Tablet sheet separator

Abstract

Allows tablet sheets of unknown size to be fed. [Solution] A separation device 11 that separates multiple stacked tablet sheets S, comprising an input section 26 into which multiple tablet sheets S stacked one above the other are input, and a conveying section 27 that separates and conveys the multiple tablet sheets S input into the input section 26, wherein the input section 26 comprises a loading surface 31a on which the multiple tablet sheets S are placed, a first side wall 32 facing the first edge of the multiple tablet sheets S placed on the loading surface 31a, a second side wall 33 facing the second edge of the multiple tablet sheets S placed on the loading surface 31a, which is the edge opposite to the first edge, and a drive mechanism 35 that expands or contracts the distance between the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tablet sheet separating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a dispensing device. This dispensing device has multiple dispensing cassettes stored on a cassette shelf, and each dispensing cassette stores multiple PTP tablet sheets in a stacked state. The dispensing device takes out a desired PTP tablet sheet from one of the dispensing cassettes, transfers the PTP tablet sheet as is or after cutting out a portion, to a transfer conveyor, and supplies the PTP tablet sheet to a bucket for dispensing tablets via the transfer conveyor. The dispensing device then dispenses the PTP tablet sheet transported to this bucket for dispensing tablets to the outside. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-101120 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] PTP tablet sheets come in a variety of sizes depending on the size, shape, quantity, etc. of the tablets to be stored. However, in the dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the size of the PTP tablet sheets to be stored in the dispensing cassette is predetermined, and therefore PTP tablet sheets of unknown sizes cannot be stored. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A tablet sheet separation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: A separation device for separating a plurality of stacked tablet sheets, An input section into which multiple tablet sheets S stacked one above the other are input; A conveying unit that separates and conveys the plurality of tablet sheets S input into the input unit, The input unit is A placement surface on which a plurality of tablet sheets are placed; A first side wall facing a first edge of a plurality of tablet sheets placed on the placement surface; A second side wall facing a second edge, which is the edge opposite to the first edge, of a plurality of tablet sheets placed on the placement surface; and a drive mechanism that increases or decreases the distance between the first side wall and the second side wall.

[0006] The present disclosure can be realized not only as a tablet sheet separating device having the above-described characteristic configuration, but also as a tablet sheet separating method, a medicine dispensing system to which a tablet sheet separating device is applied, or a control device for controlling a tablet sheet separating device. The present disclosure can be realized as a computer program that causes a computer to function as a control device, or as a semiconductor integrated circuit as part or all of the control device. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be realized as individual devices of a tablet sheet separating device having the above-described characteristic configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the tablet sheet separating device disclosed herein, by feeding multiple tablet sheets into the feeding section, multiple prescription sheets can be automatically aligned even if the size is unknown, and they can be separated one by one for easy removal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine dispensing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the overall configuration of the medicine dispensing system. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the PTP sheet as seen from the front side. [Figure 3B]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the PTP sheet as seen from the back side. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a portion of the separation device with a portion of the front of the housing removed. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a schematic front view of the separation device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the input section of the separation device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the input section of the separation device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a part of the front separation section and the front transport section of the transport section. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing the rear separation section of the transport section. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing the rear separation section and the front half of the rear transport section of the transport section. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing the rear half of the rear-stage conveying section of the conveying section. [Figure 13A] FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 13B] FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 13C] FIG. 13C is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 13D] FIG. 13D is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 13E] FIG. 13E is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 14A] FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 14B]FIG. 14B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which two PTP sheets are stacked. [Figure 15A] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 15B] FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 16C] FIG. 16C is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 16D] FIG. 16D is a front view illustrating the function of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 17C] FIG. 17C is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 17D] FIG. 17D is a front view illustrating the function of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 18C] FIG. 18C is a front view illustrating the action of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 18D] FIG. 18D is a front view illustrating the function of the gate member and the stopper member. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 shows the operation flow of the feeding section and the pre-separation section. [Figure 20A] FIG. 20A is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the post-stage separation unit. [Figure 20B]FIG. 20B is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the post-stage separator. [Figure 20C] FIG. 20C is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the post-stage separator. [Figure 21A] FIG. 21A is a plan view showing the configuration of the refilling device. [Figure 21B] FIG. 21B is a plan view showing the configuration of the refilling device. [Figure 22A] FIG. 22A is a schematic explanatory view showing a separation unit according to a modified example. [Figure 22B] FIG. 22B is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a separation unit according to a modified example. [Figure 22C] FIG. 22C is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a separation unit according to a modified example. [Figure 22D] FIG. 22D is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a separation unit according to a modified example. [Figure 23A] FIG. 23A is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. [Figure 23B] FIG. 23B is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. [Figure 23C] FIG. 23C is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. [Figure 23D] FIG. 23D is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. [Figure 23E] FIG. 23E is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. [Figure 23F] FIG. 23F is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Summary of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> The following is a summary of the embodiments of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the components of the embodiments described below are denoted by the reference numerals of the corresponding components in the drawings.

[0010] (1) The separation device 11 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A separation device 11 for separating a plurality of stacked tablet sheets S, An input section 26 into which a plurality of vertically stacked tablet sheets S are input; a conveying unit (27) that separates and conveys the plurality of tablet sheets (S) fed into the feeding unit (26), The input section 26 is A placement surface 31a on which a plurality of tablet sheets S are placed; A first side wall 32 facing a first side of a plurality of tablet sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a; A second side wall 33 facing a second side, which is the opposite side to the first side, of the plurality of tablet sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a; and a drive mechanism 35 that increases or decreases the distance between the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33.

