Blister packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a blister packaging machine capable of reliably preventing the occurrence of "wrinkles" in a cover film when the cover film is attached to a container film in the case where the cover film is made of a thermoplastic resin.SOLUTION: The sealing device 50 includes a tacking roll 52 configured to nip the container film 3 and the cover film 4 in cooperation with a film receiving roll 51, and a main sealing roll 53 provided downstream of the tacking roll 52 and configured to attach the cover film 4 to the container film 3. The temporary tacking roll 52 has temporary tacking projections on an outer periphery thereof and sandwiches the container film 3 and the cover film 4 between the temporary tacking projections and the film receiving roll 51, so as to partially temporarily tack the cover film 4 to the container film 3 before the cover film 4 is mounted to the container film 3 by the main sealing roll 53.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blister packaging machine for producing blister sheets containing contents such as tablets. [Background technology]

[0002] Blister sheets such as PTP (press-through pack) sheets are generally known in the field of pharmaceuticals, etc. A blister sheet comprises a container film having a pocket portion in which contents (e.g., tablets) are placed, and a cover film attached to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion.

[0003] The blister sheets described above can be manufactured by a blister packaging machine, which includes a means for forming pockets in a conveyed strip-shaped container film, a means for filling the pockets with contents, a means for attaching a strip-shaped cover film to the container film so as to seal the opening of the pocket (hereinafter referred to as "sealing means"), and a means for cutting the strip-shaped blister film consisting of the container film and cover film into sheets to obtain blister sheets.

[0004] Here, a commonly known sealing means includes a film receiving roll having a plurality of accommodation recesses on its outer circumferential surface capable of accommodating the pockets, and a sealing roll whose outer circumferential surface is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the film receiving roll, and the sealing roll is capable of heating the cover film, etc. In such a sealing means, the container film and the cover film are fed in an overlapping state between the two rolls, and the two films are heated while being sandwiched, resulting in the two films being attached.

[0005] While cover films are often made of metal materials such as aluminum foil, they are sometimes made of thermoplastic resins in consideration of the recyclability of used blister sheets and the scrap remaining after the blister sheets are cut off. Compared to cover films made of metal materials, cover films made of thermoplastic resins have lower thermal conductivity and soften easily when heated. Therefore, when a cover film is made of thermoplastic resin, attempting to quickly heat the cover film to a temperature (e.g., about 180°C) at which it can be attached to the container film using only a sealing roll may result in the cover film being more likely to break.

[0006] In order to prevent such breakage of the cover film, a method is known in which the cover film is preheated before the two films are fed between the rolls (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0007] However, preheating may cause both cover films to shrink and wrinkle.

[0008] In order to prevent the occurrence of such "wrinkles," a technology has been proposed in which a branching means is provided on a panel for preheating (see, for example, Patent Document 2). More specifically, the panel has a sliding surface on which the cover film slides, and this sliding surface is formed with a plurality of protrusions that gradually converge at the center of the sliding surface in the width direction. By using such a panel, it is possible to tension the cover film in its width direction, and as a result, it is believed that the occurrence of "wrinkles" in the cover film can be prevented. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2001-502642 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2014-528389 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] However, even when such a panel is used, there is a risk that the occurrence of "wrinkles" in the cover film cannot be sufficiently prevented.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a blister packaging machine that can more reliably prevent the occurrence of wrinkles in the cover film when the cover film is made of a thermoplastic resin and is attached to the container film. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The following describes each of the means suitable for achieving the above object, with specific effects of the corresponding means added as necessary.

[0013] Means 1. A filling means for filling contents into a pocket formed in a strip-shaped container film; a sealing means for attaching a strip-shaped cover film made of a thermoplastic resin to the container film with the contents filled in the pocket portion; a separating means for separating a strip-shaped blister film formed by attaching the cover film to the container film into sheets to obtain blister sheets, The sealing means is a film receiving roll having a plurality of storage recesses on its outer circumferential surface that can store the pocket portions, and that can convey the container film by rotating with the pocket portions stored in the storage recesses; a temporary fixing roll configured to sandwich the container film and the cover film in a stacked state between the film receiving roll and an outer peripheral surface of the film receiving roll and to heat at least the cover film; a main seal roll that is provided downstream of the temporary fixing roll along the transport direction of the container film, and that attaches the cover film to the container film by sandwiching the overlapped container film and the cover film between the film receiving roll and the outer peripheral surface of the film receiving roll while heating at least the cover film to a temperature at which the cover film can be attached to the container film; The temporary fixing roll has temporary fixing protrusions on its outer periphery, and is configured to heat at least the cover film at a temperature lower than the heating temperature of the cover film by the main seal roll, while sandwiching the container film and the cover film between the temporary fixing protrusions and the outer surface of the film receiving roll, thereby temporarily fixing the cover film to the container film over at least the entire area that will form the blister sheet, of the area where the cover film is intended to be attached to the container film by the main seal roll.

