WO2017191752A1

WO2017191752A1 - Tablet printing device

Info

Publication number: WO2017191752A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/015622
Authority: WO
Inventors: 将由梶川; 友太今井; 弘樹岩間
Original assignee: 株式会社京都製作所
Priority date: 2016-05-02
Filing date: 2017-04-18
Publication date: 2017-11-09
Also published as: JP2017200496A; JP6735523B2

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tablet printing device that makes it possible to reliably dry a printing surface of a tablet having identification information printed thereon without increasing the size of the device. This tablet printing device includes: a loading unit 2 into which a plurality of tablets are loaded; conveying units 3, 4 that convey the plurality of tablets T loaded from the loading unit 2 in one direction; printing units 201, 202 that print predetermined identification information on the tablets T conveyed by the conveying units 3, 4; and a drying unit 5 that dries the printing surfaces of the tablets T on which the predetermined identification information has been printed by the printing units 201, 202 while conveying the tablets T in another direction opposite that of the conveying unit 4.

Description

Tablet printer

The present invention relates to a tablet printing apparatus for printing predetermined identification information on a tablet and then drying the tablet.

In recent years, identification information regarding manufacturers, product categories, and the like is often printed on tablets such as pharmaceuticals and foods by inkjet or the like. This identification information is generally composed of alphabets, numbers, or symbols, so that a dispensing pharmacy, a patient, or a consumer can grasp the type of tablet.

In general, an apparatus for printing such a tablet includes an input unit into which a plurality of tablets are input, a transfer unit that transfers a plurality of tablets input from the input unit in one direction, and a tablet that is transferred by the transfer unit. And a printing unit for printing predetermined identification information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, when the identification information is printed on the tablets, the printed surface is often not sufficiently dried after the identification information is printed. Therefore, if the tablets are discharged as they are into the collection box, the tablets are printed in the collection box. There is a possibility that the surfaces contact each other and the identification information of one tablet is transferred to another tablet. When the identification information is transferred in this way, the identification information for the transferred tablet becomes unclear, while the transferred tablet becomes dirty and is treated as a defective product in the subsequent inspection process, resulting in a yield. Was.

JP 2013-013711 A

As described above, when the identification information is printed on the tablet, it is necessary to forcibly dry the print surface of the tablet after the identification information is printed. Since the distance from the print location to the discharge location is short, it has been difficult to dry sufficiently while transporting the tablets.

Of course, the distance required for the drying process after tablet printing should be increased in the length direction of the apparatus, but there was a problem that the entire apparatus would be enlarged. In addition, it may be possible to temporarily stop the conveyance of the tablet and dry it, but there is a problem that the yield of the tablet occurs.

This invention is made in view of the above-mentioned problem, Comprising: It is providing the tablet printing apparatus which can dry reliably the printing surface of the tablet which printed identification information, without enlarging an apparatus. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tablet printing apparatus for printing predetermined identification information on a tablet and then drying the tablet, and includes a loading unit into which a plurality of tablets are loaded, and the loading A conveying unit that conveys a plurality of tablets input from the unit in one direction, a printing unit that prints predetermined identification information on the tablets conveyed by the conveying unit, and the printing unit receives predetermined identification information. A drying unit that dries the printed surface of the tablet while conveying the printed tablet in the other direction opposite to the conveying unit.

According to this, in order to ensure the distance required for the drying process after the tablet printing below the transport unit, the printing surface of the tablet on which the identification information is printed can be reliably dried without increasing the size of the apparatus. it can.

Further, the transport unit includes a reversing drum provided in the front in the transport direction, a driven shaft provided in the rear in the transport direction, and a transport unit belt wound in an endless state on the reverse drum and the driven shaft. The tablets on the conveyor belt may be turned upside down according to the rotation of the reversing drum and delivered to the drying unit on the same plane. According to this, since the tablet on which the identification information is printed is delivered from the transport unit to the drying unit on the same plane, it is possible to prevent the printed surfaces of the tablets from contacting each other during delivery.

In addition, the transport unit reverses the front and back of the tablet on the transport unit belt according to the rotation of a reversing drum, transports the tablet for a predetermined distance in a suspended state under the transport unit belt, and then flushes with the drying unit. It may be assumed to be handed over above. According to this, since the tablet is transported a predetermined distance in a suspended state under the transport unit, the tablet can be dried immediately after the tablet is printed by the printing unit and before drying by the drying unit.