[0011] According to the above configuration, even if a tablet sheet S of an unknown size is fed into the feeding section 26, the tablet sheet S can be conveyed by the conveying section 27 in an aligned state.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 are inclined in the same direction relative to the vertical direction.

[0013] According to the above configuration, when adjacent tablet sheets S are glued together among multiple stacked tablet sheets S, the adjacent tablet sheets S can be shifted relative to each other by aligning them with the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33, and the adhesive can be removed.

[0014] (3) In the above (2), the conveying unit 27 conveys the uppermost tablet sheet S in a direction in which the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 face each other, The first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 are located further downstream in the conveying direction of the tablet sheet S as they approach the upper side.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the uppermost tablet sheet S can be positioned downstream in the conveying direction relative to the other tablet sheets S, making it easier to convey.

[0016] (4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), the conveying unit 27 conveys the uppermost tablet sheet S in a direction in which the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 face each other, The first side wall 32 is fixed with respect to the conveying direction of the tablet sheet S, the second side wall 33 is disposed on the upstream side of the first side wall 32 in the conveying direction, The drive mechanism 35 moves the second side wall 33 toward and away from the first side wall 32 .

[0017] According to the above configuration, the starting point of conveyance by the conveying section 27 is kept constant regardless of the size of the tablet sheet S, enabling stable conveyance.

[0018] (5) In the above (4), the second side wall 33 is disposed across the placement surface 31a from top to bottom.

[0019] According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the tablet sheet S from being pinched between the second side wall 33 and the placement surface 31a due to movement of the second side wall 33.

[0020] (6) In the above (1) to (5), the input section 26 further includes a third side wall 34 facing a third edge located between the first edge and the second edge of the plurality of tablet sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a, The placement surface 31a is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the third side wall 34 side is lower.

[0021] According to the above configuration, by aligning the plurality of tablet sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a along the third side wall 34, the plurality of tablet sheets S can be easily aligned.

[0022] (7) In the above (6), the third side wall 34 is disposed perpendicular to the placement surface 31a.

[0023] According to the above configuration, multiple tablet sheets S can be easily aligned in the normal direction of each tablet sheet S.

[0024] (8) In the above (1) to (7), the separating device 11 further includes a housing 20 that forms the outer shell of the separating device 11 and has an insertion port 23 formed on the side for inserting a plurality of tablet sheets S into the insertion section 26, The input section 26 further includes a third side wall 34 facing a third edge located between the first edge and the second edge of the plurality of tablet sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a, The inlet 23 is formed at a position facing the third side wall 34 .

[0025] According to the above configuration, a plurality of stacked tablet sheets S can be inserted through the insertion port 23 formed on the side of the housing 20.

[0026] (9) In the above (8), the input section 26 has a recess 31b that is recessed downward from the placement surface 31a and is open at the input port 23.

[0027] According to the above configuration, when inserting the tablet sheet S into the insertion port 23, the fingers holding the tablet sheet S can be inserted into the recess 31b, making it easy to place the tablet sheet S on the placement surface 31a.

[0028] (10) In any one of the above (1) to (9), the tablet sheet S is formed into a rectangular shape, The plurality of tablet sheets S are placed on the placing surface 31a with the longitudinal direction of the tablet sheets S aligned in the opposing direction of the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33.

[0029] (11) In any one of (1) to (10) above, a sensor 37 is provided that detects the length of the tablet sheet S placed on the placement surface 31a in the opposing direction of the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33.

[0030] According to the above configuration, the length of the tablet sheet S can be detected by placing the tablet sheet S on the placement surface 31a, and the amount by which the first side wall 32 and the second side wall 33 are brought closer together by the drive mechanism 35 can be determined.

[0031] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments may be combined in any combination of parts.

[0032] [Overall configuration of the drug dispensing system] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine dispensing system according to an embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the overall configuration of the medicine dispensing system. The medicine dispensing system 10 is a system that dispenses the required tablet sheets based on input prescription data. The tablet sheets are rectangular or square sheets that contain multiple tablets and are generally called "PTP (Press Through Package) sheets."

[0033] 3A to 3C show an example of a PTP sheet. The PTP sheet S has a transparent plastic sheet Sa formed in a rectangular or square shape and a sheet material Sb formed of aluminum foil or the like. The plastic sheet Sa and the sheet material Sb are adhered together in an overlapping state. The plastic sheet Sa has a plurality of pocket portions (tablet storage portions) Sc formed therein. Each pocket portion Sc protrudes to the opposite side of the sheet material Sb. Tablets are stored inside the pocket portions Sc.

