JP7542022B2 - Blister Packaging Machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a blister packaging machine for producing blister sheets.

A PTP (press-through pack) sheet is a type of blister sheet commonly used in the fields of medicine and food products. A PTP sheet is made of a container film with a pocket in which tablets are stored, and a cover film that is attached to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket.

Such PTP sheets are manufactured using a PTP packaging machine, which is a type of blister packaging machine. The PTP packaging machine is equipped with a means for forming a pocket in the container film, a means for filling the pocket with tablets, a means for attaching a cover film to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket, and a means for punching out the strip-shaped PTP film consisting of the container film and cover film into PTP sheet units.

Furthermore, in the PTP packaging machine, before filling the pockets, the appearance of the tablets (for example, the presence or absence of cracks, chips, foreign matter, etc. in the tablets, the quality of the printed part on the tablet, etc.) may be inspected. As a device for performing such an inspection, a device equipped with an upstream rotating drum, an upstream camera, a downstream rotating drum, and a downstream camera is known (for example, see Patent Document 1, etc.). The upstream rotating drum conveys the tablet while adsorbing and holding one of the front and back sides of the tablet. The upstream camera captures the surface of the front and back sides of the tablet conveyed by the upstream rotating drum that is not adsorbed and held. The downstream rotating drum receives the tablet conveyed by the upstream rotating drum and conveys the tablet while adsorbing and holding the other of the front and back sides of the tablet. As the tablet is transferred from the upstream rotating drum to the downstream rotating drum, the surface of the tablet that is adsorbed and held (the surface to be adsorbed) is reversed. The downstream camera captures the surface of the front and back sides of the tablet conveyed by the downstream rotating drum that is not adsorbed and held.

According to the device described in Patent Document 1, both the front and back sides of the tablet are captured by both cameras. Therefore, it is possible to inspect both the front and back sides of the tablet.

JP 2017-132490 A

However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, two conveying means (an upstream rotating drum and a downstream rotating drum) must be provided to invert the adsorbed surface of the tablet. This can lead to an increase in size and complexity of the device, and can increase the costs of manufacturing and maintaining the device.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a blister packaging machine that can inspect both the front and back sides of tablets and prevent increases in various costs.

Below, each means suitable for achieving the above objective will be explained item by item. In addition, the specific effects of the corresponding means will be noted as necessary.

Means 1. A blister packaging machine for producing a blister sheet in which tablets are contained in pockets formed in a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
A filling means for filling the pocket portion with tablets;
a conveying means having a transparent portion capable of transmitting light and a plurality of holding portions capable of suction-holding a tablet arranged in a rotational direction, the conveying means being capable of conveying the tablet to the filling means side by rotating while suction-holding the tablet by the holding portions;
A first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, the surface opposite to the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion;
A second imaging means for imaging at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion, through the transparent portion;
A judgment means for judging whether the tablet is good or bad based on the captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means ,
a defective product discharge means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding means before the filling means fills the pocket portion,
The conveying means is provided with a side display unit that is arranged around the tablet adsorbed and held by the holding unit and is capable of projecting a side of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
At least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging a side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display unit,
The side display unit is configured to be able to project a side surface of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
A blister packaging machine, characterized in that both of the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging a side surface of a tablet displayed on the side display portion .

According to the above-mentioned means 1, the holding parts capable of adsorbing and holding the tablets are arranged in the rotational direction of the conveying means, and the holding parts have a transparent part that is capable of transmitting light. Then, the first imaging means images at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, and the second imaging means images at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet that is adsorbed and held by the holding parts through the transparent part.

In this way, the surface of the tablet that is adsorbed and held by the holder can be imaged through the transparent portion, so that both the front and back sides of the tablet can be imaged while the tablet is being transported by a single transport means. Therefore, in order to image both the front and back sides of the tablet, it is not necessary to provide two transport means (transport means that transport the tablet when the tablet is imaged) for inverting the adsorbed surface of the tablet as in the conventional technology. This makes it possible to suppress increases in the costs associated with manufacturing and maintenance of the device.
In addition, in terms of increasing the accuracy of tablet inspection, it is preferable to inspect not only the front and back surfaces of the tablet but also the side surface of the tablet. As a device capable of inspecting the side surface of a tablet, there is known a device that, after filling a pocket portion of a belt-shaped container film with tablets, conveys the container film in a state in which the pocket portion is hooked on a hole portion of a rotating body, and uses a mirror body or a prism arranged in the hole portion to image the side surface of the tablet filled in the pocket portion (for example, JP 2012-145522 A).
However, when a defective tablet is detected, it is necessary to eject the defective tablet, but in the above device, since the tablets to be inspected are those already contained in the pockets, it is not realistic to eject only the defective tablets, and the entire blister sheet including the non-defective tablets must be ejected after punching. This may result in inconveniences such as waste of non-defective tablets and sheet material, or extra work required to collect the non-defective tablets from the ejected blister sheet.
In this regard, according to the above-mentioned means 1, the side display section can inspect not only the front and back surfaces of the tablets but also the side surfaces of the tablets, and since the tablets are inspected before being filled into the pockets, the defective tablet ejection section can eject tablets determined to be defective individually. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent inconveniences such as non-defective tablets being wasted while further improving the accuracy of tablet inspection.
In addition, at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means can simultaneously image the front or back surface of the tablet and the side surface of the tablet. Therefore, the front or back surface and the side surface of the tablet can be simultaneously inspected by one captured image, and the inspection efficiency can be further improved.
Furthermore, since there is no need to provide an imaging means separate from the first imaging means and the second imaging means to image the side surface of the tablet, it is possible to more reliably prevent the device from becoming large and complicated.
For example, when the first imaging means is configured to image the front and side surfaces of a tablet, it may be difficult for the first imaging means to obtain a clear image of the edge portion of the side surface of the tablet located on the back side of the tablet, but according to the above-mentioned means 1, it is possible to obtain a clear image of the edge portion by the second imaging means. That is, according to the above-mentioned means 1, two different types of images (for example, two types of images that can complement each other) can be obtained as images of the side surface of the tablet. This can further improve the inspection accuracy of the side surface of the tablet.
Means 2. A blister packaging machine for producing a blister sheet in which tablets are contained in pockets formed in a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
A filling means for filling the pocket portion with tablets;
a conveying means having a transparent portion capable of transmitting light and a plurality of holding portions capable of suction-holding a tablet arranged in a rotational direction, the conveying means being capable of conveying the tablet to the filling means side by rotating while suction-holding the tablet by the holding portions;
A first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, the surface opposite to the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion;
A second imaging means for imaging at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion, through the transparent portion;
A judgment means for judging whether the tablet is good or bad based on the captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
The transparent portion has a suction hole for sucking in the tablet,
A blister packaging machine characterized in that, when a tablet is adsorbed and held by the holding part, only the portion of the tablet located on the outer periphery is in point or line contact with the transparent part, and the tablet is spaced apart from the annular region located between the suction hole in the transparent part and the contact portion with the tablet.
According to the above-mentioned means 2, when the tablet is held by the holding part, only the part of the tablet located on the outer periphery comes into contact with the transparent part, and the tablet is separated from the annular region located between the suction hole of the transparent part and the contact part with the tablet. Therefore, the annular region, which always faces the tablet held by suction, can be prevented from being scratched due to contact with the tablet. This makes it possible to more reliably capture an image of the tablet through a good part with reduced damage when imaging the tablet through the transparent part. As a result, better inspection accuracy can be obtained and the good inspection accuracy can be maintained for a longer period of time.
Furthermore, when the tablet is held by suction, the annular region of the transparent part does not pinch foreign matter or powder adhering to the tablet between the tablet and the annular region. In addition, when the outer peripheral portion of the tablet is in contact with the transparent part, gas is more effectively drawn from the space between the annular region and the tablet toward the suction hole. These effects work synergistically, so that when the tablet is held by suction, foreign matter adhering to the annular region and powder adhering to the tablet can be more reliably sucked in and removed. This can further improve the inspection accuracy.
In addition, since only the outer peripheral portion of the tablet held by suction comes into point or line contact with the transparent portion, the contact area between the tablet and the transparent portion is relatively small. Therefore, the amount of powder adhering to the transparent portion due to contact with the tablet can be relatively small. As a result, the inspection accuracy can be further improved.