Further, the transport unit may drop the defective tablet downward in the process of transporting the tablet in a suspended state. According to this, among the tablets on which the identification information is printed, defective tablets can be discharged before the drying process, so that only non-defective tablets can be handled in the drying process, and the printing surface of a plurality of tablets can be efficiently used. Can be dried.

The drying unit includes a drive shaft or a driven shaft provided in front of the transport direction, a driven shaft or drive shaft provided in the rear of the transport direction, and a drying wound around the drive shaft or driven shaft in an endless state. The drying belt may be provided with a flow hole through which gas can flow in the thickness direction. According to this, since gas can distribute | circulate through the circulation hole of the belt for drying parts, the printing surface of the tablet on the belt for drying parts can be dried more reliably.

The drying section is provided with a heater inside the drying section belt, and the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature through the circulation hole of the drying section belt to the tablets on the drying section belt. May be. According to this, since the heater is provided inside the drying unit belt, it is not necessary to separately provide a heater installation space, and the apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, since the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature through the circulation hole of the drying unit belt to the tablets on the drying unit belt, the printing surface of the tablets on the drying unit belt can be dried more reliably. .

The drying unit belt may be formed in a mesh shape. According to this, since the total area of the circulation holes of the drying unit belt is increased, the printing surface of the tablet on the drying unit can be further reliably dried.

According to the present invention, the printing surface of the tablet on which the identification information is printed can be surely dried without increasing the size of the apparatus in order to secure the distance necessary for the drying process after printing the tablet below the transport unit. Can do. Moreover, when the tablet which printed identification information is delivered to the drying part on the same plane from a conveyance part, it can prevent that the printing surfaces of a tablet contact at the time of delivery.

It is a composition schematic diagram showing the tablet printer concerning this embodiment. It is an enlarged side view which shows the connection part of the conveyance part and drying part of the downstream of the tablet printing apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the drying part of the tablet printing apparatus of FIG.

Next, an embodiment of a tablet printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the present apparatus) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a base 1, a loading unit 2 provided on the top of the base 1, and an upstream conveying unit 3 provided in the base 1 below the loading unit 2. A downstream transport unit 4 provided below the upstream transport unit 3, a drying unit 5 provided below the downstream transport unit 4, and a control unit 6 that controls each unit.

In this embodiment, a secant for dividing the tablet T in half is engraved on the surface of the tablet T. The surface of the tablet T refers to the surface on which the secant line of the tablet T is engraved, and the back surface of the tablet T refers to the surface on which the secant line of the tablet T is not engraved. Further, the one surface of the tablet T refers to the lower surface of the upstream transport unit 3 or the upper surface of the downstream transport unit 4 regardless of the front and back of the tablet T. The other surface of the tablet T refers to the upper surface of the upstream transport unit 3 or the lower surface of the downstream transport unit 4 regardless of the front and back of the tablet T.

The loading unit 2 includes a hopper 21 having a loading port 21a formed at the top thereof. When a plurality of tablets T are loaded into the hopper 21 from the loading port 21a, the tablets T pass through the inside of the hopper 21. , And discharged to the upstream conveying section 3.

The upstream transport unit 3 transports a plurality of tablets T input from the input unit 2 in one direction (right direction in FIG. 1), and is arranged in a multi-row distribution provided below the input unit 2. A trough 31, a ceiling-type conveyor 32 (first conveyance unit) provided in the front of the multi-row sorting trough 31 in the conveyance direction, and a placement type conveyor 33 (first) provided in the conveyance direction of the ceiling-type conveyor 32 2), and the multi-row sorting trough 31, the ceiling type conveyor 32 and the placing type conveyor 33 are arranged side by side along the conveying direction.

The multi-row sorting trough 31 is arranged so as to be gently inclined downward toward the front in the transport direction, and transports the plurality of tablets T while gradually aligning them in the width direction (depth direction in FIG. 1).

The ceiling suspension type conveyor 32 is wound in an endless state between the drive shaft 321 disposed in the front in the transport direction, the driven shaft 322 disposed in the rear in the transport direction, and the drive shaft 321 and the driven shaft 322. The belt 323 is provided, and the timing belt 323 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by rotating the driving shaft 321 by a driving motor (not shown).

Thus, the plurality of tablets T transported from the multi-row sorting trough 31 are the same in such a manner that they are attracted in a suspended state to the timing belt 323 of the suspended suspension conveyor 32 when they reach the suspended suspension conveyor 32. It is delivered on a flat surface and conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the timing belt 323 while maintaining its suspended state.