[0014] According to the above-mentioned method 1, the cover film is temporarily fixed to the container film by the temporary fixing roll before the cover film is attached to the container film by the main seal roll. Therefore, when the cover film is attached to the container film by the main seal roll, shrinkage of the cover film due to heating can be more reliably prevented. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the cover film from wrinkling when attached to the container film.

[0015] In addition, the temporary fixing roll heats the cover film at a lower temperature than the heating temperature of the cover film by the main seal roll, and is configured so that the temporary fixing protrusions come into contact with the cover film, which more reliably prevents the cover film from shrinking when the cover film is temporarily fixed to the container film. Furthermore, since the temporary fixing protrusions come into contact with the cover film, sufficient pressure can be applied to the cover film, which in turn makes it possible to sufficiently increase the strength of the temporary fixing of the cover film to the container film.

[0016] Means 2. A blister packaging machine according to Means 1, characterized in that the contact area of ​​the main seal roll with the cover film is configured to be larger than the contact area of ​​the temporary fixing roll with the cover film.

[0017] According to the above-mentioned means 2, the cover film can be more firmly attached to the container film by the seal roll.

[0018] Means 3. A blister packaging machine as described in Means 1, in which the main sealing roll is configured to be able to attach the cover film to the container film by sandwiching the container film and the cover film between the smooth outer surface and the outer surface of the film receiving roll.

[0019] According to the above-mentioned method 3, the outer peripheral surface of the seal roll is smooth and does not have any protrusions. Therefore, the cover film can be attached to the container film over the entire surface. This makes it possible to further strengthen the attachment strength of the cover film to the container film.

[0020] Means 4: The temporary fixing projections are provided in plurality on the outer periphery of the cover film, The blister packaging machine according to Means 1, wherein the plurality of temporary fixing protrusions each extend in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll.

[0021] According to the above-mentioned method 4, the plurality of temporary fixing protrusions each extend in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll, i.e., in the conveying direction of the cover film. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the thermoplastic resin (constituent material of the cover film) softened by heating from getting caught on and adhering to the temporary fixing protrusions. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent clogging of the outer periphery of the temporary fixing roll by the thermoplastic resin.

[0022] Means 5. A first preheating means is located upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the conveying direction of the cover film, and preheats the cover film while contacting the surface of the cover film opposite to the surface to be attached to the container film; a second preheating means positioned upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the conveyance direction of the cover film, for preheating the surface of the cover film to be attached to the container film in a non-contact manner; a third preheating means located upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the transport direction of the container film, for preheating a surface of the container film to which the cover film is attached; The blister packaging machine according to Means 1, characterized in that the film receiving roll is configured to be able to heat the container film.

[0023] According to the above-mentioned means 5, the cover film can be preheated at a position upstream of the temporary fixing roll by the first preheating means and the second preheating means. Therefore, the cover film can be more reliably temporarily fixed to the container film by the temporary fixing roll.

[0024] Furthermore, since the container film and cover film are preheated by the preheating means and film receiving roll, the cover film can be more reliably attached to the container film by the seal roll.

[0025] Means 6. A defective product ejection means for ejecting the defective blister sheet is provided, The blister packaging machine described in means 1 is configured such that when the sealing means, which is in a stopped state, is started, the defective product ejection means ejects the blister sheet corresponding to the container film and the cover film that are positioned between the temporary fixing roll and the main sealing roll as a defective product.

[0026] According to the above-mentioned means 6, blister sheets for which the heating temperature of both films may have been insufficient when they were attached are rejected as defective products, which more reliably prevents blister sheets with insufficient attachment strength from being mixed in with good blister sheets.