Means 3 : A defective product discharge means is provided that can individually discharge tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding unit before the filling means fills the pocket portion,
The conveying means is provided with a side display unit that is arranged around the tablet adsorbed and held by the holding unit and is capable of projecting a side of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
The blister packaging machine described in Means 2 , characterized in that at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging the side of the tablet displayed on the side display unit.

In terms of increasing the accuracy of tablet inspection, it is preferable to inspect not only the front and back surfaces of tablets, but also the side surfaces of tablets. A device capable of inspecting the side surfaces of tablets is known that, after filling a pocket of a strip-shaped container film with tablets, transports the container film with the pocket hooked on a hole in a rotating body, and uses a mirror or prism placed in the hole to capture an image of the side of the tablet filled in the pocket (for example, JP 2012-145522 A).

However, when a defective tablet is detected, it is necessary to eject the defective tablet. However, in the above device, because the tablets to be inspected are those already contained in the pocket, it is not practical to eject only the defective tablets, and the entire blister sheet containing the non-defective tablets must be ejected after punching. This can result in inconveniences such as the waste of good tablets and sheet material, and the extra effort required to recover the good tablets from the ejected blister sheet.

In this regard, according to the above-mentioned means 3 , the side display section can inspect not only the front and back surfaces of the tablets but also the side surfaces of the tablets, and since the tablets are inspected before being filled into the pockets, the defective tablet ejection section can eject tablets that are determined to be defective individually. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent inconveniences such as non-defective tablets being wasted while further improving the accuracy of tablet inspection.

In addition, at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means can simultaneously image the front or back surface of the tablet and the side surface of the tablet. Therefore, the front or back surface and the side surface of the tablet can be simultaneously inspected with one captured image, further improving inspection efficiency.

Furthermore, since there is no need to provide an imaging means separate from the first and second imaging means to capture images of the side of the tablet, it is possible to more reliably prevent the device from becoming larger and more complicated.

Means 4. The side display unit is configured to be able to project the side of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
The blister packaging machine according to means 3 , characterized in that both the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging the side of the tablet displayed on the side display portion.

For example, when the first imaging means is configured to image the front and side surfaces of a tablet, it may be difficult for the first imaging means to obtain a clear image of the edge portion of the side surface of the tablet located on the back side of the tablet, but the above-mentioned means 4 makes it possible to obtain a clear image of the edge portion by the second imaging means. That is, according to the above-mentioned means 4 , two different types of images (for example, two types of images that can complement each other) can be obtained as images of the side surface of the tablet. This makes it possible to further improve the inspection accuracy of the side surface of the tablet.

Means 5. The blister packaging machine according to means 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that the holding section is located between the side of the tablet adsorbed and held by the holding section and the side display section, is unable to move relative to the side display section, and is provided with a protective section that prevents the tablet from coming into contact with the side display section.

According to the above-mentioned means 5 , the protective part provided in the holding part can more reliably prevent the side display part from being scratched due to contact with the tablet. This more reliably prevents the side display part from having to be replaced due to scratches, and further suppresses increases in costs related to maintenance, etc. Furthermore, since the protective part cannot move relative to the side display part, the side display part will not be scratched by the protective part moving relative to the side display part.

Means 6. The blister packaging machine according to any one of means 1 to 5, characterized in that the first imaging means and the second imaging means are each configured to capture an image of a tablet placed at the same predetermined imaging position.

According to the above-mentioned means 6, the tablet can be imaged simultaneously by the first imaging means and the second imaging means. Therefore, when imaging one tablet, it is easy to control the timing of imaging by both imaging means, and it is possible to more effectively suppress increases in costs related to the manufacture and maintenance of the device.

Means 7. The conveying means is configured to include a plurality of rows of the holding parts aligned in the rotation direction of the conveying means, and conveys the tablets in a state where the tablets are aligned in a plurality of rows by the holding parts;
a tablet supplying means capable of individually supplying tablets to each row of the holding portions in the conveying means;
a supply number adjusting means for adjusting the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section;
a defective product discharge means for individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding means before the filling means fills the pocket portion;
a buffer means for forming a tablet transport path downstream of the defective product discharge means, the buffer means including a plurality of storage transport sections for each row of the holding sections, the storage transport sections storing and transporting only the tablets transported using the holding sections of a specific row corresponding to the buffer means;
a storage number grasping means for grasping the number of tablets stored in each of the plurality of storage and transport sections,
A blister packaging machine described in any of means 1 to 6, characterized in that the supply number adjustment means is configured to adjust the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets grasped by the stored number grasping means.

Incidentally, the "defective product ejection means" in the above means 1 , 3, etc. , and the "defective product ejection means" in the above means 7 refer to the same thing. Therefore, when the above means 7 is subordinate to the above means 1, etc. , it does not mean that there are a plurality of defective product ejection means.

According to the above-mentioned means 7, the supply number adjustment means adjusts the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets grasped by the storage number grasping means. Therefore, even if defective tablets are discharged by the defective tablet discharge means, it is possible to more reliably prevent a shortage in the number of stored tablets in each storage and transport section. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent problems with filling the pockets with tablets due to the discharge of defective tablets, and further improves productivity (production efficiency).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a PTP sheet. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a PTP sheet. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a PTP film. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a PTP packaging machine. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a general configuration of an inspection filling device. 1 is a schematic front view showing a general configuration of an inspection filling device. FIG. This is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view, partially cut away, of a supply device, a conveying drum, etc. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view, partly broken away, showing a first camera and a second camera. 1 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the surface of a tablet imaged by a first camera and a second camera. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a first camera and a second camera. 4 is a schematic diagram of a captured image obtained by a second camera. FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective schematic view of a filling device and the like. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device and the like. In another embodiment, this is an explanatory diagram regarding the surface of a tablet imaged by a first camera and a second camera and the resulting captured image. In another embodiment, this is an explanatory diagram regarding the surface of a tablet imaged by a first camera and a second camera and the resulting captured image.

