Medicine packaging band winding device and medicine packaging system

Abstract

To perform medicine portion-packaging operation and packaging band winding operation in parallel.SOLUTION: A medicine packaging band winding device winds a packaging band in which a medicine is packed, and includes a transport roller which transports the packaging band; a winding part which is disposed in the middle of a transport path of the packaging band by the transport roller and winds the packaging band; and a movement part which moves the winding part from the middle of the transport path to a retreat position deviated from the transport path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device and a pharmaceutical packaging system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a medicine pouch bundling machine in which a cutter, a feeder, a winding device, and a binding device are arranged in a straight line. In this medicine pouch bundling machine, a feeder delivers a series of medicine pouches conveyed forward from a medicine packaging machine in an upright position at an angle, and a winding device sequentially winds up the medicine pouches delivered by the feeder. The cutter rotates after one patient's worth of medicine pouches has passed, cutting the medicine pouches into individual pieces for each patient. A transport arm grasps both sides of the medicine pouches wound by the winding device for one patient's worth and transports them in the wound state, and a binding device ties the medicine pouches conveyed by the transport arm with bands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-101018 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the medicine pouch bundling machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, a cutter, a feeder, a winding device, and a bundling device are arranged along the linear transport path of the medicine pouch. Therefore, while the medicine pouch is being wound by the winding device, the feeder cannot feed the medicine pouch forward, and the transport of the medicine pouch must be stopped. As a result, the medicine packaging machine is forced to stop the packaging operation of packaging the medicine pouch, which hinders continuous packaging operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device that winds up a packaging strip in which a pharmaceutical is packaged, and includes a conveying roller that conveys the packaging strip, a winding unit that is positioned midway along the conveying path of the packaging strip carried by the conveying roller and winds up the packaging strip, and a moving unit that moves the winding unit from midway along the conveying path to a retracted position off the conveying path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, the operation of packaging medicines and the operation of winding up the packaging strip can be performed in parallel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine packaging system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a wrapping strip according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of the winding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a winding device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the winding section and its surroundings. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the winding section and its surroundings. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the start stage of the initial process by the winding section. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the first stage of the initial process by the winding section. [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a second stage of the initial process by the winding section. [Figure 7D] FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating a third stage of the initial process by the winding unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified example of the configuration of the winding section according to the embodiment. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the positions of the second conveyor roller and the inclined plate in the initial stage of the winding process. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the positions of the second conveyor roller and the inclined plate at the end of the initial step of the winding process. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the winding device in a state where the winding section is positioned at the retracted position. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view for explaining the first stage of the recovery process. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the second stage of the recovery process. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view for explaining the third stage of the recovery process. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a front view showing the configuration of the sticker pasting section. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A is a diagram for explaining the operation of sticking a sticker by the sticking unit. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sticking unit to stick a sticker. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating the first stage of the separation process. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating the first stage of the separation process. [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating the second stage of the separation process. [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating the second stage of the separation process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] <Summary of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> The following provides an outline of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] (1) The pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device according to this embodiment winds up a packaging strip containing pharmaceuticals, and includes a conveying mechanism that conveys the packaging strip, a winding unit that is disposed along a path along which the packaging strip is conveyed by the conveying mechanism and that winds up the packaging strip, and a moving unit that moves the winding unit from along the path to a retracted position that is off the path. Therefore, by moving the winding unit from along the path to the retracted position, the transportation of the packaging strip can be continued, and the pharmaceutical packaging operation and the packaging strip winding operation can be performed in parallel.

[0010] (2) In the above (1), the moving unit may move the winding unit in a moving direction different from the direction along the conveying path, thereby preventing the winding unit from interfering with the conveying path by moving the winding unit in the moving direction from midway along the conveying path.

[0011] (3) In the above (1) or (2), the winding unit may start winding the wrapping strip midway along the conveying path, and the moving unit may move the winding unit to the retracted position while the winding unit is winding the wrapping strip. This allows efficient winding of the wrapping strip.

[0012] (4) In the above (3), the winding unit may include a pair of pins parallel to each other and a rotatable holding member that holds the pair of pins, and the moving unit may move the holding member to a retracted position while the holding member is rotating. This allows the wrapping strip to be wound up by entangling the wrapping strip around the pair of pins and rotating the holding member.

[0013] (5) In the above (2), the moving unit may be capable of moving the reel unit in a depth direction intersecting both the conveying path and the moving direction, the reel unit is retracted in the depth direction so as not to interfere with the conveying path while the wrapping strip is being conveyed by the conveying mechanism, and the moving unit may move the reel unit in the opposite direction to the depth direction when conveyance of the wrapping strip by the conveying mechanism is completed. This prevents the reel unit from interfering with conveyance of the wrapping strip by the conveying mechanism, and allows the reel unit to start winding the wrapping strip when conveyance of the wrapping strip is completed.

[0014] (6) In any one of (1) to (5) above, the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device may include a holding area downstream of the winding unit on the conveying path for temporarily holding the packaging strip transported by the conveying mechanism. This allows the transported packaging strip to be temporarily held in the holding area, and the held packaging strip can be wound up.

[0015] (7) In the above (6), the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device may hold the packaging strip transported by the transport mechanism in a hanging manner in the holding area. This allows the packaging strip to be temporarily held in the holding area without being wound or folded. Furthermore, because the packaging strip can be hung down by gravity, no special mechanism for hanging down is required, and the device configuration can be kept from becoming complicated.

[0016] (8) In the above (6) or (7), the winding unit may wind the packaging strip, which has been transported by the transport mechanism and temporarily held in the holding area, from a portion of the packaging strip upstream of the holding area in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the transport mechanism. This allows the transported packaging strip to be wound up independently of the transport. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transport of the packaging strip from being impeded by the winding of the packaging strip. Furthermore, since the packaging strip is wound so that the terminal medicine packet is located on the inside and the front medicine packet is located on the outside, the wound medicine strip can be pulled out in order from the front medicine packet to the terminal medicine packet.

[0017] (9) In the above (8), before the winding unit completes winding the wrapping strip, the conveying mechanism may convey a wrapping strip following the wrapping strip along the conveying path, thereby enabling winding of the wrapping strip and conveyance of the following wrapping strip to be performed in parallel.

[0018] (10) In any one of (1) to (9) above, the packaging strip may be configured by a series of multiple packages each packaging a medicine, and the medicine packaging strip winding device may include a camera that captures images of each of the packages while the packaging strip is being transported by the transport mechanism, and a memory unit that stores multiple images of the multiple packages included in one packaging strip captured by the camera, in association with the single packaging strip. This allows the medicines packaged in the packaging strip to be confirmed by the images after the packaging strip is wound up.

[0019] (11) In the above (10), the winding unit may wind up the one packaging strip after the camera has completed capturing images of all of the packages included in the one packaging strip. This allows the packaging strip to be wound up after capturing images of all of the packages.