[0027] The technical features relating to the above-mentioned means may be combined as appropriate. For example, the technical feature relating to the above-mentioned means 3 may be combined with at least one of the technical features relating to the above-mentioned means 4 to 6. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PTP sheet. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a PTP sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PTP film. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a heating roll. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a PTP packaging machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sealing device during operation of the PTP packaging machine. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view showing a temporary fastening portion formed after passing through a temporary fastening roll. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sealing device when the PTP packaging machine is stopped. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a temporary fixing protrusion according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a temporary fixing protrusion according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of a PTP sheet as a "blister sheet" will be described in detail.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 has a container film 3 with a plurality of pocket portions 2, and a cover film 4 attached to the container film 3 so as to cover the pocket portions 2.

[0031] The container film 3 is made of transparent or translucent polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has optical transparency. The container film 3 may also be made of a metal laminate film using aluminum or the like.

[0032] The cover film 4 is made of a predetermined thermoplastic resin. For example, if the container film 3 is made of PP, the thermoplastic resin making up the cover film 4 is preferably PP, and if the container film 3 is made of PVC, a polyamide-based resin is preferred. Of course, other thermoplastic resins may also be used.

[0033] The PTP sheet 1 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view with four arc-shaped corners. The PTP sheet 1 has two rows of pockets formed in the short side direction, each row consisting of three pockets 2 arranged along the long side direction. In other words, a total of six pockets 2 are formed. Each pocket 2 contains one tablet 5 as the "contents."

[0034] The PTP sheet 1 is produced by punching out a strip-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 3) formed from a strip-shaped container film 3 and a strip-shaped cover film 4 into a sheet. In this embodiment, the PTP film 6 corresponds to a "blister film."

[0035] Next, we will explain the general configuration of a PTP packaging machine 10 for manufacturing the PTP sheet 1. In this embodiment, the PTP packaging machine 10 corresponds to a "blister packaging machine."

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5, a raw web of strip-shaped container film 3 is wound into a roll on the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 10. The pull-out end of the rolled container film 3 is guided by a guide roll 13. The container film 3 is wrapped around an intermittent feed roll 14 on the downstream side of the guide roll 13. The intermittent feed roll 14 is connected to an intermittently rotating motor and feeds the container film 3 intermittently.

[0037] Between the guide roll 13 and the intermittent feed roll 14, a heating device 15 and a pocket forming device 16 are arranged in this order along the transport path of the container film 3. Then, after the container film 3 has been heated by the heating device 15 and has become relatively flexible, the pocket forming device 16 forms multiple pockets 2 at predetermined positions in the container film 3. The pockets 2 are formed during the intervals between the transport operations of the container film 3 by the intermittent feed roll 14.

[0038] The container film 3 fed from the intermittent feed roll 14 is wrapped around a tension roll 18, a guide roll 19, and a film receiving roll 51, in that order. The film receiving roll 51 constitutes part of a sealing device 50, which will be described later. The film receiving roll 51 is connected to a motor that rotates at a constant speed, and thus transports the container film 3 continuously at a constant speed. The tension roll 18 pulls the container film 3 toward the tension side by its elastic force, preventing slack in the container film 3 due to differences in the transport operations of the intermittent feed roll 14 and the film receiving roll 51, and keeping the container film 3 in a constantly tensed state.

[0039] A filling device 21 is disposed between the guide roll 19 and the film receiving roll 51 along the conveying path of the container film 3. In this embodiment, the filling device 21 constitutes the "filling means." The filling device 21 is equipped with a cylindrical chute that stores the tablets 5 in a line, and a shutter (both not shown) that can open and close the outlet of the chute, and fills the tablets 5 into the pocket portion 2 by opening the shutter at a predetermined timing. The filling device 21 may also be equipped with an adsorption drum (not shown) that can adsorb the tablets 5, and fill the tablets 5 into the pocket portion 2 by releasing the adsorption.

[0040] Meanwhile, the original web of the cover film 4 formed in a strip shape is wound into a roll on the most upstream side. The leading end of the rolled cover film 4 is guided toward the sealing device 50 by guide rolls 22, 23. In this embodiment, the sealing device 50 constitutes the "sealing means." The sealing device 50 is a device for attaching the cover film 4 to the container film 3 in which tablets 5 are accommodated in the pocket portions 2, thereby obtaining a strip-shaped PTP film 6 in which tablets 5 are accommodated in each pocket portion 2. The sealing device 50 will be described in detail later.