One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the PTP sheet as a "blister sheet" will be described.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 has a container film 3 with multiple pockets 2 and a cover film 4 attached to the container film 3 so as to cover the pockets 2.

In this embodiment, the container film 3 is made of a transparent thermoplastic resin material such as PP (polypropylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and has light transmissivity. On the other hand, the cover film 4 is made of an opaque material (such as aluminum foil) with a sealant made of polypropylene resin or the like applied to the surface. Of course, the materials of the films 3 and 4 are not limited to these, and other materials may be used.

The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured by punching out a strip-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 3) formed from a strip-shaped container film 3 and a strip-shaped cover film 4 into a sheet, and is formed into a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above.

The PTP sheet 1 has two rows of pockets in the short direction, each row consisting of five pockets 2 arranged along the longitudinal direction. In other words, a total of ten pockets 2 are formed. Each pocket 2 contains one tablet 5.

In this embodiment, the tablet 5 is a disk-shaped plain tablet that is circular in plan view and has a side surface 5a and a front surface 5b and a back surface 5c that sandwich the side surface 5a. In addition, the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c each have a chamfered portion that is continuous with the side surface 5a.

Next, the schematic configuration of the PTP packaging machine 10 for manufacturing the PTP sheet 1 will be described. In this embodiment, the PTP packaging machine 10 constitutes a "blister packaging machine."

As shown in FIG. 4, at the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 10, a strip-shaped original sheet of container film 3 is wound into a roll. The pull-out end side of the rolled container film 3 is guided by a guide roll 13. The container film 3 is hung on an intermittent feed roll 14 downstream of the guide roll 13. The intermittent feed roll 14 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, and transports the container film 3 intermittently.

Between the guide roll 13 and the intermittent feed roll 14, a heating device 15 and a pocket forming device 16 are arranged in this order along the transport path of the container film 3. Then, when the container film 3 is heated by the heating device 15 and becomes relatively flexible, a plurality of pockets 2 are formed at predetermined positions of the container film 3 by the pocket forming device 16. The pockets 2 are formed during the intervals between the transport operations of the container film 3 by the intermittent feed roll 14.

The container film 3 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 14 is hung in this order over the tension roll 18, guide roll 19, and film receiving roll 20. The film receiving roll 20 is connected to a motor that rotates at a constant speed, so it transports the container film 3 continuously and at a constant speed. The tension roll 18 pulls the container film 3 toward the tension side by elastic force, preventing slack in the container film 3 due to differences in the transport operations of the intermittent feed roll 14 and the film receiving roll 20, and keeping the container film 3 in a constant tension state.

Between the guide roll 19 and the film receiving roll 20, an inspection and filling device 21 and a post-filling inspection device 22 are arranged in sequence along the transport path of the container film 3.

The inspection and filling device 21 has the function of inspecting the tablets 5 and the function of filling the inspected tablets 5 into the pocket portion 2. Details of the inspection and filling device 21 will be described later.

The post-filling inspection device 22 performs inspections, for example, to check whether the tablets 5 are securely filled in each pocket 2, whether there are any abnormalities in the tablets 5, and whether any foreign matter has entered the pocket 2.

In this embodiment, the film receiving roll 20 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and the encoder transmits a signal related to the amount of rotation (amount of movement) of the film receiving roll 20 to the inspection and filling device 21 (particularly the control device 59 described later) at predetermined intervals. This allows the inspection and filling device 21 to grasp the position of the pocket portion 2 in the container film 3 transported by the film receiving roll 20.

Meanwhile, the original web of cover film 4 formed in a strip shape is wound into a roll on the most upstream side. The pull-out end of the rolled cover film 4 is guided toward the heating roll 25 by the guide roll 24.

The heating roll 25 can be pressed against the film receiving roll 20, and the container film 3 and cover film 4 are fed between the two rolls 20, 25. Then, as the container film 3 and cover film 4 pass between the two rolls 20, 25 in a heated and pressed state, the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3, and the pocket portion 2 is sealed with the cover film 4. This produces a strip-shaped PTP film 6 with tablets 5 housed in each pocket portion 2.

The PTP film 6 sent out from the film receiving roll 20 is hung in this order on the tension roll 27 and the intermittent feed roll 28. The intermittent feed roll 28 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, so it transports the PTP film 6 intermittently. The tension roll 27 pulls the PTP film 6 toward the tensioned side by its elastic force, preventing the PTP film 6 from slackening due to differences in the transport operations of the film receiving roll 20 and the intermittent feed roll 28, and keeping the PTP film 6 in a constant tensioned state.

The PTP film 6 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 28 is hung in the order of tension roll 31 and intermittent feed roll 32. The intermittent feed roll 32 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, so it transports the PTP film 6 intermittently. The tension roll 31 pulls the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by elastic force, preventing slack in the PTP film 6 between the intermittent feed rolls 28 and 32.

Between the intermittent feed roll 28 and the tension roll 31, a slit forming device 33 and an engraving device 34 are disposed in this order along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The slit forming device 33 has the function of forming a separation slit at a predetermined position on the PTP film 6. The engraving device 34 has the function of applying an engraving at a predetermined position (e.g., the tag portion) on the PTP film 6. Note that the separation slit and engraving are not shown in Figure 1 etc.

The PTP film 6 sent out from the intermittent feed roll 32 is hung on the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36 in that order downstream. A sheet punching device 37 is disposed between the intermittent feed roll 32 and the tension roll 35 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 37 has the function of punching out the outer edge of the PTP film 6 into individual PTP sheets.

The PTP sheet 1 obtained by punching the PTP film 6 with the sheet punching device 37 is transported by the conveyor 39 and stored in the finished product hopper 40. However, if the PTP sheet 1 is judged to be defective by the post-filling inspection device 22, the PTP sheet 1 judged to be defective is not sent to the finished product hopper 40 but is discharged separately by a defective sheet discharge mechanism (not shown).

A cutting device 41 is disposed downstream of the continuous feed roll 36. The unnecessary film portion 42, which constitutes the strip-shaped remaining material portion (scrap portion) after punching by the sheet punching device 37, is guided to the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36, and then led to the cutting device 41. The cutting device 41 cuts the unnecessary film portion 42 to a predetermined size. The cut unnecessary film portion 42 (scrap) is stored in a scrap hopper 43 and then disposed of separately.

Next, the inspection and filling device 21 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the inspection and filling device 21 includes a supply device 51, a conveying drum 52, a first camera 53, a second camera 54, a defective product removal device 55, an intermediate conveying device 56, a filling device 57, and a control device 59 (however, the filling device 57 and the like are not shown in Figure 7). In this embodiment, the supply device 51 constitutes the "tablet supply means", and similarly, the conveying drum 52 constitutes the "conveying means", the first camera 53 constitutes the "first imaging means", the second camera 54 constitutes the "second imaging means", and the filling device 57 constitutes the "filling means".

The supply device 51 supplies tablets 5 from a storage section (e.g., a hopper, etc.) (not shown) in which a large number of tablets 5 are stored, to a conveying drum 52. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the supply device 51 includes a supply chute 511 and a checker 512.

