JPH08201027A - Automatic packaging device of medicine or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To drastically reduce inspection man-hour and at the same time obtain automatic packaging device of, for example, a medicine without any leakage by providing an automatic detection means of a seal non-conforming article in the production line of a PTP sheet and a four sided seal packaging body. CONSTITUTION: Small-diameter parts 33a and 33b (not shown here) are provided at both edge parts of at least one roll 31 of a pair of rolls 31 and 35 for constituting a sealing device 30, a space is formed between the small-diameter parts 33a and 33b and the other roll 35, and at the same time a laser detector 40 consisting of a laser transmitter 41 and a laser receiver 42 which are installed at both sides of the rolls 31 and 35 so that they pass through the above space is provided, thus constituting a seal failure detecting means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic packaging apparatus for medicines and the like, and more particularly to an automatic packaging apparatus for medicines and the like provided with means for detecting a sealing failure of a packaging material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, tablets, capsules and the like are accommodated in pockets provided in a film made of a thermoplastic resin, and a film made of an aluminum foil (hereinafter referred to as an aluminum film) is adhered to a back surface to form a perforation. 2. Description of the Related Art PTP automatic packaging apparatuses that cut into pieces and bind them are widely used in the field of medicine and the like.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional PTP automatic packaging apparatus. In the drawing, reference numeral 2 denotes a long film made of a thermoplastic resin wound around a paper tube 1 and mounted on a spool (not shown). Reference numeral 11 denotes a plurality of concave portions formed on the outer periphery, and the film 2 is formed on the film 2 by vacuum suction or the like. A molding drum 12 for forming a pocket for accommodating tablets and the like, a heating roll 12 for slidingly contacting the molding drum 11 and heating the film 2, and an idler 13. Reference numeral 14 denotes a guide plate provided on the downstream side of the idler 13, reference numeral 15 denotes a filling chute provided on the guide plate 14, and a plurality of chambers are formed in a vertical direction in the figure, and reference numeral 16 denotes a vibrating tablet supply device.

[0004] 21 is a stock roll on which an aluminum film 22 is wound, and 30 is a sealing device, as shown in FIG.
A seal drum 31 provided with a large number of concave portions 32 into which the pockets 3 of the film 2 are fitted on the outer peripheral surface, and a seal roll 35 having a built-in heater, between which the tablet 3 is stored in the pocket 3. The aluminum film 22 is thermocompression-bonded to the film 2. Reference numeral 17 denotes a slitter for perforating the PTP sheet 10 wrapped with tablets and the like, reference numeral 18 denotes a cutting section for cutting the PTP sheet 10 into predetermined dimensions, and reference numeral 19 denotes a transport line for transporting the individual PTP sheet 10a thus cut to the next step. It is.

Next, the operation of the PTP automatic packaging apparatus configured as described above will be described. The film 2 fed from the paper tube 1 is heated by a heating roll 12 and is vacuum-suctioned by a molding drum 11 to form a number of pockets 3 at predetermined intervals. The tablets and the like in the tablet supply device 16 are distributed to the respective chambers of the filling chute 15 by vibration, and when the pocket 3 of the film 2 sent in the direction of the arrow reaches below the filling chute 15, the shutter is opened and each chamber is opened. , Tablets and the like are dropped one by one, stored in each pocket, and subsequently transported in the direction of the arrow.

On the other hand, the aluminum film 22 fed from the stock roll 21 is guided between the seal drum 31 and the seal roll 35, and as shown in FIG. The film 2 is thermocompression-bonded to the opening side of the pocket 32, and is sent out as the PTP sheet 10. Next, a perforation 4 (FIG. 7)
(See (a)) is inserted, both ears are cut off by the cutting portion 18, and each PTP sheet 10a as shown in FIG. 7 (a) is cut and sent to the carrying line 19.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a four-sided seal packaging device in which two packaging materials are used, and granules, powders, etc. are automatically weighed and filled between both packaging materials and the four sides are sealed and packaged. It is a thing. In the figure, 51 is a large hopper into which granules 52 are loaded, and an outlet 53 thereof is provided with a large number of concave grooves 55 on the outer periphery thereof, and a cylindrical granulator 54 is driven to rotate intermittently via gears. Is provided. 56 is a small hopper provided at the outlet of the hopper 51, and 57 is a level detector provided in the small hopper 56 and detecting the level of granules in the small hopper 56.