[0034] The pocket portions Sc are arranged in multiple rows. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, multiple pocket portions Sc (seven in the illustrated example) are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet S, and multiple rows (two in the illustrated example) are aligned in the lateral direction of the PTP sheet S. The multiple pocket portions Sc are arranged slightly biased to one side of the longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet S. Therefore, the distance w1 between the short side located at one longitudinal end of the PTP sheet S and the pocket portion Sc located at the end on that side is wider than the distance w2 between the short side located at the other longitudinal end of the PTP sheet S and the pocket portion Sc located at the end on that side. The portion of the PTP sheet S where the distance w1 is wider is referred to as the "edge portion Sd." In this specification, the outer surface of the plastic sheet Sa from which the pocket portions Sc protrude is also referred to as the "front surface Sa1 of the PTP sheet," and the outer surface of the sheet material Sb opposite the plastic sheet Sa is also referred to as the "back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet." Drug information Se, such as a GS1 code, is written (printed) in the form of a barcode on the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S. In this specification, the direction perpendicular to the front surface Sa1 and back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S is also referred to as the normal direction of the PTP sheet S.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the medicine dispensing system 10 is made up of a plurality of devices. The medicine dispensing system has a separating device 11, a replenishing device 12, a storage device 13, and a dispensing device 14. The medicine dispensing system 10 has a housing 20 that houses these devices 11 to 14. The housing 20 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The housing 20 includes a plurality of housing portions 20a to 20d that house the devices 11 to 14, respectively.

[0036] In the following description, the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction are based on the three mutually orthogonal directions indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z in Fig. 1. Specifically, in the following description, the left-right direction is an example of the first direction X, the front-rear direction is an example of the second direction Y, and the up-down direction is an example of the third direction Z. However, the descriptions of these directions do not limit the present disclosure.

[0037] Each of the devices 11 to 14 of the medicine dispensing system 10 includes a control device that controls itself. Therefore, the operation of each of the devices 11 to 14 described below is realized by control by the control device. The control devices of the devices 11 to 14 operate in cooperation with each other by communicating with each other. The control device is configured, for example, by a computer including a calculation unit such as a CPU and storage units such as RAM and ROM.

[0038] Generally, PTP sheets S are packaged in a box in a stacked state. The separator 11 of this embodiment receives a plurality of stacked PTP sheets as they are removed from the box. The separator 11 then separates the stacked PTP sheets S one by one, aligns the orientation of the sheets, and loads them into a predetermined cassette (container) 90.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the separation device 11 includes an input unit 21a for inputting information about the drugs to be inserted and an output unit 21b for outputting the input information. The input unit 21a in this embodiment is, for example, a barcode reader, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or other reading unit. The output unit 21b in this embodiment is a display unit 21b such as a liquid crystal display. Drug information such as a GS1 code is printed on the PTP sheet or the box in which the PTP sheet is packed. The GS1 code includes information such as a product code, expiration date, and serial number. Other drug information may also include the number of PTP sheets packed in the box. The reading unit 21a accepts input by reading such drug information. The display unit 21b displays the drug information read by the reading unit 21a and related information linked to the drug information. An operator can compare the information displayed on the display unit 21b with the information printed on the box or PTP sheet. The input unit 21a may be an imaging unit such as a camera, and may acquire the size of the PTP sheet S, the number of tablets, etc. by imaging the PTP sheet and performing image processing.

[0040] An insertion slot 23 is formed on the front surface (front side surface; one side surface in the second direction Y) of the housing portion 20a (hereinafter simply referred to as "housing 20a") of the housing 20. This insertion slot 23 is closed by a lid 24 that can be opened and closed. Opening this lid 24 opens the insertion slot 23, and multiple stacked PTP sheets S can be inserted from the front surface of the housing 20a. In this embodiment, multiple stacked PTP sheets S are inserted into the insertion slot 23 in the direction along the short sides of the PTP sheets S (rearward) with the longitudinal directions of the PTP sheets S facing the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, the PTP sheets S can be inserted through the insertion slot 23 without having to input the size or number of PTP sheets S in advance. In other words, multiple PTP sheets S whose size, number, etc. are unknown can be inserted into the insertion slot 23.

[0041] The front surface of the housing 20 is inclined so that an intermediate portion 20a1 in the up-down direction Z, where the insertion port 23 is formed, is positioned further rearward (toward the other side in the second direction Y) as it moves upward. Therefore, the intermediate portion 20a1 faces forward and upward. The upper portion of the front surface of the housing 20a extends upward from the upper end of the intermediate portion 20a1, and the lower portion of the front surface of the housing 20a extends downward from the lower end of the intermediate portion 20a1. A table 20a2 protruding forward is provided below the intermediate portion 20a1 on the front surface of the housing 20a. The inclination angle θ (see FIG. 7) of the intermediate portion 20a1 on the front surface of the housing 20a with respect to the up-down direction (vertical direction) Z is 45° or less, and preferably approximately 30°.

[0042] The PTP sheets S packaged in a box are stacked in various configurations depending on the type of tablets, manufacturer, etc. For example, of multiple stacked PTP sheets S, two adjacent PTP sheets S have the configurations shown in Figures 13A to 13E.

[0043] In the configuration shown in FIG. 13A, two PTP sheets S are stacked with their back surfaces Sb1 facing upward. In the configuration shown in FIG. 13B, two PTP sheets S are stacked with their surfaces Sa1 (pocket portions Sc) facing upward. In the configuration shown in FIG. 13C, of ​​the two PTP sheets S, the upper PTP sheet S is stacked with its back surface Sb1 facing up, and the lower PTP sheet S is stacked with its front surface Sa1 (pocket portion Sc) facing up.

[0044] In the configuration shown in FIG. 13D, of the two PTP sheets S, the upper PTP sheet S is stacked with its surface Sa1 (pocket portion Sc) facing up, and the lower PTP sheet S is stacked with its back surface Sb1 facing up. In the form shown in Figure 13E, two PTP sheets S are stacked with the upper PTP sheet S facing up with its back surface Sb1 facing up and the lower PTP sheet S facing up with its front surface Sa1 (pocket portion Sc).