[0020] (12) In any one of (1) to (11) above, the winding unit may drop the wrapping strip roll formed by the wound wrapping strip downward after completing winding of the wrapping strip. The pharmaceutical wrapping strip winding device may include a housing that accommodates the conveying mechanism, the winding unit, and the moving unit, and a discharge unit that discharges the wrapping strip roll dropped to the bottom surface and the wrapping strip roll removed from the winding unit through a discharge opening provided above the bottom surface of the housing. This allows the wrapping strip roll to be discharged at a position higher than the installation surface on which the housing is installed. For example, when storing the wrapping strip roll in a tray, storage box, etc., the upper end of the tray, storage box, etc. may be lower than the lower end of the discharge opening, and the tray, storage box, etc. may be positioned near the discharge opening, so that the wrapping strip roll discharged from the discharge opening can be stored in the tray, storage box, etc.

[0021] (13) In any one of (1) to (12) above, the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device may be disposed below a storage cabinet that stores the pharmaceuticals before packaging them with the packaging strip, thereby reducing the installation space for the storage cabinet and the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device.

[0022] (14) In any one of (1) to (13) above, a guide roller may be provided to guide the retraction of the packaging strip by the retraction unit in the retracted position. When the retraction unit is located along the conveying path, the guide roller may wait at a standby position in the depth direction intersecting the conveying path, rather than at the guide position where the guide roller guides the packaging strip. When the retraction unit is located in the retracted position, the guide roller may guide the packaging strip at the guide position. This allows the guide roller to guide the packaging strip, thereby enabling efficient retraction of the packaging strip. Furthermore, by keeping the guide roller in the standby position when not retracting the packaging strip, the guide roller may be prevented from interfering with operations of the pharmaceutical packaging strip retractor other than retraction of the packaging strip.

[0023] (15) A pharmaceutical packaging system according to this embodiment is a pharmaceutical packaging system for packaging pharmaceuticals in a packaging strip, and includes: a storage container for storing the pharmaceuticals; a packaging unit for dispensing the pharmaceuticals from the storage container and packaging the pharmaceuticals in a sheet for forming the packaging strip; and a pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device for winding up the packaging strip containing the packaged pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the packaging strip, a winding unit disposed midway along a conveying path of the packaging strip carried by the conveying mechanism and winding up the packaging strip, and a moving unit for moving the winding unit from midway along the conveying path to a retracted position off the conveying path. Thus, by moving the winding unit from midway along the conveying path to the retracted position, conveyance of the packaging strip can be continued, and the pharmaceutical packaging operation and the packaging strip winding operation can be performed in parallel.

[0024] The present disclosure can be realized not only as a drug packaging strip winding device having the above-described characteristic configuration, but also as a drug packaging system including a drug packaging strip winding device, as a drug packaging strip winding method including steps of a characteristic drug packaging strip winding process in a drug packaging strip winding device, as a control program for causing a drug packaging strip winding device to perform characteristic operations, or as a semiconductor integrated circuit as part or all of the control device of a drug packaging strip winding device.

[0025] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At least some of the following preferred embodiments may be combined in any desired manner.

[0026] [1. Overall configuration of the pharmaceutical packaging system] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine packaging system according to an embodiment.

[0027] The medicine packaging system 10 includes a packaging device 100 and a winding device 200. The winding device 200 is an example of a "medicine packaging strip winding device."

[0028] The packaging device 100 dispenses medicines from cassettes 50, 60 that store the medicines and packages the dispensed medicines in packages. The winding device 200 winds up a packaging strip that is a series of multiple packages in which medicines are packaged by the packaging device 100.

[0029] The packaging device 100 includes a storage 110 that stores a plurality of medicines. Specifically, the storage 110 houses a plurality of cassettes 50. The packaging device 100 can dispense medicines from the cassettes 50 housed in the storage 110.

[0030] Each cassette 50 contains the same type of medicine. That is, the cassette 50 is a cassette dedicated to a specific type of medicine. To accommodate multiple types of medicine, the packaging device 100 stores multiple cassettes 50, one for each of the multiple medicine types.

[0031] Furthermore, the packaging device 100 can store a plurality of cassettes 60 and dispense medicines from the stored cassettes 60.

[0032] Each cassette 60 contains a drug selected from a plurality of types of drugs (for example, a drug other than the drug contained in cassette 50). In other words, cassette 60 is a cassette that can accommodate a plurality of types of drugs. Specifically, cassette 60 is capable of adjusting the size of the drug discharge path. By adjusting the size of the discharge path according to the size of a drug selected from a plurality of types of drugs, cassette 60 becomes able to dispense this drug. For example, a drug that is used frequently is contained in cassette 50, and a drug that is used less frequently is contained in cassette 60.

[0033] The medicine packaging system 10 shown in Fig. 1 includes a plurality of packaging devices 100 and the same number of winding devices 200 as the packaging devices 100. One packaging device 100 and one winding device 200 connected to that packaging device 100 constitute one set, and the medicine packaging system 10 includes multiple sets of packaging devices 100 and winding devices 200. As shown in Fig. 1, the multiple sets of packaging devices 100 and winding devices 200 are arranged in a horizontal row.

[0034] In the example of Figure 1, a drug packaging system 10 is shown that includes three packing apparatuses 100 and three winding apparatuses 200. However, the number of packing apparatuses 100 and winding apparatuses 200 is not limited to three. The drug packaging system 10 may include one packing apparatus 100 and one winding apparatus 200, two packing apparatuses 100, or four or more packing apparatuses 100 and two winding apparatuses 200. In other words, the drug packaging system 10 only needs to include at least one packing apparatus 100 and at least one winding apparatus 200.

[0035] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a packaging strip according to an embodiment. The packaging strip 300 is composed of a row of packaging bodies 301, which are rectangular bags. Each packaging body 301 contains a medicine.

[0036] Returning to FIG. 1 , the packaging apparatus 100 includes a packaging device 120. The packaging device 120 folds a long, strip-shaped sheet along its length so as to divide it in half in the short direction, crimps one point along the length to close the sheet, and dispenses medicines into the folded sheet. The packaging apparatus 100 further crimps a point on the folded sheet a predetermined distance from the crimped point and crimps the open end of the folded sheet to connect the two crimped points, thereby forming a bag-shaped package 301 containing medicines. The packaging device 120 continuously forms packages 301, thereby forming a packaging band 300 of continuous packages 301.

[0037] The packaging device 120 includes a printing device and a perforation blade (not shown). The perforation blade forms perforations between adjacent packages 301. The printing device prints prescription information, including the name of the recipient, the name of the prescribed drug, the prescribed amount, etc., on the packaging strip 300. The printing device also prints a two-dimensional barcode, in which the prescription ID is encoded, on the packaging strip 300.

[0038] The wrapping strip 300 formed by the wrapping device 120 is conveyed to the winding device 200 adjacent to the packaging device 100.

[0039] [2. Winding device] FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a winding device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof.

[0040] Hereinafter, the right side in FIG. 3 will be referred to as the "right side," the left side in FIG. 3 as the "left side," the top side in FIG. 3 as the "top," the bottom side in FIG. 3 as the "bottom," and the normal direction to the paper surface in FIG. 3 as the "depth direction."

[0041] The winding device 200 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 201. An inlet 202 for receiving the packaging strip 300 is provided at the upper rear surface of the housing 201. The packaging device 120 transports the packaging strip 300 (see FIG. 1). The packaging device 120 is connected to the inlet 202. The packaging device 120 seals medicines in each package 301 with the short sides of the packaging strip 300 standing vertically. The packaging device 120 transports the packaging strip 300 with the short sides standing vertically diagonally upward along an inclined transport path, and sends the packaging strip 300 to the inlet 202.