[0041] The PTP film 6 obtained by the sealing device 50 is fed from the film receiving roll 51 and is wrapped around the tension roll 27 and the intermittent feed roll 28 in that order. The intermittent feed roll 28 is connected to an intermittently rotating motor, and therefore intermittently transports the PTP film 6. The tension roll 27 pulls the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by its elastic force, preventing slack in the PTP film 6 due to differences in the transport operations of the film receiving roll 51 and the intermittent feed roll 28, and maintaining the PTP film 6 in a constantly tensed state.

[0042] The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 28 is wrapped around a tension roll 31 and an intermittent feed roll 32 in that order. The intermittent feed roll 32 is connected to an intermittently rotating motor, and therefore intermittently transports the PTP film 6. The tension roll 31 is in a state where it pulls the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by its elastic force, preventing slack in the PTP film 6 between the intermittent feed rolls 28 and 32.

[0043] Between the intermittent feed roll 28 and the tension roll 31, a slit forming device 33 and an imprinting device 34 are disposed in this order along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The slit forming device 33 has the function of forming a separation slit at a predetermined position in the PTP film 6. The imprinting device 34 has the function of imprinting an imprint at a predetermined position on the PTP film 6. Note that the separation slit and imprinting are not shown in Figure 1 etc.

[0044] The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 32 is wrapped around a tension roll 35 and a continuous feed roll 36 in that order downstream. A sheet punching device 37 is disposed between the intermittent feed roll 32 and the tension roll 35 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 37 has the function of punching out the outer edge of the PTP film 6 into individual PTP sheets, that is, the function of separating the PTP sheets 1 from the PTP film 6. In this embodiment, the sheet punching device 37 constitutes the "separating means."

[0045] The PTP sheets 1 obtained by the sheet punching device 37 are transported by a conveyor 39 and temporarily stored in a finished product hopper 40. However, defective PTP sheets 1 are not sent to the finished product hopper 40, but are separately discharged by a defective sheet discharge mechanism 41. In this embodiment, the defective sheet discharge mechanism 41 constitutes the "defective product discharge means."

[0046] The defective sheet discharge mechanism 41 is capable of determining whether the PTP sheet 1 being transported by the conveyor 39 corresponds to the films 3 and 4 that were located between the temporary fixing roll 52 and the main sealing roll 53 (described later) when the sealing device 50 (PTP packaging machine 10) was started in a stopped state. In other words, the defective sheet discharge mechanism 41 is capable of determining whether at least a portion of the obtained PTP sheet 1 is composed of the films 3 and 4 that were located between the rolls 52 and 53 when the sealing device 50 (PTP packaging machine 10) was started in a stopped state (the films 3 and 4 located in the portion indicated by the thick line L in FIG. 6). If the PTP sheet 1 being transported by the conveyor 39 corresponds to the films 3 and 4 that were located between the rolls 52 and 53 when the sealing device 50 (PTP packaging machine 10) was started in a stopped state, the defective sheet discharge mechanism 41 discharges the PTP sheet 1 as a defective product.

[0047] A cutting device 42 is disposed downstream of the continuous feed roll 36. An unnecessary film portion 43, which constitutes a strip-shaped residual material portion (scrap portion) remaining after punching by the sheet punching device 37, is guided by the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36, and then led to the cutting device 42. The cutting device 42 cuts the unnecessary film portion 43 to a predetermined size. The cut unnecessary film portion 43 (scrap) is stored in a scrap hopper 44 and then disposed of separately.

[0048] Next, the sealing device 50 will be described. As shown in Fig. 6, the sealing device 50 includes a film receiving roll 51, a temporary fixing roll 52, a main sealing roll 53, a first preheating device 54, a second preheating device 55, and a third preheating device 56. In this embodiment, the first preheating device 54 constitutes the "first preheating means," and similarly, the second preheating device 55 constitutes the "second preheating means," and the third preheating device 56 constitutes the "third preheating means."

[0049] The film receiving roll 51 is configured to be rotatable around its own central axis as the rotation axis, and on its outer periphery are formed a plurality of recessed depressions 51a that can accommodate the pocket portions 2. With the pocket portions 2 accommodated in the depressions 51a and the pocket portions 2 caught on the film receiving roll 51, the film receiving roll 51 rotates, thereby transporting the container film 3 downstream at a constant speed.