In this embodiment, the multi-row sorting trough 31 is rotated in the predetermined direction (right direction in FIG. 1) at a position in front of the conveyance direction of the multi-row sorting trough 31 and below the rear end portion of the ceiling suspension type conveyor 32. An auxiliary roller 324 is provided. The auxiliary roller 324 is arranged so that the uppermost point on the peripheral surface is higher than the multi-row sorting trough 31 and lower than the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32. For this reason, the auxiliary roller 324 receives the plurality of tablets T from the multi-row sorting trough 31 on the circumferential surface, and then lifts the tablets T on the circumferential surface according to the rotation, and the ceiling roller type conveyor 32 is lifted at the highest point. Transfer to the timing belt 323. In general, the end of the ceiling-type conveyor 32 has a weak suction force, but the tablet T is lifted by the auxiliary roller 324 as described above, so that it can be reliably delivered to the ceiling-type conveyor 32.

The stationary conveyor 33 includes a reversing drum 331 disposed in front of the conveying direction, a driven shaft 332 disposed rearward in the conveying direction, and a timing belt wound in an endless state between the reversing drum 331 and the driven shaft 332. 333, and the reversing drum 331 rotates its own axis by a drive motor (not shown), whereby the timing belt 333 rotates clockwise in FIG.

An intermediate roller 334 is provided at the upper left position of the reversing drum 331. By lifting the timing belt 333 sent from the reversing drum 331 to the upper left position of the reversing drum 331, the reversing drum 331 is disposed below the loading conveyor 33. A space for arranging each member such as a first imaging unit 101, a third imaging unit 103, a second printing unit 202, and a second inspection imaging unit 302 described later is formed.

Thus, the plurality of tablets T conveyed from the ceiling-type conveyor 32 are delivered on the same plane in such a manner that they are placed on the timing belt 333 of the placement-type conveyor 33 when they reach the placement-type conveyor 33. After that, the sheet is conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the timing belt 333 while maintaining the mounting state. The tablet T that has reached the reversing drum 331 is adsorbed to the timing belt 333 by a negative pressure chamber (not shown), and is conveyed downward in a state where the front and back are reversed according to the rotation of the reversing drum 331.

The downstream transport unit 4 receives a plurality of tablets T from the upstream transport unit 3 in an inverted state and transports them in the other direction (left direction in FIG. 1). A ceiling suspension type conveyor 41 is provided.

The mounting / ceiling-type conveyor 41 is wound in an endless state between a reversing drum 411 disposed in front of the conveying direction, a driven shaft 412 disposed rearward in the conveying direction, and the reversing drum 411 and the driven shaft 412. The timing belt 413 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 when the reversing drum 411 rotates about its own axis by a drive motor (not shown).

Thus, when the tablet T transported from the upstream transport unit 3 while being turned upside down arrives at the placement / ceiling suspension conveyor 41, the tablet T is placed on the timing belt 413 of the placement / ceiling suspension conveyor 41. After being delivered in the placed state, it is conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the timing belt 413 while maintaining the mounted state. Then, the tablet T that has reached the reversing drum 411 is adsorbed to the timing belt 413 by the negative pressure chamber and conveyed downward in a state where the front and back are reversed according to the rotation of the reversing drum 411, and then suspended under the timing belt 413. A predetermined distance is conveyed to the drying unit 5 and delivered on the same plane.

Thus, since the tablet T on which the identification information is printed is delivered from the downstream transport unit 4 to the drying unit 5 on the same plane, it is possible to prevent the printed surfaces of the tablets T from contacting each other during delivery.

Further, since the tablet T is transported a predetermined distance in a suspended state under the transport unit 4 on the downstream side, the tablet T is printed immediately after the tablet T is printed by the second printing unit 202 and before drying by the drying unit 5. T can be dried to some extent.

In addition, a defective product discharge box 42 is provided below the end of the downstream loading / ceiling type conveyor 41 on the reversing drum 411 side. As a result, the tablets T determined to be defective by the control unit 6 are moved downward by releasing the suction by the timing belt 413 in the process of being transported in a suspended state on the mounting / ceiling suspension conveyor 41. It falls and is discharged into the defective product discharge box 42. For this reason, among the tablets T on which the identification information is printed, defective tablets T can be discharged before the drying process, so that only the non-defective tablets T can be handled in the drying process, and the printing surface of a plurality of tablets T can be efficiently used. Can be dried.