The supply chute 511 transfers the tablets 5 supplied from the storage section one tablet at a time to the transport drum 52, and is arranged in a line with the same number of tablets 5 (five in this embodiment) as the number of rows of tablets 5 transported by the transport drum 52. Each supply chute 511 is cylindrical and configured to load the tablets 5 in a single row in the vertical direction. In addition, each supply chute 511 is installed with its lower opening close to the transport drum 52 at supply position P1, which is slightly downstream from directly above the rotation axis of the transport drum 52.

Furthermore, a shutter (not shown) capable of opening and closing the lower opening of each supply chute 511 is provided near the lower opening of the supply chute 511. By opening and closing the opening by the operation of the shutter, the tablets 5 fall one by one from the supply chute 511 and are supplied to the conveying drum 52, except when the checker 512 is operating.

The checker 512 is for restricting the movement of the tablets 5 contained in the supply chute 511, thereby temporarily stopping the supply of the tablets 5 from the supply chute 511 to the conveying drum 52. The checker 512 is provided individually for each supply chute 511, and its operation is controlled by the control device 59 (particularly the supply number adjustment unit 595 described later).

The checker 512 has a pressing portion 512a whose tip surface can appear and disappear from the inner surface of the supply chute 511 (the surface that forms the storage space for the tablets 5). When the checker 512 is in operation, the tip surface of the pressing portion 512a protrudes from the inner surface of the supply chute 511. This causes the tablets 5 to be sandwiched between the tip surface of the pressing portion 512a and the inner surface of the supply chute 511, and the supply of the tablets 5 from the supply chute 511 to the conveying drum 52 is temporarily stopped. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the checker 512, it is possible to individually supply the tablets 5 from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding portion 521 (described later) in the conveying drum 52.

In addition, one of the shutter and checker 512 may be configured to perform the function of the other of the shutter and checker 512. In this case, the shutter or checker 512 is not necessary.

Returning to Figures 5 to 7, the conveying drum 52 receives the tablets 5 supplied from the supply chute 511 at the supply position P1, and conveys the tablets 5 downstream (towards the filling device 57) while suction-holding them. The conveying drum 52 is cylindrical and is arranged on the outer periphery of a cylindrical support tube 72 fixed to a predetermined wall portion 71. The support tube 72 has a cable hole 72a (see Figure 9) that penetrates in the longitudinal direction, and a cable (not shown) is arranged in the cable hole 72a for transmitting and receiving signals between the devices (the second camera 54 and the defective product blow nozzle 55a described later) arranged inside the conveying drum 52 and the control device 59. Note that in Figure 5 and other figures, the internal space of the conveying drum 52 is shown open to the outside to show the second camera 54 and the defective product removal device 55, but in reality, the internal space is sealed.

The transport drum 52 is rotatable relative to the support tube 72, and rotates in response to the operation of a specific drive device 73 (such as a variable speed motor). The operation of the drive device 73 is controlled by the control device 59 (particularly the supply number adjustment unit 595 described below). In this embodiment, the transport drum 52 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and a signal related to the amount of rotation (amount of movement) of the transport drum 52 is transmitted from the encoder to the control device 59 at predetermined time intervals. This allows the control device 59 to grasp the position of the tablet 5 transported by the transport drum 52.

Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the conveying drum 52 is provided with holding portions 521 for suction-holding the tablets 5. The holding portions 521 are arranged in a large number at equal intervals along the rotation direction of the conveying drum 52, i.e., the conveying direction of the tablets 5. Furthermore, multiple rows (five rows in this embodiment) of the holding portions 521 are formed, aligned along the rotation direction of the conveying drum 52 (the conveying direction of the tablets 5).

As shown in FIG. 10, each holding portion 521 has a truncated cone shape with a recess 5211 formed on the top surface for storing the tablet 5. The recess 5211 is formed by a bottom surface 5211a and a side wall surface 5211b.

The bottom surface 5211a is a surface facing the front surface 5b or the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 held by the holding portion 521. In a cross section including the central axis CL of the holding portion 521, the bottom surface 5211a has a shape (e.g., an arc shape or a tapered shape) that gradually slopes down toward the center (the suction hole 5212 described next). At the center of the bottom surface 5211a, a suction hole 5212 is opened that extends in the direction of the central axis CL of the holding portion 521 and penetrates the holding portion 521. The suction hole 5212 communicates with the internal space of the conveying drum 52 and the recessed portion 5211.

In this embodiment, a negative pressure is supplied to the internal space of the conveying drum 52 by a predetermined suction mechanism (not shown), and the internal space is put into a substantially vacuum state, so that negative pressure is supplied to the suction holes 5212 that communicate with the internal space. As a result, the suction force generated by the suction holes 5212 can be used to suction and hold the tablets 5 by the holding parts 521. Then, as the conveying drum 52 rotates with the tablets 5 suction-held by the holding parts 521, the tablets 5 are conveyed downstream to the filling device 57 in multiple rows (five rows).

However, in this embodiment, negative pressure is supplied to the suction holes 5212 located between the supply position P1 and just before the delivery position P3 (see FIG. 9) located directly below the rotation axis of the transport drum 52. Therefore, after the tablet 5 is transported from the supply position P1 to just before the delivery position P3, the suction holding of the tablet 5 is released at the delivery position P3.

In addition, instead of adjusting the suction hole 5212 to which negative pressure is supplied as described above, a blow device similar to the defective product blow nozzle 55a described below (e.g., blow device 525 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9) may be provided at a position corresponding to the delivery position P3 in the conveying drum 52, and the suction hole 5212 may be blown from the blow device 525 to release the suction hold of the tablet 5 at the delivery position P3.

Returning to the explanation of the holding portion 521, the side wall surface 5211b is for positioning the tablet 5 held by suction by the holding portion 521 and arranging the tablet 5 within a certain range. In this embodiment, the side wall surface 5211b has a constant inner diameter along the central axis CL direction, and the inner diameter is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5.

In addition, the holding portion 521 has a transparent portion 5213 that is capable of transmitting a predetermined light (e.g., white light). In this embodiment, the entire holding portion 521 is formed from a transparent material (e.g., transparent resin, glass, etc.), and the entire holding portion 521 is the transparent portion 5213. The suction hole 5212 is formed in this transparent portion 5213. Note that the entire holding portion 521 does not necessarily have to be the transparent portion 5213, and a portion of the holding portion 521 may be opaque.

In addition, in this embodiment, the entire holding portion 521 is the transparent portion 5213, and the bottom surface 5211a is configured as described above, so that when the tablet 5 is held by the holding portion 521, only the portion of the tablet 5 located on the outer periphery is in line contact with the transparent portion 5213. The tablet 5 is separated from the annular region 5213a located between the suction hole 5212 (the opening) in the transparent portion 5213 and the contact portion with the tablet 5. In other words, when the tablet 5 is held by suction with the holding portion 521, the tablet 5 is prevented from coming into contact with the annular region 5213a, which is necessarily opposed to the tablet 5 held by suction.

The holding unit 521 also includes a protective unit 5214 for preventing contact between the tablet 5 held by suction and the side display unit 522 described below. The protective unit 5214 is a portion that is positioned between the side 5a of the tablet 5 held by suction by the holding unit 521 and the side display unit 522, and is installed in a state where it cannot move relative to the side display unit 522.