Reference numeral 58 denotes a table provided below the small hopper 56. The table 58 is provided with a filling hole 59 having a size corresponding to the volume of the granules 52 to be packed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction in the drawing. A rack 60 and a pinion 61 that meshes with the rack 60 are provided on the lower surface, and the table 58 is driven by the pinion 61 and slides in the directions of arrows a and b.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a table 5 facing each filling hole 59.
A sliding piece 63 slidably mounted in the groove provided in 8 is a sliding piece adjusting mechanism provided for each sliding piece 62. The sliding piece adjusting mechanism 63 includes a frame fixed to the table 58, a screw rod rotatably mounted on the frame,
This bevel gear is fixed to this screw rod and is mounted on the frame, and its output gear is composed of a bevel gear and a servo motor. The screw rod is screwed into a nut provided at one end of the sliding piece 62. .

Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter slidably arranged on the lower surface of the table 58, which is normally located under the filling hole 59 and closes it. However, the table 58 slides to fill the filling hole 59. When it reaches the collect chute described later, it stops at that position by a stopper (not shown), and the table 58
It is configured such that only the opening moves to open the filling hole 59. Reference numeral 65 denotes a swing member which swings around an axis to level and flatten the surface of the granules 52 filled in the filling holes 59.

Reference numeral 66 is a collect chute disposed below the table 58, and an opening is provided in the lower portion.
Reference numeral 67 denotes a shutter attached to the shaft, which opens and closes the opening of the collect chute 66. 68 is a collect shoot 66
This is a chute arranged at the bottom of the box. A sealing device 70 is provided below the chute 68, and is composed of a pair of heating rolls 71a and 71b that are provided with a plurality of recesses 72a and 72b on their outer peripheral portions and rotate in the directions of the arrows. Reference numerals 75a and 75b denote heat-bondable films (hereinafter simply referred to as films) such as thermoplastic resin films and aluminum foils.

Next, the operation of the packaging apparatus configured as described above will be described. The granules 52 are loaded into the hopper 51, and are supplied to the concave grooves 55 of the granulator 54, and are intermittently rotated and fed into the small hopper 56 little by little. Now, when the table 58 is slid in the direction of arrow a and the filling hole 59 is positioned below the small hopper 56, the granules 5 in the small hopper 56
2 drops and is filled in the filling hole 59. Next, when the table 58 is slid in the direction of the arrow b, the surface of the granules 52 in the filling hole 59 is leveled by the swinging member 65 that is tilted as shown in the figure, and a predetermined amount is obtained. In addition, small hopper 5
When the level of the granules 52 in the cartridge 6 decreases, the level detector 5
7 detects this and sends a signal to a gear drive motor (not shown) to rotate the granulator 54 and supply the granules 52 in the large hopper 51 to the small hopper 56.

Further, when the table 58 slides in the direction of arrow b, the shutter 64 stops at that position,
Only 8 continues to move. As a result, the lower portion of the filling hole 59 is opened, and the granules 52 filled therein fall into the collect chute 66. Next, the shutter 67 is opened, and the granules 52 are guided by the chute 68 and fall between the films 75a and 75b on the heating rolls 71a and 71b. The granules 52 that have dropped fall into the films 75a, 75b in the recesses 72a, 72b of the heating rolls 71a, 71b.
It is housed in the space, its periphery is heat-welded and sealed inside, and it is sent out from the opposite side as a product (four-sided seal package) 76 as shown in FIG. 6B.