[0050] Furthermore, a flow path (not shown) is formed inside the film receiving roll 51, and a predetermined heat medium is configured to circulate through this flow path. This allows the film receiving roll 51 to heat the container film 3. However, the heating temperature of the container film 3 by the film receiving roll 51 is set to be the same as or lower than the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52.

[0051] The temporary fixing roll 52 is configured to be freely rotatable, and is disposed so that its rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis of the film receiving roll 51. The temporary fixing roll 52 is configured to be movable toward and away from the film receiving roll 51, and is configured to be movable between an approach position where its outer circumferential surface is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the film receiving roll 51 with a predetermined pressure, and a retracted position where it is separated from the film receiving roll 51.

[0052] When the temporary fixing roll 52 is disposed at the close position, it sandwiches the entire width of the overlapping container film 3 and cover film 4 between it and the film receiving roll 51. The temporary fixing roll 52 disposed at the close position rotates following the movement of the cover film 4 passing between the two rolls 51, 52.

[0053] Furthermore, the temporary fixing roll 52 is configured so that its outer periphery can be heated, for example, by an electric heater, and has a plurality of temporary fixing protrusions 52a (see FIG. 4) formed on its outer periphery. In this embodiment, the plurality of temporary fixing protrusions 52a each extend in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll 52.

[0054] By providing the temporary fastening projections 52a, when the container film 3 and the cover film 4 pass between the rolls 51, 52, the temporary fastening projections 52a come into contact with the cover film 4 with a relatively large pressure. As a result, many linear temporary fastening portions 4x formed by the softened cover film 4 adhering to the container film 3 are formed on the container film 3 and the cover film 4 after they have passed between the rolls 51, 52 (see FIG. 7). In this embodiment, the temporary fastening portions 4x are formed in a partially and evenly distributed manner over at least the entire area that will constitute the PTP sheet 1 after punching (separation) by the sheet punching device 37, of the area where the cover film 4 is to be attached to the container film 3 by the main seal roll 53 (i.e., the area of ​​the films 3, 4 that is sandwiched between the main seal roll 53 and the film receiving roll 51). The heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52 is set to a lower temperature (for example, about 140° C.) than the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the main sealing roll 53 (for example, about 180° C.).

[0055] Here, the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52 and the configuration of the temporary fixing protrusions 52a are set so as to enable the formation of temporary fixing portions 4x that cause almost no shrinkage of the cover film 4 when the cover film 4 is attached by the main seal roll 53. For example, the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52 is set to be equal to or higher than the glass transition point of the constituent material of the cover film 4 so as to soften the cover film 4 to a certain extent. However, it is preferable that the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52 be lower by a predetermined value or more (for example, 20 to 30°C or more) than the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the main seal roll 53 so as to prevent shrinkage of the cover film 4 when the temporary fixing portions 4x are formed. Furthermore, for example, with regard to the temporary fixing protrusions 52a, the temporary fixing portions 4x are formed almost evenly over the entire area where the cover film 4 is intended to be attached to the container film 3 by the sealing roll 53, and the area occupied by the temporary fixing portions 4x relative to the entire area where the attachment is intended is sufficiently large, while the placement position and contact area with the cover film 4 are set so that the contact pressure on the cover film 4 is not excessively small.

[0056] The main sealing roll 53 is provided downstream of the temporary fixing roll 52 along the conveying direction of the container film 3, and like the temporary fixing roll 52, is freely rotatable and is arranged so that its rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis of the film receiving roll 51. Also, like the temporary fixing roll 52, the main sealing roll 53 is configured to be movable toward and away from the film receiving roll 51, and is configured to be movable between an approach position where its outer circumferential surface is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the film receiving roll 51 with a predetermined pressure, and a retracted position where it is separated from the film receiving roll 51.

[0057] When the main seal roll 53 is disposed in the close position, it sandwiches the entire width of the overlapping container film 3 and cover film 4 between it and the film receiving roll 51. The main seal roll 53 disposed in the close position rotates following the movement of the cover film 4 and the like passing between the two rolls 51, 53.

[0058] Furthermore, the main seal roll 53 is configured so that its outer peripheral surface can generate heat, for example, by an electric heater, and the contact area of ​​the main seal roll 53 with the cover film 4 is set to be larger than the contact area of ​​the temporary fixing roll 52 with the cover film 4. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the main seal roll 53 is a smooth surface without any irregularities, and the main seal roll 53 is configured to come into contact with the entire area of ​​the cover film 4.