Furthermore, a side display section 522 is provided on the outer periphery of the holding section 521, and is arranged around the tablet 5 held by the holding section 521. In this embodiment, the side display section 522 is provided with a truncated cone-shaped mirror on the inner periphery 522a that contacts the outer periphery of the holding section 521. The side display section 522 reflects light from the side 5a of the tablet 5 toward the second camera 54, making it possible to project the side 5a toward the second camera 54.

The first camera 53 and the second camera 54 each capture an image of the tablets 5 while they are being transported by the transport drum 52. As shown in FIG. 11, the cameras 53, 54 are provided in the same number as the number of rows of the holding parts 521 (five in this embodiment), and are lined up in the width direction of the transport drum 52. Each camera 53, 54 corresponds to one row among the rows of the multiple holding parts 521.

The cameras 53 and 54 each include a camera lens 53a and 54a, an imaging element (not shown, for example, a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor) for converting light passing through the camera lens 53a and 54a into an electrical signal, and a plurality of LED lights 53b and 54b arranged in a ring shape around the camera lens 53a and 54a (see FIG. 13). The LED lights 53b and 54b irradiate a predetermined light (for example, white light) toward the tablet 5.

The first camera 53 is disposed outside the conveying drum 52, corresponding to the imaging position P2 downstream of the supply position P1 (see FIG. 9, etc.). As shown in FIG. 12, the first camera 53 irradiates a predetermined light (from the LED illumination 53b) onto the tablet 5 conveyed by the conveying drum 52 and reaching the imaging position P2, and captures an image of the front surface 5b or the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 that is not adsorbed and held by the holding portion 521. The first camera 53 obtains an image (an image input from the imaging element) including one of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 (for example, the front surface 5b).

Meanwhile, the second camera 54 is disposed inside the conveying drum 52 in correspondence with the imaging position P2 (see FIG. 9, etc.). The second camera 54 irradiates a predetermined light (from the LED illumination 54b) on the tablet 5 conveyed by the conveying drum 52 and reaching the imaging position P2, and captures an image of the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion 521 through the transparent portion 5213. The second camera 54 also captures the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 displayed on the side display portion 522 together with the front surface 5b or back surface 5c. The second camera 54 obtains an image (see FIG. 14) including the other of the front surface 5b and back surface 5c of the tablet 5 (e.g., back surface 5c) and the side surface 5a of the tablet 5.

Each camera 53, 54 captures images by receiving an image capture signal from an image capture control unit 591, which will be described later. The captured images obtained by each camera 53, 54 are output to the control device 59.

The defective product removal device 55 is a device for removing tablets 5 determined to be defective by a later-described determination unit 593 of the control device 59 from the system (i.e., from the conveying path of the conveying drum 52) before the filling device 57 fills the pockets 2 with tablets 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the defective product removal device 55 is provided downstream of the cameras 53 and 54 along the conveying direction of the tablets 5 by the conveying drum 52. The defective product removal device 55 includes a defective product blow nozzle 55a and a defective product storage unit 55b. In this embodiment, the defective product blow nozzle 55a constitutes the "defective product discharge means."

The defective product blow nozzles 55a blow into the suction holes 5212 to release the suction and hold of the tablets 5, thereby individually discharging the tablets 5 outside the system. The defective product blow nozzles 55a are provided in the same number as the number of rows of the holding sections 521 (five in this embodiment), and are arranged in the internal space of the conveying drum 52 in the width direction of the conveying drum 52 (direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the tablets 5) (see Figures 7 and 11). Each defective product blow nozzle 55a is responsible for removing one row of tablets 5 lined up along the conveying direction of the conveying drum 52. This makes it possible to selectively remove only the defective tablets 5 outside the system.

The defective product storage section 55b is a box for storing defective tablets 5. The defective product storage section 55b has an inlet located near the outer circumferential surface of the conveying drum 52. The tablets 5 discharged by the blowing action of the defective product blow nozzle 55a are stored in the defective product storage section 55b through the inlet.

The intermediate conveying device 56 conveys the tablets 5 delivered from the conveying drum 52 to the filling device 57. As shown in FIG. 15, the intermediate conveying device 56 includes an intermediate drum 561 and an intermediate chute 562.

The intermediate drum 561 receives the tablet 5 that has been released from suction at the delivery position P3, and transports the tablet 5 to the intermediate chute 562. The intermediate drum 561 has a cylindrical shape and is configured to be rotatable by a driving means (not shown). The intermediate drum 561 is not as large as the transport drum 52.

The intermediate drum 561 also has suction sections 561a for suctioning and holding the tablets 5. The suction sections 561a are arranged in a large number at equal intervals along the rotation direction of the intermediate drum 561, i.e., the conveying direction of the tablets 5. Multiple rows (five rows in this embodiment) of the suction sections 561a are formed and aligned along the rotation direction of the intermediate drum 561 (the conveying direction of the tablets 5).

In addition, the intermediate drum 561 is configured so that, at the transfer position P3, the moving direction of the suction portion 561a is the same as the moving direction of the tablet 5 transported by the transport drum 52. Also, at the transfer position P3, the moving speed of the suction portion 561a is configured so that the moving speed of the tablet 5 transported by the transport drum 52 is the same.

Furthermore, negative pressure is supplied to the internal space of the intermediate drum 561 by a suction mechanism (not shown), and negative pressure is supplied to the suction section 561a located between vertically above the rotation axis of the intermediate drum 561 and a position immediately before the intermediate chute 562 (the inlet section 5621 described later). As a result, the intermediate drum 561 receives the tablets 5 discharged from the conveying drum 52 at the delivery position P3, and adsorbs and holds the tablets 5 with the suction section 561a, while conveying the tablets 5 to the intermediate chute 562 side by rotating itself. Note that the suction section 561a of each row can only receive tablets 5 of a specific row out of the multiple rows of tablets 5 conveyed by the conveying drum 52.

The intermediate chute 562 has an inlet 5621 through which the tablets 5 transported by the intermediate drum 561 are guided, and a spring chute 5622 that transports the tablets 5 inserted into the inlet 5621 to the filling device 57.

The inlet section 5621 has independent transport spaces 5621a arranged in parallel, the same number as the number of rows of the suction section 561a. These transport spaces 5621a have an entrance section into which tablets 5 that have been released from suction by the intermediate drum 561 are inserted, and only tablets 5 in a specific row of the multiple rows of tablets 5 transported by the intermediate drum 561 are inserted into the entrance section of each transport space 5621a. The tablets 5 inserted into the entrance section of the transport space 5621a flow down through the transport space 5621a into the inside of the spring chute 5622.

The spring chute 5622 is a flexible tubular part made by winding a specific wire in a spiral shape, and its internal space forms a transport path for the tablets 5. The spring chute 5622 can be stretched and bent relatively easily.

There are multiple spring chutes 5622, each independent of the others. One spring chute 5622 is provided for each conveying space 5621a. Therefore, a tablet 5 that passes through one conveying space 5621a enters the internal space of one spring chute 5622 corresponding to that conveying space 5621a, and is conveyed through this internal space to the filling device 57.