The drying unit 5 receives the plurality of tablets T from the downstream transport unit 4 in an inverted state, and receives the plurality of tablets T in the direction opposite to the downstream transport unit 4 (right direction in FIG. 1). It is dried while being conveyed, and is composed of a mesh type conveyor 51.

This mesh type conveyor 51 is a mesh-like structure wound in an endless state between a drive shaft 511 disposed forward in the transport direction, a driven shaft 512 disposed rearward in the transport direction, and between the drive shaft 511 and the driven shaft 512. The drying unit belt 513 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 when the drive shaft 511 rotates its own axis by a drive motor (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the drying unit belt 513 is configured by a plurality of elongated string members 513 a made of synthetic resin or cloth arranged in a lattice pattern in the length direction and the width direction of the apparatus. Shaped through holes 513b are formed. The flow hole 513b is formed with a hole diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the tablet T to such an extent that the tablet T does not fall, and one surface (lower surface) of the tablet T is exposed as much as possible from the flow hole 513b. ing.

Also, a heater 8 is provided inside the mesh type conveyor 51. The heater 8 blows hot air having a predetermined temperature on the tablets T on the drying unit belt 513 through the flow holes 513 b of the drying unit belt 513. Specifically, the heater 8 directly blows hot air at a predetermined temperature from the flow hole 513b on the printing surface on one side (lower side) of the tablet T, and at the other side (upper side) of the tablet T. On the printing surface, the hot air having a predetermined temperature that has passed through the flow hole 513b on which the tablet T is not placed is blown to convect the gas having the predetermined temperature in the entire area below and above the drying unit belt 513. Then, the lower and upper printing surfaces of the tablet T are dried.

Thus, the plurality of tablets T transported from the downstream transport unit 4 are delivered on the same plane in such a manner that they are placed on the drying unit belt 513 when reaching the mesh conveyor 51. Then, it is conveyed forward in the conveying direction according to the rotation of the drying unit belt 513 while maintaining the mounting state. At this time, the tablet T is blown with warm air of a predetermined temperature by a heater, whereby the printing surface on one side (lower side) and the other side (upper side) is dried.

Thus, in order to secure the distance necessary for the drying process after printing of the tablet T below the downstream transport unit 4, the printing surface of the tablet T on which the identification information is printed can be reliably obtained without increasing the size of the apparatus. Can be dried.

Further, since the gas can flow through the flow hole 513b of the drying unit belt 513, the printing surface of the tablet T on the drying unit belt 513 can be dried more reliably. In particular, in this embodiment, since the drying unit belt 513 is formed in a mesh shape, the total area of the flow holes 513b of the drying unit belt 513 is increased. It is possible to dry more reliably.

Further, since the heater 8 is provided inside the drying section belt 513, it is not necessary to provide a separate installation space for the heater 8, and the apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, since the heater 8 blows a gas at a predetermined temperature through the flow hole 513b to the tablet T on the drying unit belt 513, the printing surface of the tablet T on the drying unit belt 513 can be dried more reliably. .

A discharge unit 7 is provided in front of the drying unit 5 in the transport direction, and the non-defective tablet T that has been transported while being dried by the drying unit 5 is discharged from the discharge unit 7 to the outside of the apparatus.

The upstream conveying unit 3 includes a first imaging unit 101 disposed below the ceiling-mounted conveyor 32, and a second imaging unit 102 disposed above the rear part of the upstream loading conveyor 33. A first printing unit 201 disposed above an intermediate portion of the upstream loading conveyor 33, and a first inspection imaging unit 301 disposed above the front portion of the upstream loading conveyor 33; Are provided.

The first imaging unit 101 images one side exposed on the lower side of the tablet T with respect to the tablet T conveyed in a suspended state by the ceiling-type conveyor 32.

The second imaging unit 102 images the other surface exposed to the upper side of the tablet T with respect to the tablet T conveyed in a mounted state by the mounting type conveyor 33.

The first printing unit 201 prints predetermined identification information on the other side of the tablet T based on a command from the control unit 6. Specifically, the first printing unit 201 uses the image data of the one surface and the other surface of the tablet T captured by the first image capturing unit 101 and the second image capturing unit 102 on the other surface. The front side identification information (for example, ABC) is printed along the secant direction for the tablet T whose surface is the back side, and the identification information for the back side (for example, the tablet T whose other side is the back side) , 123) is printed along the same direction as the secant on the surface of the tablet T.