[0045] In FIG. 13C, the upper and lower PTP sheets S are stacked with their surfaces Sa1 facing each other and their pocket portions Sc interlocked. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the pocket portion Sc of one PTP sheet S fits between the pocket portions Sc of the other PTP sheet S in the longitudinal direction, thereby interlocking the pocket portions Sc of the two PTP sheets S. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14B, the pocket portion Sc of one PTP sheet S fits between the pocket portions Sc of the other PTP sheet S in the longitudinal and lateral directions, thereby interlocking the pocket portions Sc of the two PTP sheets S. When the pocket portions Sc are interlocked in this manner, for example, when one PTP sheet S is moved longitudinally along its surface Sa1 (or back surface Sb1), the other PTP sheet S will also move, as described below. Note that PTP sheets S provided in boxes by pharmaceutical manufacturers are often packaged in the state shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B from the perspective of storage efficiency.

[0046] In Figure 13E, the upper and lower PTP sheets S face each other with their surfaces Sa1, but their pocket portions Sc do not interlock with each other and are in contact with each other at their leading edge surfaces. In this case, when one PTP sheet S is moved longitudinally along its surface Sa1 (or back surface Sb1), the other PTP sheet S comes to a standstill. Alternatively, as one PTP sheet S moves, its pocket portion Sc and the pocket portion Sc of the other PTP sheet S become misaligned and interlock with each other, resulting in a state substantially similar to Figure 13C, and the other PTP sheet S also moves.

[0047] A plurality of PTP sheets S stacked in one or a combination of the forms shown in Figures 13A to 13E are fed into the feed opening 23 of the separator 11 of this embodiment. The separator 11, which will be described in detail later, then aligns the front and back orientations of all the PTP sheets S and stores them in a predetermined cassette 90.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the replenishing device 12 replenishing cassettes 90 containing multiple PTP sheets S in the separating device 11 to the storage device 13. The storage device 13 includes a storage shelf 13a and a transport mechanism 13b. The storage shelf 13a stores multiple cassettes 90 arranged in the front-to-back direction Y or the up-to-down direction Z. The transport mechanism 13b removes cassettes 90 containing medicines to be dispensed according to prescription data from the storage shelf 13a and transports them to the dispensing device 14. The dispensing device 14 removes the required amount of medicines from the transported cassette 90, places them in a prescription tray, and dispenses them to an operator. Note that the dispensing device 14 may be configured to move the cassette 90 requiring dispensing to the vicinity of the operator, so that the operator can remove the required amount of medicines from the cassette 90 himself.

[0049] [Specific configuration of separation device 11] 4A and 4B are perspective and schematic front views of a part of the separation device with a portion of the front surface of the housing removed, respectively. The following provides a detailed description of the specific configuration of the separator 11. The separator 11 has an input section 26, a transport section 27, and a filling section 45 (see FIG. 12).

[0050] (Insertion section) The input section 26 is a section that receives a plurality of stacked PTP sheets S. The input section 26 has a mounting table 31 having a mounting surface 31a and a plurality of side walls 32, 33, and 34. The mounting surface 31a is formed on the upper surface of the mounting table 31. The PTP sheet S inserted through the insertion port 23 of the housing 20a is placed on the mounting surface 31a. A plurality of PTP sheets S stacked one above the other are placed on the mounting surface 31a. The PTP sheet S is placed on the mounting surface 31a with its longitudinal direction oriented in the left-right direction (first direction) X. The mounting surface 31a has an area large enough to accommodate the largest PTP sheet S that can be dispensed by the medicine dispensing system 10. Therefore, various PTP sheets S, including the largest PTP sheet S, can be placed on the mounting surface 31a.

[0051] The side walls 32 to 34 include a left side wall 32 (first side wall) disposed on the left side of the loading surface 31a (one side in the first direction X), a right side wall 33 (second side wall) disposed on the right side of the loading surface 31a (the other side in the first direction X), and a rear side wall 34 (third side wall) disposed on the rear side of the loading surface 31a (one side in the second direction Y). The left side wall 32 and the right side wall 33 each face an end edge in the longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet S placed on the loading surface 31a. The rear side wall 34 faces an end edge in the lateral direction of the PTP sheet S placed on the loading surface 31a. The rear side wall 34 is disposed opposite the insertion slot 23. The insertion unit 26 has an insertion area surrounded by the loading surface 31a and the three side walls 32 to 34.

[0052] 5 and 6 are schematic front views of the input section of the separation device, and Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 5. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the left side wall 32 and the right side wall 33 are inclined with respect to the up-down direction (vertical direction) Z. Specifically, the left side wall 32 and the right side wall 33 are inclined so that they are positioned further left as they go up. The left side wall 32 and the right side wall 33 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear side wall 34 is inclined with respect to the up-down direction (vertical direction) Z. Specifically, the rear side wall 34 is inclined so that they are positioned further rearward as they go up. The rear side wall 34 is arranged substantially parallel to the intermediate portion 20a1 of the front surface of the housing 20a.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 7, the placement surface 31a is inclined relative to the horizontal direction. Specifically, the placement surface 31a is inclined so that it is positioned lower toward the rear. The placement surface 31a is disposed approximately perpendicular to the rear wall 34. Therefore, by aligning the multiple PTP sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a along the rear wall 34, the multiple PTP sheets S are stacked in a state aligned in the normal direction.