[0042] The winding device 200 includes a first conveying roller 211, a guide member 212, a conveyor 213, and a second conveying roller 214. The first conveying roller and the second conveying roller are examples of a "conveying mechanism."

[0043] A first conveying roller 211 is disposed near the entrance 202. The first conveying roller 211 includes a pair of rollers. The pair of rollers rotate with the wrapping strip 300 sandwiched between them, thereby conveying the wrapping strip 300.

[0044] The guide member 212 guides the packaging strip 300, whose short sides are vertically erected, to a horizontal position. Specifically, the guide member 212 includes a conveying path 212a that is twisted approximately 90 degrees from a vertically erected short side to a horizontal position. As the packaging strip 300 is conveyed along this conveying path 212a, it is guided from a vertically erected short side to a horizontal position.

[0045] A pressure roller 212b is disposed downstream of the guide member 212. The pressure roller 212b presses down the wrapping strip 300 that has been twisted approximately 90 degrees by the guide member 212, preventing the wrapping strip 300 from lifting off the conveying path. Furthermore, while the wrapping strip 300 is twisted 90 degrees by the guide member 212 as described above, its conveying direction is changed by 90 degrees. That is, the longitudinal direction of the wrapping strip 200 is changed from the depth direction to the right. By bending the wrapping strip 300 by 90 degrees in a plan view in this way, the conveying direction of the wrapping strip 300 that has been fed in the depth direction can be changed to the right. The wrapping strip 300 is conveyed inside the rewinding device 200 along a vertical plane that extends in the up-down and left-right directions. This allows the depth dimension of the rewinding device 200 to be reduced.

[0046] A conveyor 213 is disposed downstream of the guide member 212. The conveyor 213 is a belt conveyor driven by a motor and pulleys (not shown). The wrapping strip 300, which has been brought into a horizontal position by the guide member 212, is transported to the right by the conveyor 213.

[0047] Second conveying rollers 214 are disposed downstream of the conveyor 213 at a predetermined distance from the conveyor 213. The second conveying rollers 214 include a pair of rollers. The pair of rollers rotate with the wrapping strip 300 sandwiched between them, thereby conveying the wrapping strip 300.

[0048] An inclined plate 215 is disposed to the right of the second conveying roller 214, inclining downward as it goes right. The wrapping strip 300 is conveyed to the right on the upper surface of the inclined plate 215. There is no structure to support the wrapping strip 300 on the downstream side (right side) of the inclined plate 215 in the conveying direction. Therefore, the wrapping strip 300 hangs down from the right end of the inclined plate 215.

[0049] A guide plate 216 is disposed above the inclined plate 215, generally aligned with the inclined plate 215. The inclined plate 215 and the guide plate 216 are spaced a predetermined distance apart, and the wrapping strip 300 is conveyed through the space between the inclined plate 215 and the guide plate 216. The guide plate 216 extends vertically downward at its right end and then slopes to the left. That is, the lower portion of the guide plate 216 is provided with an inclined surface 216a that slopes away from the right side surface of the housing 201 as it extends downward.

[0050] The wrapping strip 300 hangs down from the right end of the inclined plate 215 along the guide plate 216. The wrapping strip 300 is guided along the inclined surface 216a of the guide plate 216 so as to move away from the right side surface of the housing 201 to the left.

[0051] The first transport rollers 211, the guide member 212, the conveyor 213, the second transport rollers 214, and the inclined plate 215 form a transport path 400 for the wrapping strip 300.

[0052] A space extending down to the bottom surface of the housing 201 is provided below the second conveying roller 214 and the inclined plate 215. This space is a holding area 217 where the conveyed wrapping strip 300 is temporarily held. More specifically, the holding area 217 is an area in front of the later-described seal application unit 250, particularly the second roller 252 for winding up the seal backing 273 (more specifically, the second roller 252 when positioned behind the plate 242).

[0053] Between the conveyor 213 and the second transport rollers 214, two cameras 221 and 222 and a barcode reader 223 are arranged.

[0054] The camera 221 sequentially captures images of each package 301 from above the packaging strip 300. The camera 222 sequentially captures images of each package 301 from below the packaging strip 300.

[0055] One side of one wrapping strip 300 (the top side of the wrapping strip 300 on the conveying path) is transparent, and the other side (the bottom side of the wrapping strip 300 on the conveying path) is colored an opaque color such as white. One side of another wrapping strip 300 (the top side of the wrapping strip 300 on the conveying path) is colored an opaque color such as white, and the other side (the bottom side of the wrapping strip 300 on the conveying path) is transparent. In yet another wrapping strip 300, both sides are transparent. In this way, there are multiple types of wrapping strips 300.

[0056] As described above, cameras 221 and 222 capture images of the top and bottom surfaces of each package 301. Therefore, even if one surface is opaque, the transparent surface is also captured, so that the medicine contained in package 301 can be reliably captured. The images captured by cameras 221 and 222 are used as evidence to prove that the required medicine is contained.

[0057] The first transport rollers 211, the conveyor 213, and the second transport rollers 214 intermittently transport the wrapping strip 300 to the right (pitch feed).

[0058] The cameras 221 and 222 simultaneously capture images of the wrapping strip 300 when the wrapping strip 300 stops during conveyance. The imaging fields of the cameras 221 and 222, i.e., the imaging areas on the wrapping strip 300, are different from each other. Specifically, the imaging area captured by the camera 221 and the imaging area captured by the camera 222 are separated in the conveyance direction of the wrapping strip 300 by the same distance as the distance between two adjacent packages 301 on the wrapping strip 300. In other words, the camera 221 captures an image of the top surface of one package 301, and the camera 222 captures an image of the bottom surface of the package 301 one package 301 downstream from the package 301 captured by the camera 221.

[0059] The winding device 200 includes a control device 205 that controls each component of the winding device 200. The control device 205 includes a storage device 206. The storage device 206 is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, an EEPROM, or a hard disk drive. Images output from the cameras 221 and 222 are stored in the storage device 206. Specifically, an image captured from above (hereinafter also referred to as an "upper surface image") and an image captured from below (hereinafter also referred to as a "lower surface image") of the same packaging body 301 are stored as a pair in the storage device 206. That is, an upper surface image captured during a certain stoppage time of the packaging strip 300 during conveyance and a lower surface image captured during the stoppage time immediately preceding that stoppage time are combined and stored in the storage device 206.

[0060] The barcode reader 223 reads the prescription ID from the two-dimensional barcode printed on the packaging strip 300. The prescription ID read by the barcode reader 223 is associated with the above-mentioned upper surface image and lower surface image, and stored in the storage device 206.

[0061] A winding section 230 that winds up the wrapping strip 300 is provided upstream of the second conveying rollers 214. That is, the winding section 230 is disposed midway along the conveying path 400.

[0062] The interior space of the housing 201 is divided into a rear (deep) space and a front (front) space by plates 241, 242, and 243. The front space is a space for transporting and winding the wrapping strip 300, and the rear space is a space for storing devices. The transport path 400 is located in the front space.