[0059] Then, as the container film 3 and the cover film 4 pass between the rolls 51, 53, the cover film 4 is heated and pressed against the entire flat area (flange area) of the container film 3 excluding the pocket portion 2, which is at least the area that will form the PTP sheet 1 after punching (separation) by the sheet punching device 37. As a result, the cover film 4 is firmly attached to the container film 3 so as to seal the inside of the pocket portion 2, and the PTP film 6 is obtained.

[0060] The first preheating device 54 has, for example, an electric heater or the like, and is used to preheat the cover film 4 before the temporary fastening portion 4x is formed by the temporary fastening roll 52. The first preheating device 54 is located upstream of the temporary fastening roll 52 along the conveyance direction of the cover film 4, and is configured to be movable between a close position where it comes into contact with the cover film 4 and a retracted position where it is separated from the cover film 4. When the first preheating device 54 is positioned at the close position, it preheats the cover film 4 while coming into contact with the surface of the cover film 4 opposite the surface that is to be attached to the container film 3. The first preheating device 54 may be provided with a protrusion (e.g., equivalent to the branching means in Patent Document 2) on the surface that comes into contact with the cover film 4 to prevent wrinkling of the cover film 4.

[0061] The second preheating device 55 has, for example, an electric heater, and, like the first preheating device 54, preheats the cover film 4 before the temporary fixing portion 4x is formed by the temporary fixing roll 52. The second preheating device 55 is located upstream of the temporary fixing roll 52 in the conveyance direction of the cover film 4, and is positioned so that the cover film 4 is sandwiched between the second preheating device 55 and the first preheating device 54. The second preheating device 55 is configured to be movable between a close position where it approaches the cover film 4 and a retracted position where it is separated from the cover film 4. When positioned at the close position, it preheats the surface of the cover film 4 that will be attached to the container film 3 in a non-contact manner. The heating temperatures of the cover film 4 by the preheating devices 54 and 55 are each set to be the same as or lower than the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the temporary fixing roll 52.

[0062] The third preheating device 56 has, for example, an electric heater or the like, and is used to preheat the container film 3 before the temporary fastening portion 4x is formed by the temporary fastening roll 52. The third preheating device 56 is located upstream of the temporary fastening roll 52 along the transport direction of the container film 3, and is configured to be movable between an approaching position where it approaches the container film 3 and a retracted position where it is separated from the container film 3. When positioned at the approaching position, the third preheating device 56 preheats the surface of the container film 3 that will be attached to the cover film 4 without contacting it. Note that the third preheating device 56 may heat the container film 3 while coming into contact with it. The heating temperature of the container film 3 by the third preheating device 56 is set to be the same as or lower than the heating temperature of the container film 3 by the film receiving roll 51.

[0063] The sealing device 50 configured as described above operates as follows when stopped (i.e., when the PTP packaging machine 10 is stopped). First, the operation of the film receiving roll 51 and the like is stopped, thereby stopping the transport of the container film 3. Next, the temporary fixing roll 52, the main sealing roll 53, and the preheating devices 54, 55, and 56 are moved to their respective retracted positions (see FIG. 8), and the heat generation of the rolls 51, 52, and 35 and the preheating devices 54, 55, and 56 is stopped. This stops the heating of the container film 3 and the cover film 4 by the sealing device 50.

[0064] On the other hand, when the sealing device 50 is started from a stopped state (i.e., when the PTP packaging machine 10 is started to operate), it operates as follows. First, the rolls 51, 52, 53 and the preheating devices 54, 55, 56 are heated to a predetermined temperature while remaining in their respective retracted positions. Then, the rolls 52, 53 and the preheating devices 54, 55, 56 are moved to their respective close positions, and the film receiving roll 51 begins to rotate, starting the conveyance of the container film 3. As a result, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are conveyed while being heated by the rolls 51, 52, 53 and the preheating devices 54, 55, 56, and the production of the PTP sheet 1 is started (restarted).

[0065] Furthermore, among the multiple PTP sheets 1 manufactured, those corresponding to the container film 3 and cover film 4 that were positioned between the temporary fixing roll 52 and the main sealing roll 53 when the stopped sealing device 50 (PTP packaging machine 10) was started (the films 3 and 4 located in the area indicated by the thick line L in Figure 6) are discharged as defective products by the defective sheet discharge mechanism 41, as described above.