In this embodiment, the spring chute 5622 is shaped like an elliptical cylinder. The spring chute 5622 transports the tablets 5 in a row with their sides 5a adjacent to each other (see FIG. 16).

The filling device 57 fills the tablets 5, which are conveyed in multiple rows, into the pockets 2 formed in the strip-shaped container film 3. The filling device 57 is equipped with a filling chute 571.

The filling chute 571 has storage spaces 571a arranged in parallel in the same number as the number of rows of tablets 5 transported by the intermediate transport device 56. The filling chute 571 is installed with the most downstream portion of each storage space 571a (the lower opening of the filling chute 571) close to the container film 3. Each storage space 571a is independent of the others, and each storage space 571a only contains tablets 5 in one specific row out of the multiple rows of tablets 5 transported by the intermediate transport device 56 (spring chute 5622).

Furthermore, a shutter (not shown) capable of opening and closing the lower opening of the filling chute 571 is provided near the opening. The operation of the shutter is controlled by the control device 59 (particularly the filling control unit 597 described later). By opening and closing the opening by the operation of the shutter, the tablets 5 fall one by one from the filling chute 571 and are filled into the pocket portion 2.

In this embodiment, the storage and transport section 581 is composed of one row of suction sections 561a, one transport space 5621a in the inlet section 5621, one spring chute 5622, and one storage space 571a in the filling chute 571. The storage and transport section 581 constitutes a transport path for tablets 5 downstream of the defective product blow nozzle 55a, and transports only tablets 5 transported using the holding section 521 of a specific row corresponding to itself while storing them. The buffer device 58 is composed of the intermediate transport device 56 and the filling device 57, which are provided with a plurality of storage and transport sections 581 for each row of the holding section 521. In this embodiment, the buffer device 58 constitutes the "buffer means".

The control device 59 is configured as a computer system including a CPU as a calculation means, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing various data, and a storage medium (e.g., a hard disk, etc.) for long-term storage of information. As shown in FIG. 17, the control device 59 includes an imaging control unit 591, an image memory 592, a judgment unit 593, an inspection result storage unit 594, a supply number adjustment unit 595, a discharge control unit 596, a filling control unit 597, and a storage number grasping unit 598. In this embodiment, the judgment unit 593 constitutes the "judgment means", and similarly, the supply number adjustment unit 595 constitutes the "supply number adjustment means", and the storage number grasping unit 598 constitutes the "storage number grasping means". Note that the CPU executes a predetermined program, etc., to perform various operations in the imaging control unit 591, the judgment unit 593, etc., which will be described later.

The imaging control unit 591 controls the imaging operation by the cameras 53 and 54. More specifically, the imaging control unit 591 outputs an imaging signal to each of the cameras 53 and 54 at the timing when the tablet 5 is placed at the imaging position P2 based on a signal from the encoder provided on the conveying drum 52. This allows each of the cameras 53 and 54 to simultaneously image the tablet 5 placed at the same imaging position P2. Note that since the imaging signals for each of the cameras 53 and 54 are output simultaneously, there is no need to adjust the output timing of the imaging signal for each of the cameras 53 and 54.

The image memory 592 stores the captured images obtained by the cameras 53 and 54. Inspection of the tablet 5 is performed based on the captured images stored in the image memory 592. Of course, when performing the inspection, the captured images may be processed (masking processing, shading correction, etc.).

The judgment unit 593 judges whether the tablet 5 is good or bad based on the captured images obtained by both cameras 53 and 54. The judgment unit 593 performs, for example, binarization processing on the captured images and block processing on the binarized images, and judges whether the tablet 5 is good or bad based on various information stored in advance (for example, thresholds used for determining whether the tablet 5 is good or bad). The judgment unit 593 judges whether the tablet 5 is good or bad on the entire surface (side surface 5a, front surface 5b, and back surface 5c) of the tablet 5 using two types of captured images obtained by both cameras 53 and 54. In addition, items (inspection items) for which the judgment unit 593 judges whether the tablet 5 is good or bad can be, for example, the shape of the tablet 5, the color of the tablet 5, and the presence or absence of scratches or chips on the tablet 5. Of course, if the tablet 5 is provided with a printed portion for indicating various information such as letters and symbols, the judgment unit 593 may judge whether the printed portion is good or bad.

The inspection result storage unit 594 stores data related to the pass/fail judgment result of the tablet 5 by the judgment unit 593.

The supply number adjustment unit 595 adjusts the number of tablets 5 supplied from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding unit 521. More specifically, the supply number adjustment unit 595 controls the operation of the checker 512 (pressing unit 512a) and stops the supply of tablets 5 to the row corresponding to the checker 512 among the rows of the holding unit 521, thereby individually adjusting the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding unit 521. For example, suppose that the number of tablets 5 being transported by one storage transport unit 581 becomes one less than the number of tablets 5 being transported by the other storage transport units 581 due to the discharge operation of the tablets 5 by the defective product blow nozzle 55a. In this case, the supply number adjustment unit 595 supplies tablets 5 to the row of the holding unit 521 corresponding to the storage transport unit 581 with one less tablet 5, while controlling the operation of the checker 512 so as not to supply tablets 5 to the rows of the holding unit 521 corresponding to the other storage transport units 581. This allows the number of tablets 5 stored (transported) in each storage and transport section 581 to be the same.

On the other hand, for example, suppose that the number of tablets 5 stored (transported) in each storage and transport unit 581 becomes less than the preset target number due to the operation control of the checker 512 as described above. In this case, the supply number adjustment unit 595 controls the drive device 73, etc. to slightly increase the rotation speed of the transport drum 52 from the normal operation speed. This increases the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding unit 521 (the number of tablets supplied per unit time), and as a result, the number of tablets 5 transported by each storage and transport unit 581 can be returned to a number equal to or greater than the target number. Note that if the number of tablets 5 transported by each storage and transport unit 581 becomes equal to or greater than the target number, the supply number adjustment unit 595 controls the drive device 73, etc. so that the transport drum 52, etc., operates normally.

In addition, the supply number adjustment unit 595 counts and stores the number of tablets 5 supplied for each row of the holding unit 521.

The discharge control unit 596 individually controls the operation of each defective product blow nozzle 55a to individually discharge the defective tablets 5 outside the system. More specifically, the discharge control unit 596 can identify the defective tablets 5 based on the pass/fail judgment results of the tablets 5 stored in the inspection result storage unit 594. The discharge control unit 596 then calculates the timing at which the defective tablets 5 reach the defective product removal device 55 based on the signal from the encoder of the transport drum 52, and controls the defective product blow nozzle 55a to blow to release the adsorption of the tablets 5 at this calculated timing. As a result, the defective tablets 5 are discharged outside the system and placed in the defective product storage unit 55b.

In addition, the discharge control unit 596 counts and stores the number of times defective tablets 5 are discharged (number of blows performed) for each row of the holding unit 521.