[0063] The winding section 230 is movable in the front-to-rear direction. Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged perspective views of the winding section 230 and its surroundings. Figure 5 shows the position of the winding section 230 when the wrapping strip 300 is being conveyed, and Figure 6 shows the position of the winding section 230 when the wrapping strip 300 is being wound up.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 5, while the wrapping strip 300 is being conveyed (hereinafter also referred to as the "conveying period"), the retracting unit 230 is stored in the rear space. More specifically, a plate 241 is disposed at the position of the retracting unit 230. A hole 241a is formed in the plate 241, and the retracting unit 230 can move in front of and behind the plate 241 through the hole 241a. During the conveying period, the retracting unit 230 is positioned behind the plate 241. A moving unit 235 that moves the retracting unit 230 is disposed in the space behind the plate 241. The moving unit 235 includes one or more motors and a power transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the power of the motors to the retracting unit 230. The retracting unit 230 is moved in the front-to-rear direction by the moving unit 235.

[0065] The rewinding section 230 includes a disk-shaped holding member 231, a pair of parallel rod-shaped pins 232 protruding forward from the holding member 231, and a protrusion 233 provided in the center of the holding member 231. The pins 232 have a length approximately equal to the width of the packaging strip 300. When the rewinding section 230 is stored in the rear space, the front end of the pin 232 is located behind the plate 241, and the pin 232 does not protrude forward from the plate 241.

[0066] The protrusion 233 is an oval projection having a certain width. The protrusion 233 protrudes from the front surface of the holding member 231 and has a thickness greater than that of the plate 241. The protrusion 233 is used to detach the roll-shaped wrapping strip 300 (wrapping strip roll 310) wound around the winding section 230 from the winding section 230. The detachment of the wrapping strip roll 310 from the winding section 230 will be described later.

[0067] During the conveying period, the wrapping strip 300 is conveyed along the conveying path 400, and the front (first conveyed) portion of the wrapping strip 300 hangs down from the end of the inclined plate 215 and is held in a free state, i.e., an unwound state, in the holding area 217.

[0068] An ultrasonic sensor 218 is disposed upstream of the rewinding section 230 on the conveying path 400 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The ultrasonic sensor 218 distinguishes between a bag-shaped portion of the wrapping strip 300 made up of two sheets and a portion where two sheets are crimped together to form a single sheet. This allows the wrapping bodies 301 to be detected individually. For example, the control device 205 of the rewinding device 200 detects the end of the wrapping strip 300 based on the detection result of the ultrasonic sensor 218. Note that instead of or in addition to the ultrasonic sensor 218, an optical sensor (photointerrupter), for example, may be used to detect the end of the wrapping strip 300.

[0069] When the end of the wrapping strip 300 is detected, the process transitions from the conveying process of the wrapping strip 300 to the winding process of the wrapping strip 300. That is, when the end of the wrapping strip 300 is detected, the moving unit 235 moves the winding unit 230 forward of the plate 241, as shown in FIG. 6. At this stage, the cameras 221 and 222 capture images of all packages 301 included in the wrapping strip 300, and the barcode reader 223 reads the two-dimensional barcodes printed on the wrapping strip 300. While the winding unit 230 is waiting at the rear, it stops at an angle where the pair of pins 232 are aligned vertically. With the pair of pins 232 aligned vertically, the winding unit 230 moves from the waiting position to the winding position at the front. The winding position is, for example, a position where the front surface of the holding member 231 is flush with the front surface of the plate 241.

[0070] When the reeling unit 230 is positioned at the reeling position, the wrapping strip 300 is clamped by the pair of pins 232. In this state, the reeling unit 230 rotates, causing the wrapping strip 300 to be reeled in by the pins 232. In the reeling process, the wrapping strip 300 is reeled in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, that is, from the end of the wrapping strip 300 to the leading end.

[0071] The winding process includes an initial process, a recovery process, and a finishing process. The initial process is a process of winding the end portion of the wrapping strip 300 around the winding unit 230. Figures 7A to 7D are diagrams for explaining the initial process performed by the winding unit 230. The initial process includes a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage. Figure 7A shows the start stage of winding the wrapping strip, Figure 7B shows the first stage of the initial process, Figure 7C shows the second stage of the initial process, and Figure 7D shows the third stage of the initial process.

[0072] When the winding unit 230 is positioned at the winding position, the second conveying roller 214 stops rotating, thereby stopping (ending) the conveyance of the wrapping strip 300. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7A, the winding unit 230 rotates clockwise, and winding of the wrapping strip 300 begins.

[0073] 7B, in the first stage, the winding unit 230 rotates, and the pair of pins 232 revolve around the center of the winding unit 230. During the first rotation of the winding unit 230, the wrapping strip 300 is entangled around the pins 232 in an S-shape.

[0074] A pressure member 219 is disposed above the rewinding unit 230. The pressure member 219 is a plate-shaped member curved along the rotational circumference of the rewinding unit 230 and fixed to the front surface of the plate 241. When the rewinding unit 230 rotates, the upper pin 232 causes the trailing end of the wrapping strip 300 to flip up, but the flipping up is prevented by the pressure member 219. That is, the flipped-up portion of the wrapping strip 300 hits the lower surface (the curved inner surface) of the pressure member 219 and does not move above the pressure member 219. Therefore, the wrapping strip 300 is bent at the pins 232, and as shown in FIG. 7C , the wrapping strip 300 becomes entangled around the pair of pins 232 (second stage). As the rewinding unit 230 continues to rotate clockwise, the trailing end of the wrapping strip 300 becomes wrapped around the pair of pins 232. The front surface of the protrusion 233 is a reference surface for positioning the packaging strip 300 when the packaging strip 300 is wound up, and the packaging strip 300 is wound up with one end in the width direction, i.e., the rear end, in contact with or very close to the front surface of the protrusion 233.

[0075] In the third stage, the winding section 230 continues to rotate clockwise. As a result, the winding section 230 winds up the packaging strip 300 downstream of the winding section 230. As the winding section 230 rotates, the downstream packaging strip 300 is pulled by the winding section 230. At this time, the second conveying roller 214 rotates in the opposite direction to the conveying process, and the packaging strip 300 downstream of the winding section 230 moves in the opposite direction to the conveying direction. In the third stage, the winding section 230 winds up a predetermined length of the downstream packaging strip 300.

[0076] The pin 232 does not have to be round rod-shaped. FIG. 8 illustrates a modified configuration of the winding unit according to the embodiment. In the modified example shown in FIG. 8, the pin 232A is rod-shaped with an elliptical or oblong end face when viewed in the depth direction. A round rod-shaped pin 232 with a small diameter and a circular cross section has a large curvature. Therefore, especially when the length of the wrapping strip 300 is short, the outer diameter of the wrapping strip roll 310 (described later) becomes small. This makes it difficult for the elastic seal 272 to bend to the curvature of the wrapping strip roll 310, potentially resulting in poor seal application. In the modified example shown in FIG. 8, the pair of pins 232A are arranged so that their major axes are parallel. By configuring the winding unit 230 in this manner, the wrapping strip 300 comes into contact with the outer portions of the pins 232A, which have a small elliptical curvature, thereby increasing the outer diameter of the wrapping strip roll 310 and making it easier to apply the seal 272 to the wrapping strip 300.