[0054] The insertion section 26 includes a drive mechanism 35 that expands and contracts the distance between the left side wall 32 and the right side wall 33 in the left-right direction X. Specifically, the right side wall 33 is supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction X, and the left side wall 32 is fixed. The drive mechanism 35 moves the right side wall 33 in the left-right direction X to expand and contract the distance between the right side wall 33 and the left side wall 32. The drive mechanism 35 employs a known configuration that can linearly reciprocate the right side wall 33. For example, the drive mechanism 35 includes an actuator such as a motor, a fluid pressure cylinder, an electric cylinder, an electromagnetic solenoid, or a linear guide, or a power transmission mechanism such as a link mechanism, a cam mechanism, or a winding transmission mechanism. The drive mechanism 35 may move the left side wall 32 in the left-right direction X, or may move both the right side wall 33 and the left side wall 32 in the left-right direction X. However, since the multiple PTP sheets S on the loading surface 31a are transported to the left by the pre-separation section 41 described later, the starting end of the PTP sheets can be held at a fixed position by fixing the left wall 32 and moving the right wall 33.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, multiple PTP sheets S are placed on the placement surface 31a with the distance between the left and right side walls 32, 33 widened. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the distance between the left and right side walls 32, 33 is narrowed by the drive mechanism 35, the left and right edges of the multiple PTP sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a come into contact with the left and right side walls 32, 33. As a result, the multiple PTP sheets S are stacked in an aligned state along the left and right side walls 32, 33. More specifically, the multiple PTP sheets S are stacked in an aligned state obliquely along the inclination of the left and right side walls 32, 33. Therefore, regardless of the size of the PTP sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a, they can be aligned by narrowing the distance between the left and right side walls 32, 33. Furthermore, the left and right side walls 32, 33 can fix the position of the PTP sheets S in the left-right direction X.

[0056] When two adjacent PTP sheets S among a plurality of stacked PTP sheets S are in contact with each other at their back surfaces Sb1 as shown in FIG. 13D , the ink used to print the GS1 code, product name, and the like may cause the back surfaces Sb1 of the two PTP sheets S to partially adhere to each other. If two PTP sheets S are adhered together in this manner, it may be difficult to separate the PTP sheets S one by one. In this embodiment, the distance between the left and right side walls 32, 33 is narrowed to stack the PTP sheets S at an angle, thereby slightly misaligning adjacent PTP sheets S in the left-right direction X. This allows adjacent PTP sheets S to be separated even if they are adhered to each other.

[0057] 5, a recess 31b recessed downward from the placement surface 31a is formed in the placement table 31. The recess 31b is open at the insertion port 23. When the operator grasps the upper and lower surfaces of multiple PTP sheets S stacked one above the other with his or her fingers and inserts them into the insertion section 26, the multiple PTP sheets S can be easily placed on the placement surface 31a by inserting the fingers supporting the lower surfaces of the PTP sheets S into the recess 31b.

[0058] The feeder 26 includes a lifting mechanism 36. The lifting mechanism 36 raises and lowers the mounting table 31 in the vertical direction Z. The lifting mechanism 36 employs a known configuration capable of linearly reciprocating the mounting table 31. The lifting mechanism 36 includes, for example, an actuator such as a motor, a fluid pressure cylinder, an electric cylinder, an electromagnetic solenoid, or a linear guide, or a power transmission mechanism such as a link mechanism, a cam mechanism, or a winding transmission mechanism. The lifting mechanism 36 raises and lowers the mounting table 31, thereby raising and lowering the multiple PTP sheets S on the mounting surface 31a. The lifting mechanism 36 raises and lowers the multiple PTP sheets S stacked diagonally between the left and right side walls 32, 33 of the feeder 26. Therefore, the multiple PTP sheets S are raised and lowered while remaining diagonally aligned along the left and right side walls 32, 33 of the feeder 26.

[0059] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8 , the mounting base 31 has a plurality of grooves 31c extending in the left-right direction X and formed at a plurality of locations in the front-rear direction Y. Each groove 31c penetrates the mounting base 31 in the up-down direction Z. Meanwhile, the right side wall 33 includes a plurality of segments 33a arranged side by side in the front-rear direction Y. Each segment 33a is inserted into each groove 31c and moves left and right within each groove 31c. As shown in FIG. 5 , each segment 33a of the right side wall 33 is arranged to straddle the mounting surface 31a of the mounting base 31. If the right side wall 33 were arranged above the mounting surface 31a, there is a possibility that the PTP sheet S would be trapped between the lower end of the right side wall 33 and the mounting surface 31a when the right side wall 33 is brought close to the left side wall 32. However, by arranging the right side wall 33 to straddle the mounting surface 31a, as in the present embodiment, this inconvenience can be avoided.

[0060] 8, a plurality of grooves 32a extending in the up-down direction Z are formed in the left side wall 32 at a plurality of locations in the front-rear direction Y. The mounting table 31 divided by grooves 31c is inserted into the grooves 32a. The mounting table 31 moves up and down within the grooves 32a of the left side wall 32.

[0061] 5 and 6, the insertion unit 26 is equipped with a sensor 37. The sensor 37 is, for example, a reflective optical sensor. The sensor 37 detects the PTP sheet S placed on the placement surface 31a. By detecting the PTP sheet S, the sensor 37 can detect that the PTP sheet S has been inserted into the insertion unit 26.