[0066] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the cover film 4 is temporarily fixed to the container film 3 by the temporary fixing roll 52 before the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 by the main seal roll 53. Therefore, when the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 by the main seal roll 53, shrinkage of the cover film 4 due to heating can be more reliably prevented. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent wrinkles from occurring in the cover film 4 when the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3.

[0067] In addition, the temporary fixing roll 52 heats the cover film 4 at a lower heating temperature than the heating temperature of the cover film 4 by the main seal roll 53, and also brings the temporary fixing protrusions 52a into contact with the cover film 4. This more reliably prevents the cover film 4 from shrinking when the cover film 4 is temporarily fixed to the container film 3. Furthermore, since the temporary fixing protrusions 52a are configured to contact the cover film 4, sufficient pressure can be applied to the cover film 4, which in turn makes it possible to sufficiently increase the strength of the temporary fixing of the cover film 4 to the container film 3.

[0068] In addition, the contact area of ​​the main seal roll 53 with the cover film 4 is larger than the contact area of ​​the temporary fixing roll 52 with the cover film 4, and particularly in this embodiment, the main seal roll 53 has a smooth outer peripheral surface that sandwiches both films 3 and 4 between itself and the outer peripheral surface of the film receiving roll 51. Therefore, the cover film 4 can be attached to the entire surface of the container film 3, and the attachment strength of the cover film 4 to the container film 3 can be made stronger.

[0069] Additionally, each temporary fixing protrusion 52a extends in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll 52, i.e., in the conveying direction of the cover film 4. This makes it more unlikely that the thermoplastic resin (the constituent material of the cover film 4) softened by heating will get caught on and adhere to the temporary fixing protrusions 52a. This more effectively prevents clogging of the outer periphery of the temporary fixing roll 52 by the thermoplastic resin.

[0070] Furthermore, the cover film 4 can be preheated by the first preheating device 54 and the second preheating device 55 at a position upstream of the temporary fixing roll 52. Therefore, the cover film 4 can be more reliably temporarily fixed to the container film 3 by the temporary fixing roll 52.

[0071] Furthermore, since the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are preheated by the preheating devices 54, 55, 56 and the film receiving roll 51, the main seal roll 52 can more reliably attach the cover film 4 to the container film 3.

[0072] In addition, the defective sheet discharge mechanism 41 discharges as a defective product the PTP sheet 1 corresponding to both films 3, 4 that was positioned between the temporary fixing roll 52 and the main sealing roll 53 when the sealing device 50, which was in a stopped state, was started. In other words, a PTP sheet 1 for which the heating temperature of both films 3, 4 may have been insufficient when they were attached is discharged as a defective product. This more reliably prevents PTP sheets 1 with insufficient attachment strength from being mixed in with good PTP sheets 1.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented as follows: Of course, other applications and modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

[0074] (a) In the above embodiment, the temporary fixing projections 52 a are configured to extend in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll 52 .

[0075] Alternatively, the temporary fixing projections 52a may be configured to be arranged in a diagonal grid pattern as a whole, as shown in Fig. 9. Alternatively, the temporary fixing roll 52 may be configured to have a large number of temporary fixing projections 52a distributed approximately evenly around its outer periphery, as shown in Fig. 10.

[0076] (b) In the above embodiment, the rolls 52 and 53 and the preheating devices 54, 55, and 56 are configured to move to the retracted positions and stop generating heat when the sealing device 50 is stopped. However, when the sealing device 50 is stopped, the rolls 52 and 53 and the preheating devices 54, 55, and 56 may only stop generating heat or move to the retracted positions.

[0077] Furthermore, when the sealing device 50 is stopped, heating of the container film 3 or the cover film 4 by the preheating devices 54, 55, 56 may be stopped by placing a heat shield plate between the container film 3 or the cover film 4 to be heated. In this case, when the sealing device 50 is started, the heat shield plate may be retracted from between the preheating devices 54, 55, 56 and the container film 4. The heat shield plate associated with the first preheating device 54 may have the function of maintaining the conveying path (pass line) of the cover film 4 even when the first preheating device 54 is moved to the retracted position.

[0078] (c) In the above embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the main seal roll 53 is a smooth surface without any irregularities, but the outer peripheral surface of the main seal roll 53 may be provided with protrusions in a diagonal grid pattern or evenly scattered protrusions.