The filling control unit 597 controls the operation of the filling device 57 to fill the pocket portion 2 with tablets 5. More specifically, the filling control unit 597 calculates the timing at which the pocket portion 2 reaches the filling device 57 (vertically below the filling chute 571) based on a signal from the encoder of the film receiving roll 20, and controls the shutter of the filling device 57 so that the lower opening of the filling chute 571 opens at this calculated timing. This causes the tablets 5 to be filled into the pocket portion 2.

The filling control unit 597 also counts and stores the number of times tablets 5 are filled into the pocket portion 2 for each filling chute 571 (storage space 571a).

The storage number grasping unit 598 grasps the number of tablets 5 stored in the multiple storage and transport units 581. More specifically, the storage number grasping unit 598 grasps the number of tablets 5 stored in each storage and transport unit 581 based on the number of tablets 5 supplied to each row of the holding unit 521 stored in the supply number adjustment unit 595, the number of times defective tablets 5 are discharged from each row of the holding unit 521 stored in the discharge control unit 596, and the number of times tablets 5 are filled into each filling chute 571 (storage space 571a) stored in the filling control unit 597.

Then, based on the number of tablets 5 stored in each storage/transport section 581 as determined by the storage number determination section 598, the supply number adjustment section 595 adjusts the number of tablets 5 supplied from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding section 521 as described above, as necessary.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the surface of the tablet 5 that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion 521 can be imaged through the transparent portion 5213, so that both the front and back sides of the tablet 5 can be imaged while the tablet 5 is being transported by a single transport drum 52. Therefore, in order to image both the front and back sides of the tablet 5, it is not necessary to provide two transport means for inverting the adsorbed surface of the tablet 5 (the transport means that transport the tablet when the tablet is imaged). This makes it possible to suppress increases in costs related to the manufacture and maintenance of the device.

In addition, the side display unit 522 can be used to inspect not only the front surface 5b and back surface 5c of the tablet 5, but also the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. This can further improve the inspection accuracy of the tablet 5.

In addition, because the tablets 5 before being filled into the pockets 2 are the subject of inspection, the defective tablets 5 can be individually discharged by the defective product blow nozzle 55a, and it is not necessary to discharge the entire PTP sheet 1 in order to discharge the defective tablets 5. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent inconveniences such as non-defective tablets 5 being wasted.

Furthermore, the second camera 54 can simultaneously capture an image of the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 and the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. Therefore, the front surface 5b or back surface 5c and the side surface 5a of the tablet 5 can be simultaneously inspected with one captured image, which can further improve inspection efficiency.

In addition, since there is no need to provide imaging means other than the first camera 53 and the second camera 54 to capture an image of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5, it is possible to more reliably prevent the PTP packaging machine 10 (particularly the inspection and filling device 21) from becoming larger and more complicated.

In addition, the protective portion 5214 provided on the holding portion 521 can more reliably prevent the side display portion 522 from being scratched or otherwise damaged due to contact with the tablet 5. This more reliably prevents the side display portion 522 from having to be replaced due to scratches or otherwise being damaged, and further reduces increases in costs related to maintenance, etc. Furthermore, since the protective portion 5214 cannot move relative to the side display portion 522, the side display portion 522 will not be scratched due to the protective portion 5214 moving relative to the side display portion 522.

Furthermore, the annular region 5213a of the transparent portion 5213, which always faces the adsorbed and held tablet 5, can be prevented from being scratched due to contact with the tablet 5. This makes it possible to more reliably capture an image of the tablet 5 through a good portion with reduced damage when imaging the tablet 5 through the transparent portion 5213. As a result, it is possible to obtain better inspection accuracy and maintain that good inspection accuracy for a longer period of time.

In addition, when the tablet 5 is being held by suction, the annular region 5213a of the transparent portion 5213 does not pinch the tablet 5 with foreign matter or powder adhering to the tablet 5. Furthermore, when the portion of the tablet 5 located on the outer periphery is in contact with the transparent portion 5213, gas is more effectively drawn from the space between the annular region 5213a and the tablet 5 toward the suction hole 5212. These effects work synergistically to more reliably suck in and remove powder adhering to the annular region 5213a when the tablet 5 is being held by suction. This allows for further improvement in inspection accuracy.

Furthermore, since only the portion of the tablet 5 that is held by suction is in line contact with the transparent portion 5213 at its outer periphery, the contact area between the tablet 5 and the transparent portion 5213 is relatively small. Therefore, the amount of powder adhering to the transparent portion 5213 due to contact with the tablet 5 can be relatively small. As a result, the inspection accuracy can be further improved.

In addition, since both cameras 53 and 54 each capture an image of a tablet 5 placed at the same imaging position P2, the tablets 5 can be simultaneously captured by each camera 53 and 54. Therefore, when capturing an image of one tablet 5, it is easy to control the timing of capturing images by both cameras 53 and 54, and it is possible to more effectively prevent increases in the costs associated with manufacturing and maintaining the device.

The supply number adjustment unit 595 adjusts the number of tablets 5 supplied from the supply device 51 to each row of the holding unit 521 based on the number of stored tablets 5 grasped by the storage number grasper 598. Therefore, even if a defective tablet 5 is discharged by the defective product blow nozzle 55a, it is possible to more reliably prevent a shortage in the number of stored tablets 5 in each storage and transport unit 581. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent problems with filling the pockets 2 with tablets 5 due to the discharge of defective tablets 5, and further improves productivity (production efficiency).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented, for example, as follows. Of course, other applications and modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

(a) In the above embodiment, the side display unit 522 is configured to be able to project the side of the tablet 5 toward the second camera 54. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 18, the side display unit 523 may be configured with a prism, and light from the side 5a may be refracted by the side display unit 523 and reach the first camera 53, thereby enabling the side 5a of the tablet 5 to be projected toward the first camera 53. In this case, as shown in the figure, the first camera 53 obtains an image including one of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 and the side 5a, and the second camera 54 obtains an image including the other of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, the side display unit 524 may be configured to project the side 5a of the tablet 5 toward both the first camera 53 and the second camera 54, and the side 5a of the tablet 5 projected on the side display unit 524 by both cameras 53, 54 may be imaged. In this case, as shown in the figure, the first camera 53 obtains an image including one of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 and the side surface 5a, and the second camera 54 obtains an image including the other of the front surface 5b and the back surface 5c of the tablet 5 and the side surface 5a.

By making it possible to capture images of the side surface 5a using both cameras 53 and 54 as described above, two different types of images (e.g., two types of images that complement each other) can be obtained as captured images of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5. This makes it possible to further improve the inspection accuracy of the side surface 5a of the tablet 5.

The side display section 524, which allows the side surface 5a to be imaged by both cameras 53 and 54, can be configured, for example, by a prism with a half mirror on its inner surface 524a, which contacts the outer surface of the holding section 521. The half mirror reflects part of the light from the side surface 5a and transmits part of the light from the side surface 5a.

In addition, when using a side display section having a prism as described above, the refraction of light may change depending on the wavelength of the light irradiated onto the tablet 5, and this change may affect the captured image (for example, the size of the part in the captured image corresponding to the side 5a may change). Therefore, the captured image may be corrected to remove this effect.