[0062] A plurality of sensors 37 are provided below the placement surface 31a, for example, below the groove 31c formed in the placement table 31, lined up in the left-right direction X. The sensitivity of the sensors 37 is adjusted so that they can detect approximately one or two PTP sheets S from the bottom. A plurality of types of PTP sheets S of different sizes are placed into the insertion unit 26 of this embodiment. Since a plurality of sensors 37 are provided, the longitudinal dimension of the PTP sheet S can be recognized depending on the number of sensors 37 that can detect the PTP sheet S. Therefore, the sensor 37 also serves as a sensor that measures the longitudinal dimension of the PTP sheet S.

[0063] The drive mechanism 35 moves the right side wall 33 in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the PTP sheet S detected by the sensor 37. This prevents the PTP sheet S from being pinched more than necessary by the left and right side walls 32, 33, which can cause the PTP sheet S to be deformed.

[0064] Because the multiple sensors 37 are spaced apart in the left-right direction X, they cannot accurately detect the dimensions of the PTP sheet S. As a result, the drive mechanism 35 cannot accurately adjust the spacing between the left and right side walls 32, 33 to the dimensions of the PTP sheet S, and there is a possibility that the PTP sheet S will be tightly sandwiched between the left and right side walls 32, 33. For this reason, the drive mechanism 35 of this embodiment is equipped with a torque limiter, and when the PTP sheet S is sandwiched between the left and right side walls 32, 33 with a load greater than a predetermined value, the torque limiter is activated to stop the drive mechanism 35 from moving the right side wall 33.

[0065] The sensor 37 may be provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction X. In this case, even a single sensor 37 can measure the length of the PTP sheet S in the left-right direction X.

[0066] (Transportation section) The conveying unit 27 conveys the PTP sheet S placed on the placement surface 31a of the input unit 26 in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the normal direction of the PTP sheet S. In this embodiment, the conveying unit 27 conveys the PTP sheet in a substantially horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying unit 27 includes a front-stage separation unit 41, a front-stage conveying unit 42, a rear-stage separation unit 43, and a rear-stage conveying unit 44. In FIG. 2, arrows a1 and a2 indicate the conveying direction of the PTP sheet S in the conveying unit 27.

[0067] (Pre-stage separation section 41) 4A, 4B, 5, and 6, the front-stage separation section 41 separates and transports one or two PTP sheets S from a plurality of PTP sheets S placed on the placement surface 31a of the feeder 26. The front-stage separation section 41 has a transport body 41A arranged above the feeder 26, particularly above the placement surface 31a, with a gap between them. The transport body 41A includes a pair of rotors 47 arranged with a gap between them in the left-right direction X, a transmission body 48 wound around the pair of rotors 47, and a driver 49 that rotates one of the rotors 47.

[0068] The pair of rotating bodies 47 are pulleys that rotate around an axis substantially parallel to the placement surface 31a of the feeder 26. The power transmission body 48 is a belt wound around the pair of pulleys 47. The driver 49 includes, for example, a motor, a winding transmission mechanism including a chain or belt, a variable speed gear, etc. The lower surface 48a of the belt 48 of the front-stage separation section 41 constitutes a conveying surface 48a of the PTP sheets S. In this embodiment, the conveying surface 48a moves leftward corresponding to the inclination direction in which the stacked PTP sheets S are aligned along the left and right side walls 32, 33 of the feeder 26. As shown in FIG. 7, the conveying surface 48a is disposed substantially parallel to the placement surface 31a. That is, the conveying surface 48a is inclined so that the rearward position is lower in the front-rear direction Y. The conveying direction of the conveying body 41A is the left-right direction (first direction) X. Therefore, the "left-right direction X" in the following description can be rephrased as the "conveying direction" of the front-stage conveying section 42.

[0069] 4B, the front-stage separation section 41 has a swinging mechanism 50 that swings the transport body 41A. The swinging mechanism 50 has a frame member 50a, left and right link members 50b whose upper ends are swingably supported by the frame member 50a and whose lower ends are connected to the transport body 41A, a drive unit 50c that moves the transport body 41A, and an interlocking member 50d that connects the drive unit 50c and the transport body 41A.

[0070] The drive unit 50c employs a known configuration including a motor, a cam mechanism, a link mechanism, etc., and is capable of moving the conveying body 41A back and forth via the interlocking member 50d. The conveying body 41A is supported so as to be able to swing freely by the link member 50b, and therefore moves up and down as it moves back and forth by the drive unit 50c. Specifically, the conveying body 41A moves downward while moving leftward (downstream in the conveying direction), and moves upward while moving rightward (upstream in the conveying direction).

[0071] The front-stage separation section 41 includes a lifting sensor 51 that detects when the conveying body 41A has risen to a predetermined height. In this embodiment, a known sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor is used as the lifting sensor 51. The lifting sensor 51 detects a detection plate 52 provided on the link member 50b. The lifting sensor 51 detects the detection plate 52 when the conveying body 41A has risen to the predetermined height.