[0014]

The PTP sheet 10a manufactured by the above-described automatic PTP packaging apparatus and the four-side seal package 76 manufactured by the four-side seal automatic packaging apparatus have dust and moisture inside. Or, in order to prevent the granules and the like filled therein from leaking, the film and the aluminum film or the two films must be tightly sealed in four directions. However, in some cases, the film and the aluminum film or the two films are not completely adhered to each other and a part thereof is peeled off, or a foreign substance is present between the film and the aluminum film or the two films.

In such a case, of course, it must be excluded as a defective product. However, conventionally, such a defective seal product could not be automatically detected. Was. For this reason, not only a large number of man-hours are required, but also there is a possibility that inspection may be omitted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. By providing automatic detecting means for defective seal products in a production line of a PTP sheet or a four-sided seal package,
The purpose of the present invention is to significantly reduce the number of inspection steps and to obtain an automatic packaging device for medicines and the like that does not miss inspection.

[0017]

An automatic packaging apparatus for medicines and the like according to the present invention seals medicines and the like by accommodating medicines and the like between two packaging materials and adhering both packaging materials by a sealing device. In the apparatus, the seal device is provided with a seal defect detecting means.

Further, the above-mentioned seal failure detecting means is provided with a small diameter portion at both ends of at least one roll of the pair of rolls or in the vicinity thereof, and a sealing device in which a gap is formed between the small diameter portion and the other roll. And a laser detector comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver installed on both sides of the roll so that their axes pass through the gap.

[0019]

[Function] The medicine is stored and the packaging material is completely sealed.
Or, when a PTP sheet or a four-sided seal package (hereinafter referred to as a PTP sheet, in which the thickness of the PTP sheet is defined as a reference thickness) in which no foreign matter is present between the packaging materials is located between the two rolls, The gap between the two rolls formed by the small diameter portion is defined as a reference gap. Further, a laser beam having a diameter larger than the reference gap is continuously emitted from the laser transmitter of the laser detector.

Now, when the PTP sheet having the reference thickness is located between both rolls, the gap between both rolls formed by the small diameter portion does not change and is held at the reference gap.
A laser beam having a diameter equal to the reference gap is received by the laser receiver. This indicates that the PTP sheet is good. If the PTP sheet is located between both rolls, the gap between the two rolls formed by the small diameter portion will be larger than the reference gap because the PTP sheet with a poor seal or foreign matter interposed between the packaging materials is thicker than the reference gap. Become. Thus, the laser receiver receives a laser beam having a diameter equal to this gap, and thus greater than the reference gap, thereby detecting that the PTP seal is defective.

[0021]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a side view of a sealing device which is a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a relationship between a seal drum and a seal roll which form a pair of rolls. In both figures, 31 is a sealing drum which constitutes the sealing device 30,
A large number of recesses 32 are provided on the outer peripheral surface, and small diameter portions 33a and 33b are formed at both ends. Reference numeral 35 denotes a seal roll rotatably supported by fixed frames 36, 36, and the small diameter portions 33a, 3 of the seal drum 31.
A gap g is formed between 3b and the seal roll 35. Reference numeral 37 denotes a support plate fixed to the lower ends of the frames 36, 36 (only one support plate is shown in the figure).

Reference numeral 40 denotes a laser detector which is a seal defect detecting means, and comprises a laser oscillator 41 attached to one end of the support plate 37 and a laser receiver 42 attached to the other end of the support plate 37. Transmitter 41 and laser oscillator 42
Are connected to the small diameter portions 33a, 33a of the seal drum 31.
It is configured to pass through a gap g formed between b and the seal roll 35. Note that the above gap g is
When the aluminum film 22 is securely bonded to the film 2 in which the tablets 5 are stored in the pockets 3, and thus the non-defective PTP sheet 10 is located between the seal drum 31 and the seal roll 35, this PTP Sheet 1
0 thickness (this is a standard thickness t of the thickness) is configured to be larger than (to the gap between the reference gap g _s), in this embodiment, the reference gap 0.4 ± 0.02
mm.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described. As described above, when the film 2 containing the tablet 5 in the pocket 3 and the aluminum film 22 fed from the stock roll 21 are guided between the seal drum 31 and the seal roll 35, the aluminum film 22 is heated. The film 2 is thermocompression-bonded to the film 2 by the seal roll 35 and sealed. On the other hand, from the laser oscillator 41, a small diameter portion 33a, 33b of the seal drum 31, the gap g formed between the seal rolls 35, the reference gap g _s larger than the diameter of the laser beam (e.g., reference gap g _s is 0.4
In the case of mm, the diameter of the laser beam is 5 to 6 mm) is continuously emitted.