The first imaging unit for inspection 301 captures the other side of the tablet T with respect to the tablet T on which the predetermined identification information is printed by the first printing unit 201, and controls the image data on the other side of the tablet T. Transmit to unit 6. The image data on the other side of the tablet T by the first inspection imaging unit 301 is used for the inspection of the print state of the identification information on the other side of the tablet T in the control unit 6.

The downstream transport unit 4 includes a third imaging unit 103 disposed above the rear part of the downstream loading / suspending conveyor 41 and an intermediate part of the downstream mounting / suspending conveyor 41. The second printing unit 202 disposed above the second printing unit 202 and the second imaging unit 302 for inspection disposed above the front portion of the downstream loading / suspending conveyor 41 are provided.

The third imaging unit 103 re-images one side of the plurality of tablets T received from the upstream conveying unit 3 in the state of being inverted from the upstream conveying unit 3 in the downstream loading / suspending conveyor 41, The image data on one side of the tablet T is transmitted to the control unit 6. The image data obtained by the third imaging unit 103 is used by the control unit 6 for re-recognizing the position of the tablet T, the direction of the secant line, and the front and back sides. Thereby, even if the position and direction of the tablet T may be slightly changed when the plurality of tablets T are received in the state in which the downstream transport unit 4 is reversed from the upstream transport unit 3, the third By re-imaging one side of the tablet T by the imaging unit 103, the position of the tablet T, the direction of the secant line, and the front and back can be accurately recognized.

The second printing unit 202 prints predetermined identification information on one surface of the tablet T based on a command from the control unit 6. Specifically, the second printing unit 202 has one side based on the image data of one side and the other side of the tablet T imaged by the first imaging unit 101 and the second imaging unit 102. The front side identification information (for example, ABC) is printed along the secant direction for the tablet T whose surface is the back side, and the back side identification information (for example, for the tablet T whose one side is the back side) , 123) is printed along the same direction as the secant on the surface of the tablet T.

The second imaging unit 302 for inspection images one side of the tablet T with respect to the tablet T on which the predetermined identification information is printed by the second printing unit 202, and controls image data on the one side of the tablet T. Transmit to unit 6. The image data on one side of the tablet T by the second inspection imaging unit 302 is used by the control unit 6 to inspect the print state of the identification information on the one side of the tablet T.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Base 2 ... Input part 21 ... Hopper 3 ... Upstream conveyance part 31 ... Multi-row distribution trough 32 ... Ceiling type conveyor 33 ... Loading type conveyor 4・・・ Downstream transport unit 41 ・・・ Placing / ceiling type conveyor 5 ・・・ Drying unit 51 ・・・ Mesh type conveyor 6 ・・・ Control unit 7 ・・・ Discharging unit 8 ・・・ Heater 101 ... first imaging unit 102 ... second imaging unit 103 ... third imaging unit 201 ... first printing unit 202 ... second printing unit 301 ... first Imaging unit 302 for inspection ... Second imaging unit T for inspection ... Tablet

Claims

A tablet printing apparatus for drying predetermined tablets after printing predetermined identification information on the tablets,
An input section into which a plurality of tablets are input;
A transport section for transporting a plurality of tablets loaded from the loading section in one direction;
A printing unit for printing predetermined identification information on the tablets conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A tablet printing apparatus comprising: a drying unit that dries a printing surface of a tablet while conveying a tablet on which predetermined identification information is printed by the printing unit in the other direction opposite to the conveyance unit.
The transport unit includes a reversing drum provided forward in the transport direction, a driven shaft provided rearward in the transport direction, and a transport unit belt wound endlessly on the reverse drum and the driven shaft. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tablet on the belt is reversed upside down according to the rotation of the reversing drum and is delivered to the drying unit on the same plane.
The transport unit reverses the front and back of the tablet on the transport unit belt according to the rotation of a reversing drum, transports the tablet for a predetermined distance in a suspended state under the transport unit belt, and then flushes the drying unit on the same plane. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, which is to be delivered.
4. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transport unit drops a defective tablet downward in the process of transporting the tablet in a suspended state.
The drying unit is for a drive shaft or driven shaft provided in the front in the transport direction, a driven shaft or drive shaft provided in the rear in the transport direction, and a drying unit wound in an endless state on the drive shaft or the driven shaft. The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a belt, wherein the drying portion belt is formed with flow holes through which gas can flow in a thickness direction.
The drying unit is provided with a heater inside the drying unit belt, and the heater blows a gas at a predetermined temperature to the tablets on the drying unit belt through a circulation hole of the drying unit belt. 5. The tablet printing apparatus according to 5.
The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drying unit belt is formed in a mesh shape.