[0077] The second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 are movable back and forth via the plate 241. A motor for moving the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 back and forth is disposed on the rear side of the plate 241. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the positions of the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 in the initial stage of the winding process. In the above-described conveying process and the initial stage of the winding process, the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 are positioned in front of the plate 241.

[0078] More specifically, the plate 241 has holes 241b in the shape of the second conveying roller 214 and the inclined plate 215, and the second conveying roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 can move to the front and rear of the plate 241 through the holes 241b.

[0079] 10 is a perspective view for explaining the positions of the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 at the end of the initial step of the winding process. When the initial step is completed, the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 move rearward and retreat behind the plate 241.

[0080] As the second conveying rollers 214 and the inclined plate 215 retreat to the rear of the plate 241, the wrapping strip 300 is no longer supported by the second conveying rollers 214 and the inclined plate 215. As a result, a portion of the wrapping strip 300 that was supported by the second conveying rollers 214 and the inclined plate 215 downstream of the rewinding section 230 is released from support by the second conveying rollers 214 and the inclined plate 215 and falls downward.

[0081] Hole 241a provided in plate 241 extends vertically. Movement unit 235 can move winding unit 230 vertically along hole 241a. Specifically, movement unit 235 includes a motor for raising and lowering winding unit 230.

[0082] The bottom end of hole 241a is trifurcated. That is, three extensions 241a1, 241a2, and 241a3 extend downward from the bottom end of hole 241a. Central extension 241a1 is longer than extensions 241a2 and 241a2 on either side. Left and right extensions 241a2 and 241a2 are the same length.

[0083] The winding unit 230 is positioned at one of an initial position, a retracted position, and a detached position. The initial position is the uppermost position of the hole 241a. As shown in Fig. 10, in the initial step, the winding unit 230 is positioned at the initial position.

[0084] When the initial step is completed and the second conveyor roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 are retracted behind the plate 241, the moving unit 235 moves the retractor 230 downward along the hole 241a to the retracted position. The direction of movement from the initial position to the retracted position is different from the direction of the conveying path. By positioning the retractor 230 in the retracted position, the next wrapping strip 300 can be conveyed along the conveying path 400. That is, while the retractor 230 is retracting the wrapping strip 300 in the retracted position, the first conveyor roller 211, the conveyor 213, and the second conveyor roller 214 convey the wrapping strip following the retracted wrapping strip 300 along the conveying path 400. Because the retractor 230 is retracted from the conveying path 400, the conveying of the following wrapping strip 300 is not obstructed.

[0085] The moving unit 235 moves the winding unit 230 from the initial position to the retracted position while the winding unit 230 is rotating. This allows the wrapping strip 300 to be wound efficiently. For example, after the winding unit 230 moves to the retracted position, the second conveying roller 214 and the inclined plate 215 return to their forward positions (positions where the wrapping strip 300 can be conveyed). This allows the wrapping strip 300 of the next prescription to be conveyed.

[0086] 11 is a perspective view showing winding device 200 with winding section 230 positioned at the retracted position. The retracted position is below the top of hole 241a and above extensions 241a1, 241a2, and 241a3. In the recovery process, winding section 230 is positioned at the retracted position.

[0087] Next, the recovery step will be described. The recovery step is a step of recovering the portion of the wrapping strip 300 that is temporarily held in the holding area 217. The recovery step includes a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage.

[0088] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the first stage of the recovery process. In the first stage of the recovery process, the portion of the packaging strip 300 temporarily held in the holding area 217 is wound up at a higher speed than in the other processes (initial process and finishing process). In the first stage of the recovery process, the winding unit 230 rotates clockwise from the retracted position. As a result, the portion of the packaging strip 300 temporarily held in the holding area 217 (excluding the end) is wound up by the winding unit 230. More specifically, multiple (five) slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5 are provided on the right side of the lower portion of the hole 241a. The slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5 are arranged in a line in the left-right direction and are spaced farther from the hole 241a in this order. As the amount of packaging strip 300 wound up increases, the radius of the roll of packaging strip 300 increases. Optical sensors (not shown) are provided behind each of the slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5, respectively, and the optical sensors detect that the wrapping strip 300 is positioned in front of the slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5. That is, the amount of wrapping strip 300 is detected based on the detection values ​​of the optical sensors. The rotation speed of the rewinding unit 230 is controlled in accordance with the detected amount of wrapping strip 300. For example, when the wrapping strip 300 is detected at the position of slit 241b1, the rotation speed of the rewinding unit 230 is reduced by one step. When the wrapping strip 300 is detected at the position of slit 241b2, the rotation speed of the rewinding unit 230 is reduced by another step. In this manner, each time the wrapping strip 300 is detected, the rotation speed of the winding section 230 is reduced in stages, starting from the slit 241b1 closest to the hole 241a and moving toward the slit 241b5 furthest from the hole 241a. This allows the amount of wrapping strip 300 wound per unit time (i.e., the winding speed) to be adjusted to be approximately constant.

[0089] As described above, the front surface of the protrusion 233 is a reference surface for positioning the packaging strip 300 when the packaging strip 300 is wound up, and the rear end of the wound packaging strip 300 contacts or is very close to the front surface of the protrusion 233. In other words, there is a gap roughly equal to the thickness of the protrusion 233 between the front surface of the holding member 231 and the rear end of the wound packaging strip 300. Because the protrusion 233 has a thickness greater than that of the plate 241, the gap between the front surface of the holding member 231 and the rear end of the wound packaging strip 300 is greater than the thickness of the plate 241. This prevents the packaging strip 300 from coming into contact with the plate 241 when the packaging strip 300 is wound up.

[0090] Below the hole 241a, there is disposed a seal pasting section 250. The seal pasting section 250 is a unit for pasting a seal near the leading end of the wrapped wrapping strip 300.

[0091] The sticker affixing unit 250 is movable in the front-rear direction via a plate 242 arranged below the plate 241. A notched portion 242a is provided in the upper portion of the plate 242, and the sticker affixing unit 250 is arranged in the notched portion 242a. The sticker affixing unit 250 is moved in the front-rear direction by a motor arranged behind the plate 242.

[0092] In the initial step and the first stage of the recovery step, the seal affixing unit 250 is located behind the plate 242. This prevents the seal affixing unit 250 from interfering with the wrapping strip 300 held in the holding area 217, and prevents the wrapping strip 300 from being hindered from being held in the holding area 217.

[0093] 12, in the first stage, the wrapping strip 300 hangs down from the winding unit 230 in front of the seal affixing unit 250 arranged in the rear space. Therefore, if the seal affixing unit 250 is moved forward in this state, the seal affixing unit 250 will interfere with the wrapping strip 300.

[0094] In the second stage of the collection process, the wrapping strip 300 is moved from the space in front of the seal applying section 250. The second stage will be described below.