At this time, when the aluminum film 22 is securely adhered to the film 2 between the seal drum 31 and the seal roll 35, that is, when the PTP sheet 10 having the reference thickness t is present, the gap g is the reference. Since it is held in the gap g _s , the diameter of the laser beam received by the laser receiver 42 through this gap g is also equal to the reference gap g _s, and it is detected that this PTP sheet 10 is a good product.

On the other hand, when the aluminum film 22 is not securely adhered to the film 2 and a part is peeled off or when a foreign substance is present between the two, the PTP sheet 10 is t + Δt thicker than the reference thickness t
Therefore, the gap g also becomes large as g _s + Δg. As a result, the diameter of the laser beam received by the laser receiver 42 through the gap g also becomes g _s + Δg, and the PTP sheet 1
0 is detected as a defective product.

In this way, by detecting the change in the diameter of the laser beam passing through the gap g formed between the small diameter portions 33a and 33b of the seal drum 31 and the seal roll 35, the aluminum film is formed on the film 2. Whether or not 22 is securely bonded or whether or not a foreign substance is present between the two can be detected without omission. PTP sheet 10 that is recognized as defective by the above inspection
Is cut into individual PTP sheets 10a by the cutting unit 18 and then automatically discharged out of the production line in the transport line 19 or a subsequent step.

In the above embodiment, P having the configuration shown in FIG.
Although the case where the present invention is applied to the sealing device of the TP automatic packaging device has been described, the present invention can be applied to a sealing device of a PTP automatic packaging device having another configuration.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sealing device which is a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a relationship between heating rolls constituting a pair of rolls. In both figures, 71a, 71b
Is a heating drum that constitutes the sealing device 70, and is provided with a plurality of recesses 72a and 72b on its outer peripheral surface,
Small-diameter portions 73a and 73b are formed at both ends of one heating roll (for example, 71b).
A gap g is formed between 73b and the other heating roll 71a. Reference numeral 77 denotes a support plate fixed to a frame or other fixing portion (not shown) that supports the heating rolls 71a and 71b on both sides of the heating roll 71a or 71b (only one side of the supporting plate is shown in the drawing). ).

Reference numeral 40 denotes a laser detector, which comprises a laser transmitter 41 attached to one end of the support plate 77 and a laser receiver 42 attached to the other end of the support plate 77. The axis connecting the containers 42 is configured to pass through a gap g formed between the small diameter portions 73a and 73b of the heating roll 71b and the heating roll 71a. In addition, the above-mentioned gap g is the distance between both films 75a, 75b.
Between the heating rolls 71a and 71b, the four-way seal package 76 in which the granules 52 are filled between the two is securely sealed on all four sides, and therefore the four-way seal package 76 which is a good product is located between the heating rolls 71a and 71b. It is configured to be larger than the thickness of the bonded portion of the envelope 76 (this thickness is referred to as a reference thickness t) (this gap is referred to as a reference gap g _s ).

In the present embodiment constructed as described above,
The granules 52 dropped from the chute 68 are
a, 71b, and drops between the films 75a, 75b, and the recesses 72a, 7b of the heating rolls 71a, 71b.
It is housed between both films 75a and 75b in 2b, and its periphery is heat-welded and sealed inside. During this time, the laser oscillator 41 causes the heating roll 71 to
b of the small-diameter portion 73a, through the gap g formed between 73b and the heating roll 71a, the laser beam size diameter faster than the reference gap g _s is continuously emitted.