[0072] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a part of the front separation section and the front transport section of the transport section. When the lifting mechanism 36 lifts the multiple PTP sheets S and the top PTP sheet S contacts the conveying surface 48a of the conveying body 41A of the front-stage separation section 41, the PTP sheet S is conveyed to one side (left direction) in the left-right direction X. In other words, the top PTP sheet S is conveyed in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) its normal direction. In further words, the top PTP sheet S is conveyed in a direction along its longitudinal direction. Also, as shown in FIG. 13C , when vertically adjacent PTP sheets S are interlocked at the pocket portion Sc, the PTP sheet S below the top PTP sheet S is conveyed to one side (left direction) in the left-right direction X together with the top PTP sheet S. The PTP sheet S conveyed by the conveying body 41A is delivered to a relay roller 54 of the front-stage conveying section 42, which will be described later.

[0073] FIG. 19 shows the operation flow of the feeding section and the pre-separation section. The operation of separating a plurality of PTP sheets S fed into the feed unit 26 one by one or two by two by the pre-separation unit will be described below. When a plurality of PTP sheets S are fed into the feed unit 26 and operation is started, in step S21 of Fig. 19, the lifting mechanism 36 lifts the table 31 as a preliminary operation for transport, and moves the plurality of PTP sheets S upward toward the transport body 41A. The lifting speed at this time is set to be faster than the lifting speed of the PTP sheets, which will be described later (step S25).

[0074] Next, in step S22, it is determined whether the lift sensor 51 has detected the detection plate 52. When the mounting table 31 rises, the uppermost PTP sheet S comes into contact with the transport body 41A of the front separation section 41, pushing up the transport body 41A. This causes the detection plate 52 provided on the swing mechanism 50 that supports the transport body 41A to swing, and the lift sensor 51 detects the detection plate 52. Therefore, in step S22, it is determined whether the uppermost PTP sheet S has reached the transport body 41A. In this operation, the lift sensor 51 detects that the uppermost PTP sheet S has reached the transport body 41A, so even if the number of PTP sheets S mounted on the mounting table 31 is unknown, the PTP sheets S can be moved upward at high speed.

[0075] When the lift sensor 51 detects the detection plate 52, the height of the mounting table 31 at that time is set as a reference height. Then, in step S23, the lift mechanism 36 lowers the mounting table 31 by a predetermined amount from the reference height, and moves the uppermost PTP sheet S below the conveying body 41A. This predetermined amount can be, for example, an amount that allows the thickest PTP sheet S handled by the separating device 11 to separate from the conveying body 41A.

[0076] Next, in step S24, the transport body 41A is driven as a transport operation, and in step S25, the lifting mechanism 36 again raises the mounting table 31, moving the top PTP sheet S to the transport body 41A. The lifting speed at this time is slower than the lifting speed of the mounting table 31 as a preparatory operation performed immediately after starting operation. When the mounting table 31 rises and the top PTP sheet S comes into contact with the transport body 41A, the top PTP sheet S is transported due to frictional resistance.

[0077] By slowing down the lifting speed of the mounting table 31 in step S25, it is possible to prevent excessive frictional resistance from being applied to the PTP sheet S. This makes it possible to prevent the second and subsequent PTP sheets from being transported together with the topmost PTP sheet S, and ensures that the topmost PTP sheet S is brought into contact with the transport body 41A for transport. Conversely, the lifting of the mounting table 31 in step S21 is performed to set the reference height of the mounting table 31, so by setting the lifting speed high, the setting process can be completed in a short time.

[0078] When the topmost PTP sheet S is conveyed a predetermined distance by the conveyance body 41A, handed over to a relay roller 54 (described later), and detected by a conveyance sensor 53 (described later) (in other words, when the leading edge of the PTP sheet S in the conveyance direction reaches the detection position (optical axis) of the conveyance sensor 53), in step S27, the swing mechanism 50 raises the conveyance body 41A and moves the conveyance body 41A away from the next-top PTP sheet S. At approximately the same time, in step S28, the lifting mechanism 36 lowers the mounting table 31 and moves the next-top PTP sheet S away from the conveyance body 41A. The lowering speed at this time is faster than the raising speed of the mounting table 31 in step S25. By lowering the mounting table 31 in this manner, it is possible to prevent the second-top PTP sheet S from being conveyed along with it. It is also possible to omit the lowering of the mounting table 31 in step S28 and only perform the raising of the conveying body 41A in step S27, or conversely, to omit the raising of the conveying body 41A in step S17 and only perform the lowering of the mounting table 31 in step S28.

[0079] Each of the multiple PTP sheets S placed on the mounting table 31 receives a load from the PTP sheet S above it. Furthermore, the multiple PTP sheets S also receive a downward load from the conveying body 41A when they come into contact with the conveying body 41A. As a result, the multiple PTP sheets S may sink slightly overall due to distortion (elastic deformation). When the topmost PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveying body 41A, the load from the topmost PTP sheet S is removed, and the load from the conveying body 41A decreases. This reduces distortion and may cause the remaining PTP sheets S to float upward, potentially causing the second (or third) PTP sheet S from the top to unintentionally come into contact with the conveying body 41A and be conveyed. Therefore, by performing the retraction operations in steps S27 and S28, it is possible to prevent the second (or third) PTP sheet S from being conveyed after the topmost PTP sheet S has been conveyed. Furthermore, in step S27, the conveying body 41A moves to the right (upstream in the conveying direction) while rising, so that the second (or third) PTP sheet S from the top can be reliably prevented from moving to the left (downstream in the conveying direction). Note that in step S28, the lifting mechanism 36 may simply stop the mounting table 31 without lowering it.