[0095] A pressing member 260 is disposed in the recess 242a. The pressing member 260 is configured by three rod-shaped members 261, 262, and 263 arranged in a rectangular shape. That is, two rod-shaped members 262 and 263 extending in the front-rear direction are aligned vertically, and the front ends of the rod-shaped members 262 and 263 are connected by the rod-shaped member 261 extending vertically. The rod-shaped member 262 is disposed at the upper end of the recess 242a, and the rod-shaped member 263 is disposed at the lower end of the recess 242a. A motor for moving the pressing member 260 is disposed behind the plate 242, and the motor enables the pressing member 260 to move left and right in the recess 242a.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 12, in the first stage, the pressing member 260 is positioned at the right end of the missing portion 242a. Fig. 13 is a perspective view for explaining the second stage of the recovery process. In the second stage, the pressing member 260 moves leftward from the right end to the left end of the missing portion 242a. As the pressing member 260 moves leftward, the wrapping strip 300 hanging down in front of the seal affixing unit 250 is pushed leftward. Therefore, the wrapping strip 300 is removed from in front of the seal affixing unit 250.

[0097] 14 is a perspective view for explaining the third stage of the recovery process. In the third stage, the seal affixing part 250 moves to the front of the plate 242 through the cutout part 242a.

[0098] 15 is a front view showing the configuration of the sticker pasting unit 250. The sticker pasting unit 250 includes a first roller 251, a second roller 252, a plurality of auxiliary rollers 253a, 253b, 253c, 253d, and 253e, an pasting plate 254, and guide rollers 255 and 256. A sticker roll 270, in which a plurality of stickers 272 are pasted in a line on a strip-shaped backing sheet 273, is attached to the first roller 251. The first roller 251 supplies the backing sheet 273 with the stickers attached from the sticker roll 270. The second roller 252 winds up the backing sheet 273 from which the stickers have been removed as a backing sheet roll 271.

[0099] A strip-shaped backing sheet 273 is stretched between the first roller 251 and the second roller 252 via a plurality of auxiliary rollers 253a, 253b, 253c, 253d, and 253e. The attachment plate 254 is used to attach the seal 272 from the backing sheet 273 stretched between the first roller 251 and the second roller 252 to the packaging strip 300.

[0100] The second roller 252 can be rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown). When the second roller 252 rotates counterclockwise, the backing paper 273 is wound up as the backing paper roll 271. For example, when the second roller 252 rotates, the backing paper 273 is pulled, and this tension causes the first roller 251 to rotate clockwise. When this rotation occurs, the backing paper 273 with the sticker attached is pulled out from the seal roll 270.

[0101] The tip of the adhesive plate 254 is pressed against the back surface of the mount 273. The mount 273 is folded back at the tip of the adhesive plate 254. Since the mount 273 is pulled by a certain tension between the first roller 251 and the second roller 252, the adhesive plate 254 protrudes the mount 273 in an acute wedge shape.

[0102] The guide rollers 255 and 256 are rollers for guiding the wrapping strip 300 being wound up by the winding section 230. The guide rollers 255 and 256 are arranged on the leftmost side of the seal application section 250.

[0103] As described above, in the second stage, the pressure member 260 presses the wrapping strip 300 hanging down from the winding section 230 to the left, so that the guide rollers 255 and 256 are positioned to the right of the hanging wrapping strip 300.

[0104] The notch 242a is generally rectangular. A portion of the left end of the notch 242a extends leftward, and a guide roller 257 is disposed in this extension (see FIG. 14). The guide roller 257 is disposed to the left of the guide roller 255. The guide roller 257 is separate from the seal application unit 250 and can move left and right. The guide roller 257 is located on the left side of the movable range in the first and second stages of the recovery process. In the third stage, the guide roller 257 moves rightward. As a result, the packaging strip 300 hanging down from the winding unit 230 is pinched between the guide rollers 255 and 257.

[0105] When the rewinding unit 230 is in the initial position, the guide rollers 255, 256 are located in a standby position behind the plate 242. When the rewinding unit 230 is in the retracted position, more specifically, after the pressing member 260 presses the packaging strip 300 to the left, the guide rollers 255, 256 are located in a guide position ahead of the plate 242. At the guide position, the guide rollers 255, 256 guide the packaging strip 300 together with the guide roller 257.

[0106] The tip of the adhesive plate 254 is positioned below the contact point between the guide rollers 255 and 257. As a result, the backing paper 273 protruded by the adhesive plate 254 comes into contact with one surface (the surface on the right side in the drawing) of the packaging strip 300 sandwiched between the guide rollers 255 and 257.

[0107] In the third stage, the pressing member 260 moves rightward from the left end to the right end of the notched portion 242a while the wrapping strip 300 is sandwiched between the guide rollers 255 and 257. This completes the third stage.

[0108] Next, the finishing process will be described. The finishing process is a process in which a seal is attached to the end of the packaging strip 300 taken up by the take-up unit 230 and the resulting packaging strip is assembled into a single packaging strip roll 310. Figures 16A and 16B are diagrams for explaining the seal attachment operation by the attachment unit.

[0109] 15, an optical sensor 258 is disposed below the guide roller 256. The optical sensor 258 is composed of a light-emitting element 258a and a light-receiving element 258b. The light-emitting element 258a and the light-receiving element 258b are disposed at positions where the packaging strip 300 being wound by the winding unit 230 passes between them.

[0110] When no object (packaging strip 300) is present between light-emitting element 258a and light-receiving element 258b, the light emitted from light-emitting element 258a is received by light-receiving element 258b. When no object (packaging strip 300) is present between light-emitting element 258a and light-receiving element 258b, the light emitted from light-emitting element 258a is blocked by the object and does not reach light-receiving element 258b. Optical sensor 258 detects the presence or absence of packaging strip 300 based on whether light from light-emitting element 258a is received by light-receiving element 258b.

[0111] As described above, the winding unit 230 winds the wrapping strip 300 from the trailing end to the leading end. Therefore, it is the trailing end of the wrapping strip 300 that is wound around the winding unit 230, and it is the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 that remains in the holding area 217. When the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 passes the optical sensor 258, the state of the light receiving element 258b changes from a non-light receiving state to a light receiving state. Therefore, the winding device 200 (the control device 205 thereof) detects the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 by detecting the change of the light receiving element 258b from the non-light receiving state to the light receiving state.

[0112] When the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 is detected, the rotational speed of the winding unit 230 is reduced below the final rotational speed in the recovery process. That is, the rotational speed of the winding unit 230 is set to a value lower than the value when the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 is detected. For example, when the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 is detected and the wrapping strip 300 is not detected at any of the slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5 (that is, when the outer periphery of the roll of wrapping strip 300 has not reached the position of slit 241b1), the rotational speed of the winding unit 230 is reduced from Rv1 to Rv1a. When the leading edge of the wrapping strip 300 is detected, if the wrapping strip 300 is detected only at the position of slit 241b1 (i.e., if the outer periphery of the roll of wrapping strip 300 is within the range from the position of slit 241b1 to the position of slit 241b2), the rotational speed of the rewinding unit 230 decreases from Rv2 to Rv2a. If the wrapping strip 300 is detected at the positions of slits 241b1 and 241b2 (i.e., if the outer periphery of the roll of wrapping strip 300 is within the range from the position of slit 241b2 to the position of slit 241b3), the rotational speed of the rewinding unit 230 decreases from Rv3 to Rv3a. If the wrapping strip 300 is detected at the positions of slits 241b1, 241b2, and 241b3 (i.e., if the outer periphery of the roll of wrapping strip 300 is within the range from the position of slit 241b3 to the position of slit 241b4), the rotational speed of the rewinding unit 230 decreases from Rv4 to Rv4a. When the wrapping strip 300 is detected at the positions of slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, and 241b4 (i.e., when the outer circumference of the wrapping strip 300 roll is within the range from the position of slit 241b4 to the position of slit 241b5), the rotation speed of the rewinding unit 230 decreases from Rv5 to Rv5a. When the wrapping strip 300 is detected at all of the positions of slits 241b1, 241b2, 241b3, 241b4, and 241b5 (i.e., when the outer circumference of the wrapping strip 300 roll is beyond the position of slit 241b5), the rotation speed of the rewinding unit 230 decreases from Rv6 to Rv6a, where Rv1 > Rv2 > Rv3 > Rv4 > Rv5 > Rv6, Rv1a > Rv2a > Rv3a > Rv4a > Rv5a > Rv6a, and Rv1a <Rv6である。