[0079] (d) In the above embodiment, the film receiving roll 51 has a function of heating the container film 3, but it may not have such a function.

[0080] (e) In the above embodiment, the PTP film 6 is configured with a number of pocket portions 2 arranged along its width direction corresponding to one sheet, but it may also be configured with a number of pocket portions 2 arranged along its width direction corresponding to multiple sheets.

[0081] (f) In the above embodiment, the contents are tablets 5, but the type, shape, etc. of the contents are not particularly limited. The contents may be, for example, capsules, food, electronic components, or other things other than tablets 5.

[0082] (g) The configuration of the manufactured PTP sheet 1 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. For example, the arrangement and number of pockets 2 in each PTP sheet 1 are not limited to those of the above embodiment.

[0083] (h) In the above embodiment, the PTP sheet 1 is cited as the "blister sheet," but the technical concept of the present invention may be applied to a blister packaging machine capable of producing blister sheets other than the PTP sheet 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1... PTP sheet (blister sheet), 2... pocket portion, 3... container film, 4... cover film, 5... tablet (contents), 6... PTP film (blister film), 10... PTP packaging machine (blister packaging machine), 21... filling device (filling means), 37... sheet punching device (cutting means), 41... defective sheet discharge mechanism (defective product discharge means), 50... sealing device (sealing means), 51... film receiving roll, 51a... storage recess, 52... temporary fixing roll, 52a... temporary fixing protrusion, 53... main sealing roll, 54... first preheating device (first preheating means), 55... second preheating device (second preheating means), 56... third preheating device (third preheating means).

Claims

1. a filling means for filling a pocket formed in the strip-shaped container film with contents; a sealing means for attaching a strip-shaped cover film made of a thermoplastic resin to the container film with the contents filled in the pocket portion; a separating means for separating a strip-shaped blister film formed by attaching the cover film to the container film into sheets to obtain blister sheets, The sealing means is a film receiving roll having a plurality of storage recesses on its outer circumferential surface that can store the pocket portions, and that can convey the container film by rotating with the pocket portions stored in the storage recesses; a temporary fixing roll configured to sandwich the container film and the cover film in a stacked state between the film receiving roll and an outer peripheral surface of the film receiving roll and to heat at least the cover film; a main seal roll that is provided downstream of the temporary fixing roll along the transport direction of the container film, and that attaches the cover film to the container film by sandwiching the overlapped container film and the cover film between the film receiving roll and the outer peripheral surface of the film receiving roll while heating at least the cover film to a temperature at which the cover film can be attached to the container film; The temporary fixing roll has temporary fixing protrusions on its outer periphery, and is configured to heat at least the cover film at a temperature lower than the heating temperature of the cover film by the main seal roll, while sandwiching the container film and the cover film between the temporary fixing protrusions and the outer surface of the film receiving roll, thereby temporarily fixing the cover film to the container film over at least the entire area that will form the blister sheet, of the area where the cover film is intended to be attached to the container film by the main seal roll.

2. 2. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the contact area of ​​the main seal roll with the cover film is larger than the contact area of ​​the temporary fixing roll with the cover film.

3. 2. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the main seal roll is configured to be able to attach the cover film to the container film by sandwiching the container film and the cover film between the main seal roll and the outer surface of the film receiving roll with its smooth outer surface.

4. a plurality of temporary fixing projections are provided on the outer periphery of the cover film, 2. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of temporary fixing projections extends in the circumferential direction of the temporary fixing roll.

5. a first preheating means positioned upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the conveyance direction of the cover film, and configured to preheat the cover film while contacting the surface of the cover film opposite to the surface to be attached to the container film; a second preheating means positioned upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the conveyance direction of the cover film, for preheating the surface of the cover film to be attached to the container film in a non-contact manner; a third preheating means located upstream of the temporary fixing roll along the transport direction of the container film, for preheating a surface of the container film to which the cover film is attached; 2. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the film receiving roll is configured to be able to heat the container film.

6. a defective product ejection means for ejecting the defective blister sheet, 2. The blister packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the defective product ejection means is configured to eject, as a defective product, the blister sheet corresponding to the container film and the cover film that are positioned between the temporary fixing roll and the main sealing roll when the sealing means, which is in a stopped state, is started.

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