport mechanism on the side of the position where the tablet is received from the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism, which is installed below the transport end side of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism, It is formed smaller than the groove pitch of the spiral groove on the transport end side of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism,
The tablet counting and filling apparatus, wherein the spiral grooves of the spiral groove rod of the first transport mechanism are formed at the same groove pitch . Said second transfer mechanism, wherein the groove pitch of the helical groove formed on the spiral groove rod, characterized by being formed so as gradually widens the groove pitch of the conveying end side of a position side to receive the tablets Item 2. The tablet counting and filling apparatus according to Item 1 .   The tablet counting and filling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide bar is arranged on the left and right along the spiral groove bar. The tablet counting and filling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein in the transport mechanism, the spiral groove bar and the guide bar are arranged in multiple rows in a horizontal direction. Control means for controlling the rotation driving means of the second transport mechanism;
The control means includes an input unit for inputting a filling quantity for filling the tablet into the container, a reference quantity smaller than the filling quantity, and a reset signal;
A storage unit for storing the filling quantity and the reference quantity input from the input unit;
A comparison unit that compares the filled quantity and the tablet quantity counted by the counting means, and compares the reference quantity and the tablet count counted by the counting means;
When the reference quantity is reached, the rotational drive means is controlled to a rotational speed slower than the set rotational speed of the spiral groove rod by the first control signal output from the comparison section, and the filling quantity is reached. A drive control unit that controls the rotation driving means so that the spiral groove rod stops by a second control signal output from the comparison unit when
A reset unit that resets the number of tablets counted by the counting means by a reset signal from the input unit or a reset signal sent from the outside, and
When the comparison unit is reset by the reset unit, the comparison unit outputs a third control signal to the drive control unit,
The said drive control part controls the said rotation drive means so that rotation of the said spiral groove rod which has stopped may be restarted with the said 3rd control signal , The any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The tablet counting and filling device according to Item . It is arranged toward the transport path of the tablets transported by the transport mechanism, and includes an imaging detection unit that captures the appearance of the transported tablets by an image capturing unit and detects chipping of the tablets from the captured image. The tablet counting and filling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that   The rotation drive means of the first transport mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission gear provided in a gear box for transmitting rotation from the drive motor,
  The tablet counting and filling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rotation driving unit of the second transport mechanism includes a drive motor for each spiral groove rod of the second transport mechanism. .

Images