[0113] 16A, a backing sheet 273 with a sticker attached is pulled out from the sticker roll 270. As shown in FIG. 16B, when the middle of one sticker 272 on the backing sheet 273 reaches the tip of the attachment plate 254, the pulling out of the backing sheet 273 is stopped. As a result, a part of the sticker 272 is peeled off from the backing sheet 273.

[0114] In this state, the winding unit 230 continues to rotate. As a result, the peeled portion of the sticker 272 adheres near the leading edge of the surface that will become the inside when the wrapping strip 300 is wound (hereinafter referred to as the "inner surface"). As the wrapping strip 300 is wound in this state, the sticker 272 peels off from the backing paper 273, and the entire sticker 272 adheres near the leading edge of the inner surface of the wrapping strip 300.

[0115] The seal 272 is a so-called double-sided tape, with adhesive surfaces on both sides. As the rewinding unit 230 continues to rotate, the portion of the packaging strip 300 to which the seal 272 is attached is rewound. A pressure roller 265 is disposed to the left of the rewinding unit 230, which is positioned in the retracted position. The pressure roller 265 is attached to the tip of a link 266. The base end of the link 266 is rotatably attached to the left of the upper end of the hole 241a of the plate 241 (see FIG. 11). The link 266 is biased counterclockwise by the weight of the link 266 and the pressure roller 265, or by the force of a spring attached to the link 266. Therefore, the pressure roller 265 is pressed against the packaging strip roll 310 in the rewinding unit 230.

[0116] While the wrapping strip 300 is being wound in the retracted position, the pressure roller 265 is pressed against the wrapping strip roll 310. When the portion of the wrapping strip 300 where the seal 272 is affixed reaches the position of the pressure roller 265, the pressure roller 265 presses the seal 272 against the outer circumferential surface of the wrapping strip roll 310, and the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 is affixed to the outer circumferential surface of the wrapping strip roll 310. When the affixing of the leading end of the wrapping strip 300 is complete, the rotation of the winding unit 230 stops. This completes the finishing process.

[0117] The adhesive strengths of the two sides of the double-sided tape sticker 272 are different. In one specific example, the adhesive strength of the surface attached to the outer periphery of the wrapping strip roll 310, i.e., the top surface (the surface opposite the backing sheet 273) when attached to the backing sheet 273, is lower than the adhesive strength of the bottom surface (the surface facing the backing sheet 273) when attached to the backing sheet 273. This ensures that when the leading end of the wrapping strip roll 310 is peeled off, the surface with the lower adhesive strength always comes off.

[0118] After the sealing of the leading end of the wrapping strip roll 310 with the seal 272 is completed, the separating process begins. In this separating process, the wrapping strip roll 310 is removed from the rewinding section 230 and discharged from the housing 201.

[0119] The detaching process includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is a stage in which the wrapping strip roll 310 is removed from the rewinding section 230. Figures 17A and 17B are diagrams illustrating the first stage of the detaching process.

[0120] An extension 241a1 at the center of the hole 241a corresponds to the protrusion 233 of the holding member 231. The extensions 241a2 and 241a3 of the hole 241a correspond to the pair of pins 232. That is, the width of the extension 241a1 is slightly larger than the width of the protrusion 233, so that the protrusion 233 can be inserted into the extension 241a1. The widths of the extensions 241a2 and 241a2 are slightly larger than the diameter of the pin 232, so that the pin 232 can be inserted into the extensions 241a2 and 241a3, respectively.

[0121] In the first stage, the winding unit 230 is stopped at the retracted position at an angle (phase) where the longitudinal direction of the protrusion 233 is vertical and the pair of pins 232 are aligned horizontally (FIG. 17A). As described above, the wrapping strip 300 is wound using the front surface of the protrusion 233 as the reference plane, and therefore a gap larger than the thickness of the plate 241 exists between the front surface of the holding member 231 and the rear end of the wrapping strip roll 310.

[0122] The moving unit 235 moves the winding unit 230 downward from the retracted position to the detached position while maintaining the angle. As described above, there is a gap between the holding member 231 and the wrapping strip roll 310, so that the protrusion 233 is inserted into the extension 241a1 and the pin 232 is inserted into the extensions 241a2 and 241a3 without interference from the wrapping strip roll 310 (FIG. 17B).

[0123] The moving unit 235 moves the winding unit 230 back to the space behind the plate 241 at the detached position. At this time, the packaging strip roll 310 contacts the front surface of the plate 241 (particularly, the upwardly protruding protrusion between the extensions 241a1 and 241a2 and the upwardly protruding protrusion between the extensions 241a2 and 241a3) and does not move back any further. Therefore, the packaging strip roll 310 is pulled out from the pin 232. The moving unit 235, which has moved to the rear space, returns to the winding position. This prevents the packaging strip 300 of the next prescription from interfering with the pin 232 of the winding unit 230, even if the packaging strip 300 of the next prescription is being transported along the transport path.

[0124] The wrapping strip roll 310 detached from the winding section 230 falls to the bottom of the housing 201 .

[0125] 3 and 4, a push-out portion 290 is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 201. The push-out portion 290 is movable along a rail 293 provided on the bottom surface of the housing 201 in the space in front of the plate 241. The push-out portion 290 is an example of an "ejection portion."

[0126] The pushing unit 290 includes a carriage 291 and a pushing plate 292. The pushing plate 292 is disposed on the carriage 291. A motor for moving the pushing unit 290 on the rail 293 is disposed on the rear side of the plates 242 and 243.

[0127] Rail 293 extends horizontally except for the left side portion, which is an inclined surface 293a that slopes upward toward the outside (left) of housing 201.

[0128] 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating the second stage of the separating process, in which the wrapping strip roll 310 is discharged from the housing 201.

[0129] At the end of the first stage of the detachment process, the push-out unit 290 is positioned at an initial position on the right side of the rail 293. The initial position is, for example, a position directly below the wind-up unit 230. At this time, the push-out plate 292 is positioned to the right of the wind-up unit 230.

[0130] The wrapping strip roll 310, which is pulled out from the rewinding section 230 in the first stage, falls, for example, onto the upper surface of the dolly 291. The wrapping strip roll 310 is placed on the dolly 291 or drops off from the dolly 291 onto the rails 293 (FIG. 18A shows the wrapping strip roll 310 placed on the dolly 291). When the wrapping strip roll 310 drops off from the dolly 291 onto the rails 293, the push plate 292, which is on the right side, prevents the wrapping strip roll 310 from dropping off to the right of the dolly 291. Therefore, the wrapping strip roll 310 drops off to the left of the dolly 291.