(b) The configuration of the holding portion 521 and the transparent portion 5213 may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the bottom surface 5211a of the holding portion 521 may be provided with a plurality of protrusions that extend radially from the suction hole 5212 (opening) and gradually narrow toward the top, so that when the tablet 5 is held by suction by the holding portion 521, only the portion of the tablet 5 located on the outer periphery comes into point contact with the transparent portion 5213.

In addition, at least the portion of the holding portion 521 that may come into contact with the tablet 5 may be made of, for example, a transparent soft resin, which can more reliably prevent damage to the tablet 5 due to contact with the holding portion 521.

Furthermore, for example, by making the bottom surface 5211a flat, when the tablet 5 is held by suction by the holding portion 521, the front surface 5b or back surface 5c of the tablet 5 may be in surface contact with the holding portion 521 (transparent portion 5213).

(c) In the above embodiment, an intermediate drum 561 is provided to receive the tablets 5 from the conveying drum 52, but the intermediate drum 561 may not be provided. For example, the intermediate drum 561 may be omitted, and the tablets 5 may be directly fed into the intermediate chute 562. Also, instead of the intermediate drum 562, a device (e.g., a straight feeder) may be provided to convey the tablets 5 that have fallen from the conveying drum 52 to the intermediate chute 562.

(d) In the above embodiment, the number of rows of the holding sections 521 and the number of storage and transport sections 581 are five, and the tablets 5 are transported in five rows in the inspection and filling device 21. However, the number of rows of the tablets 5 during transport by the inspection and filling device 21 may be changed as appropriate depending on the number of rows of the pocket sections 2 in the container film 3, etc.

(e) In the above embodiment, a disk-shaped plain tablet (disk-shaped flat tablet) that is circular in plan view is exemplified as the tablet 5, but the type and shape of the tablet are not limited to those in the above embodiment. For example, tablets include not only medicines but also tablets used for eating and drinking. Furthermore, tablets include not only plain tablets but also sugar-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, enteric-coated tablets, gelatin-encapsulated tablets, and the like, as well as various capsule tablets such as hard capsules and soft capsules.

Furthermore, the shape of the tablet may be, for example, not only circular when viewed from above, but also polygonal, elliptical, or oval when viewed from above.

(f) The configuration of the PTP sheet to be manufactured is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the arrangement and number of pocket portions 2 in each PTP sheet unit may be changed as appropriate.

(g) In the above embodiment, a PTP sheet 1 is given as the blister sheet, but the technical concept of the present invention may be applied to blister sheets other than a PTP sheet 1.

1... PTP sheet (blister sheet), 2... pocket portion, 3... container film, 4... cover film, 5... tablet, 5a... (tablet) side, 5b... (tablet) front surface, 5c... (tablet) back surface, 10... PTP packaging machine (blister packaging machine), 51... supply device (tablet supply means), 52... conveying drum (conveying means), 53... first camera (first imaging means), 54... second camera (second imaging means), 55a... defective product blister Low nozzle (defective product discharge means), 57...filling device (filling means), 58...buffer device (buffer means), 521...holding section, 522, 523, 524...side display section, 581...storage and transport section, 593...determination section (determination means), 595...supply number adjustment section (supply number adjustment means), 598...storage number grasp section (storage number grasp means), 5212...suction hole, 5213...transparent section, 5214...protection section, P2...imaging position.

Claims (7)

A blister packaging machine for producing a blister sheet in which tablets are contained in pockets formed in a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
A filling means for filling the pocket portion with tablets;
a conveying means having a transparent portion capable of transmitting light and a plurality of holding portions capable of suction-holding a tablet arranged in a rotational direction, the conveying means being capable of conveying the tablet to the filling means side by rotating while suction-holding the tablet by the holding portions;
A first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, the surface opposite to the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion;
A second imaging means for imaging at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion, through the transparent portion;
A judgment means for judging whether the tablet is good or bad based on the captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means ,
a defective product discharge means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding means before the filling means fills the pocket portion,
The conveying means is provided with a side display unit that is arranged around the tablet adsorbed and held by the holding unit and is capable of projecting a side of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
At least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging a side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display unit,
The side display unit is configured to be able to project a side surface of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
A blister packaging machine, characterized in that both of the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging a side surface of a tablet displayed on the side display portion . A blister packaging machine for producing a blister sheet in which tablets are contained in pockets formed in a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets,
A filling means for filling the pocket portion with tablets;
a conveying means having a transparent portion capable of transmitting light and a plurality of holding portions capable of suction-holding a tablet arranged in a rotational direction, the conveying means being capable of conveying the tablet to the filling means side by rotating while suction-holding the tablet by the holding portions;
A first imaging means for imaging at least one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, the surface opposite to the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion;
A second imaging means for imaging at least the other of the front and back surfaces of the tablet, which is the surface that is adsorbed and held by the holding portion, through the transparent portion;
A judgment means for judging whether the tablet is good or bad based on the captured images obtained by each of the first imaging means and the second imaging means ,
The transparent portion has a suction hole for sucking in the tablet,
A blister packaging machine characterized in that, when a tablet is adsorbed and held by the holding part, only the portion of the tablet located on the outer periphery is in point or line contact with the transparent part, and the tablet is spaced apart from the annular region located between the suction hole in the transparent part and the contact portion with the tablet . a defective product discharge means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding means before the filling means fills the pocket portion,
The conveying means is provided with a side display unit that is arranged around the tablet adsorbed and held by the holding unit and is capable of projecting a side of the tablet toward at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
3. The blister packaging machine according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means is capable of imaging a side surface of the tablet displayed on the side display portion. The side display unit is configured to be able to project a side surface of the tablet toward both the first imaging means and the second imaging means,
4. The blister packaging machine according to claim 3 , wherein both of the first imaging means and the second imaging means are capable of imaging the side of the tablet displayed on the side display portion. A blister packaging machine as described in claim 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that the holding portion is positioned between the side of the tablet held by suction by the holding portion and the side display portion, is unable to move relative to the side display portion, and is provided with a protective portion that prevents the tablet from coming into contact with the side display portion. The blister packaging machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first imaging means and the second imaging means are each configured to image tablets placed at the same predetermined imaging position. The conveying means is configured to include a plurality of rows of the holding parts aligned in a rotation direction of the conveying means, and conveys the tablets by the holding parts in a state where the tablets are aligned in a plurality of rows,
a tablet supplying means capable of individually supplying tablets to each row of the holding portions in the conveying means;
a supply number adjusting means for adjusting the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section;
a defective product discharge means capable of individually discharging tablets determined to be defective by the determination means to the outside of the system by releasing the suction and holding by the holding means before the filling means fills the pocket portion;
a buffer means for forming a tablet transport path downstream of the defective product discharge means, the buffer means including a plurality of storage transport sections for each row of the holding sections, the storage transport sections storing and transporting only the tablets transported using the holding sections of a specific row corresponding to the buffer means;
a storage number grasping means for grasping the number of tablets stored in each of the plurality of storage and transport sections,
A blister packaging machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supply number adjustment means is configured to adjust the number of tablets supplied from the tablet supply means to each row of the holding section based on the number of stored tablets grasped by the stored number grasping means.

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