At this time, when the four sides are surely sealed between the two heating rolls 71a and 71b, that is, when the four-way seal envelope 76 having the reference thickness t is present, the gap g is maintained at the reference gap g _s . Therefore, the diameter of the laser beam that passes through the gap g and is received by the laser receiver 42 is also equal to the reference gap g _s, and it is detected that the four-way seal envelope 76 is a good product.

On the other hand, if the four sides of the four-sided seal wrapping body 76 are not securely adhered and a part is peeled off, or if there is a foreign substance between the two films 75a and 75b, the four sides are sealed. The adhesion portion of the seal envelope 76 has a reference thickness t.
Since it becomes thicker t + Δt, the gap g formed between the small-diameter portions 73a and 73b of the heating roll 71b and the heating roll 71a is also large g _s + Δg, and the diameter of the laser beam passing therethrough is also g _s + Δg. Laser receiver 42
Then, it is detected that the four-sided seal wrapping body 76 is defective.

In this way, the diameter of the laser beam passing through the gap g formed between the small diameter portions 73a and 73b of the heating roll 71b and the heating roll 71a changes,
It can be detected whether or not the four sides of the four-side seal package 76 are securely bonded, or whether or not a foreign substance is present between the two films 75a and 75b. Then, as a result of the inspection, the four-side seal package 7 which is recognized as a defective product
6 is automatically discharged outside the production line in the subsequent steps.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the sealing device of the four-way seal packaging device having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is shown, but the present invention is also applied to the sealing device of the four-way seal packaging device having other configurations. It can be carried out. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the small diameter portions 73a, 7a are provided at both ends of the heating roll 71b.
3b is provided and the gap g is formed between the heating roll 71a and the heating roll 71a, the ring-shaped groove is provided near both ends of the heating roll 71b to form a small diameter portion. A gap g may be formed between the heating roll 71a and the other heating roll 71a, or a small diameter portion or groove may be provided on the other heating roll 71a. It may be provided. In addition,
The above-described modification is a modification of the seal drum 31 in the first embodiment.
The same can be applied between the seal roller 35 and the seal roll 35.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the sealing device for adhering and sealing the two packaging materials containing the drug or the like is provided with the sealing defect detecting means, and the above-mentioned sealing is performed. The defect detecting means is provided with a small diameter portion at both ends of at least one roll of the pair of rolls or in the vicinity thereof, and a sealing device in which a gap is formed between the small diameter portion and the other roll, and the axis lines on both sides of the roll. Since it is constituted by a laser detector including a laser transmitter and a laser receiver installed so as to pass through the gap, it is possible to automatically detect a seal defect of the packaging material on the manufacturing line. For this reason, not only the number of steps for detecting a defective seal can be significantly reduced, but also the inspection omission can be eliminated, so that an automatic packaging device for chemicals or the like that has high reliability and can improve productivity can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sealing device as a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between a seal drum and a seal roll in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sealing device which is a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between both heating rolls of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram of an example of a conventional PTP automatic packaging apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the sealing device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a PTP sheet, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of a four-side seal package.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example of a conventional four-side seal packaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Film 10 PTP sheet 22 Aluminum film 30 Sealing device 31 Seal drum 33a, 33b Small diameter section 35 Seal roll 40 Laser detector 41 Laser transmitter 42 Laser receiver 71a, 71b Heating roll 73a, 73b Small diameter section 75a, 75b Film 76 square Seal wrap g gap

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An automatic packaging device for a medicine or the like, wherein a medicine or the like is contained between two packaging materials and the sealing material is used to bond the both medicines and seal the medicine or the like. An automatic packaging device for medicines and the like, which is provided with a detection means. 2. A seal device in which a seal defect detecting means is provided with a small diameter portion at or near both ends of at least one roll of a pair of rolls, and a gap is formed between the small diameter portion and the other roll. 2. An automatic packaging device for medicines, etc. according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a laser detector comprising a laser transmitter and a laser receiver which are installed on both sides of the roll so that their axes pass through the gap. .