[0131] In the second stage, the pushing unit 290 moves leftward from the initial position. If the wrapping strip roll 310 has fallen off to the left of the carriage 291, the pushing unit 290 moves leftward, causing the wrapping strip roll 310 to climb onto the carriage 291. As a result, the wrapping strip roll 310 is placed on the carriage 291.

[0132] The pushing unit 290 moves leftward along the horizontal portion of the rail 293 and reaches the start point of the inclined surface 293a. The pushing unit 290 can also move up and down along a vertically extending rail (not shown). When the pushing unit 290 advances from the end (left end) of the horizontal portion to the inclined surface 293a, it travels diagonally upward along the inclined surface 293a. This causes the wrapping strip roll 310 to rise along the inclined surface 293a.

[0133] The carriage 291 is provided with a discharge plate 291a. The discharge plate 291a is normally positioned horizontally on the upper surface of the carriage 291. The wrapping strip roll 310 is placed on the upper surface of the discharge plate 291a. The discharge plate 291 is attached to the carriage 291 at its left end by a hinge (not shown) and can rotate counterclockwise around a rotation axis extending in the front-to-rear direction. When the pusher 290 reaches the end of the inclined surface 293a, the pusher 290 stops, and the horizontal discharge plate 291a is lifted counterclockwise by a spring (not shown). A discharge opening 203 is provided on the left side of the housing 201 (see FIG. 4). The lower end of the discharge opening 203 is connected to the end of the inclined surface 293a, and the wrapping strip roll 310 lifted by the discharge plate 291a is discharged from the discharge opening 203 (see FIG. 18B). This completes the second stage of the detachment process.

[0134] [3. Notes] A drug packaging strip winding device that winds up a packaging strip in which a drug is packaged, a conveying mechanism that conveys the packaging strip introduced into the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device along a conveying plane that intersects with an introduction direction in which the packaging strip is introduced into the pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device; a winding section that winds up the packaging strip conveyed by the conveying mechanism around an axis extending in a direction intersecting the conveying plane; Equipped with Pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device.

[0135] [4. Supplementary Notes] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above-described embodiments, and includes meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 10. Pharmaceutical packaging systems 50,60 cassette 100 portion packaging device 110 Storage 120 Packaging equipment 200 Winding device 201 Housing 202 Loading entrance 203 Outlet 205 Control device 206 Storage device 211 First conveying roller 212 Guidance member 212a Transport path 212b pressure roller 213 Conveyor 214 Second conveying roller 215 Inclined plate 216 Signboard 216a Slope 217 Holding area 218 Ultrasonic Sensor 219 Holding member 221,222 cameras 223 Barcode Reader 230 Winding section 231 Retaining member 232 pins 233 Protrusion 235 Mobile Division 241,242,243 Plates 241a,241b hole 241a1,241a2,241a3 Extension 241b1,241b2,241b3,241b4,241b5 Slit 242a Missing part 250 sticker attachment section 251 First Roller 252 Second Roller 253a, 253b, 253c, 253d, 253e Auxiliary rollers 254 Sticky Board 255,256 Guide roller 257 Guide Roller 258 Optical Sensor 258a Light-emitting element 258b photodetector 260 Retaining member 261, 262, 263 Rod-shaped members 265 pressure roller 266 Links 270 sticker roll 271 Mounting Paper Roll 272 stickers 273 Mount 290 Extrusion section 291 Cart 291a Ejection plate 292 Extrusion Plate 293 Rail 293a Slope 300 wrapping strip 301 Packaging 310 Wrapping strip roll 400 Transport Route

Claims

1. A drug packaging strip winding device that winds up a packaging strip in which a drug is packaged, a conveying mechanism for conveying the wrapping strip; a winding unit disposed midway along a transport path of the wrapping strip by the transport mechanism, the winding unit winding up the wrapping strip; a moving unit that moves the winding unit from a midpoint on the conveying path to a retracted position that is off the conveying path; Equipped with Pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device.

2. the moving unit moves the winding unit in a moving direction different from a direction along the conveying path. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

3. the winding unit starts winding the wrapping strip midway along the conveying path, the moving unit moves the winding unit to the retracted position while the winding unit is winding the wrapping strip. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

4. the winding section includes a pair of pins parallel to each other and a rotatable holding member that holds the pair of pins, The moving unit moves the holding member to a retracted position while the holding member is rotating. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 3.

5. the moving unit is capable of moving the winding unit in a depth direction intersecting both the conveying path and the moving direction, While the wrapping strip is being transported by the transport mechanism, the winding unit is retracted in the depth direction so as not to interfere with the transport path. When the conveyance of the wrapping strip by the conveying mechanism is completed, the moving unit moves the winding unit in the opposite direction to the depth direction. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 2.

6. a holding area for temporarily holding the wrapping strip conveyed by the conveying mechanism, the holding area being located downstream of the winding section on the conveying path; The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

7. In the holding area, the wrapping strip conveyed by the conveying mechanism is held in a hanging state. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 6.

8. the winding unit winds up the wrapping strip, which is transported by the transport mechanism and temporarily held in the holding area, from a portion of the wrapping strip that is upstream of the holding area in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the transport mechanism. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 6.

9. Before the winding unit completes winding of the wrapping strip, the conveying mechanism conveys a wrapping strip following the wrapping strip along the conveying path. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 8.

10. The packaging strip is formed by connecting a plurality of packaging bodies each packaging a medicine, The pharmaceutical packaging strip winding device includes a camera that captures an image of each of the packages while the packaging strip is being transported by the transport mechanism; a storage unit that stores a plurality of images of the plurality of packages included in one packaging strip, the images being captured by the camera, in association with the one packaging strip; Equipped with The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

11. the winding unit winds up the single packaging strip after the camera has completed capturing images of all of the plurality of packages included in the single packaging strip. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 10.

12. The medicine packaging strip winding device is a housing that accommodates the transport mechanism, the winding unit, and the moving unit; a discharge section that discharges the wrapping strip roll removed from the winding section through a discharge opening provided above a bottom surface of the housing; Equipped with The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

13. It is arranged below a storage cabinet that stores the medicine before packaging with the packaging band. The drug packaging strip winding device according to claim 1.

14. a guide roller that guides the wrapping strip wound by the winding unit at the retracted position, When the winding unit is located midway along the conveying path, the guide roller waits at a standby position in a depth direction intersecting the conveying path, rather than a guide position where the guide roller guides the wrapping strip, and when the winding unit is located at the retracted position, the guide roller guides the wrapping strip at the guide position. The drug packaging strip winding device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A medicine packaging system for packaging medicines in a packaging band, comprising: a storage room for storing medicines; a packaging unit that dispenses the medicine from the storage and packages the medicine in a sheet that forms the packaging strip; a medicine packaging strip winding device that winds up the packaging strip in which the medicine is packaged; Equipped with The medicine packaging strip winding device is a conveying mechanism for conveying the wrapping strip; a winding unit disposed midway along a transport path of the wrapping strip by the transport mechanism, the winding unit winding up the wrapping strip; a moving unit that moves the winding unit from a midpoint on the conveying path to a retracted position that is off the conveying path; Including, Pharmaceutical packaging system.

Images