[0080] Next, in step S29, it is determined whether all PTP sheets S have been transported by the transport body 41A, in other words, whether the separation operation for the multiple PTP sheets S has been completed. If the determination is affirmative (Yes), the operation is terminated, and if the determination is negative (No), in step S30, the swing mechanism 50 lowers the transport body 41A, thereby moving the transport body 41A to a position for transporting the next PTP sheet S, and the processing from step S24 onwards is repeated.

[0081] The front-stage separation section 41 has a gate mechanism 80. The gate mechanism 80 is disposed in the transport path of the PTP sheet S, between the transport body 41A of the front-stage separation section 41 and the relay roller 54 of the front-stage transport section 42 in the left-right direction X. The gate mechanism 80 has a gate member 81, a stopper member 82, and a rotating shaft 83. The gate member 81 and the stopper member 82 both allow the uppermost PTP sheet S transported by the transport body 41A to pass through, and in some cases allow the second-highest PTP sheet S to pass through, while preventing the second or third-highest PTP sheets S from passing through.

[0082] 15A and 15B are perspective views of the gate member and the stopper member. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the gate member 81 is formed in a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the front. A lower portion of the gate member 81 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 83. A tapered claw portion 81a is provided on an upper portion of the gate member 81. The claw portion 81a is swingable in the left-right direction X with the rotation shaft 83 as a fulcrum. The claw portion 81a is also biased toward one side in the left-right direction X (to the right; upstream in the conveying direction) by a biasing member such as a spring. The claw portion 81a is restricted from rotating further to the right than in the position shown in FIG. 9. In the position shown in FIG. 9, the tip of the claw portion 81a is positioned higher than the conveying surface 48a of the conveying body 41A.

[0083] 15A and 15B, the gate member 81 is formed with a comb-like shape above the rotating shaft 83. Therefore, the gate member 81 has a plurality of claws 81a in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 83. The side surface of the gate member 81 arranged on the conveyor 41A side is inclined. This side surface 81b forms a guide surface that guides the PTP sheet S to the relay roller 54.

[0084] The stopper member 82 is formed in a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the front. A lower portion of the stopper member 82 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 83. A tapered claw portion 82a is provided on an upper portion of the stopper member 82. The claw portion 82a is swingable in the left-right direction X with the rotation shaft 83 as a fulcrum. The claw portion 82a is biased toward one side in the left-right direction X (to the right; upstream in the conveying direction) by a biasing member such as a spring. The claw portion 82a is biased with a stronger biasing force than the claw portion 81a. The claw portion 82a is restricted from rotating in the right direction more than in the position shown in FIG. 9. In the position shown in FIG. 9, the tip of the claw portion 82a is positioned higher than the conveying surface 48a of the conveying body 41A.

[0085] 15A and 15B, the stopper member 82 is formed in a comb-like shape above the rotating shaft 83. Therefore, the stopper member 82 has a plurality of claw portions 82a in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 83. The claw portions 82a of the stopper member 82 are arranged between the claw portions 81a of the gate member 81.

[0086] The operation of the gate mechanism 80 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16A to 16D, 17A to 17D, and 18A to 18D.

[0087] Figures 16A to 16D show a case where, among multiple PTP sheets S stacked in the vertical direction Z in the insertion section 26, the top PTP sheet (hereinafter also referred to as the first PTP sheet) and the second PTP sheet from the top (hereinafter also referred to as the second PTP sheet) are both arranged with their back surfaces Sb1 facing upward.

[0088] As shown in Figure 16A, when the stacked PTP sheets S are raised by the lifting mechanism 36 (see Figure 6) and the uppermost first PTP sheet S comes into contact with the transport body 41A of the front-stage separation section 41, the first PTP sheet S is transported to the left, as shown in Figure 16B. At this time, only the first PTP sheet S is transported, and the second PTP sheet S from the top is not transported. The first PTP sheet S comes into contact with the gate member 81 and pushes the gate member 81 to the left. This causes the gate member 81 to swing to the left (downstream in the transport direction), opening the transport path for the first PTP sheet S.

[0089] When the first PTP sheet S presses against the gate member 81, the claws 82a of the stopper member 82 protrude from between the claws 81a, and the first PTP sheet S comes into contact with the claws 82a. Then, as shown in FIG. 16C, the first PTP sheet S also presses the stopper member 82 to the left. As a result, as shown in FIG. 16D, the stopper member 82 swings to the left (downstream in the conveying direction), opening the conveying path for the first PTP sheet S. As a result, the PTP sheet S is delivered to the relay rollers 54 and further conveyed by the relay rollers 54.

[0090] The upper surface (conveying surface) of the relay roller 54 is positioned higher than the conveying surface 48a of the conveying body 41A. When the gate member 81 swings to the left, the guide surface 81b of the gate member 81 is inclined so that the right side is lower and the left side is higher. Therefore, the first PTP sheet S is guided by the guide surface 81b and delivered to the relay roller 54. This allows the PTP sheet S to be smoothly delivered to the relay roller 54, which is positioned higher than the conveying surface 48a.

[0091] When the second PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveying body 41A while being dragged by the first PTP sheet S, the second PTP sheet S gets caught on the claw portion 81a of the gate member 81 and is prevented from being conveyed further. The gate member 81 allows the first PTP sheet S being directly conveyed by the conveying body 41A to pass through, but is biased with a biasing force that can prevent the second PTP sheet S, which is not directly conveyed by the conveying body 41A and is dragged by the first PTP sheet by a weak bonding force, from passing through.

[0092] Figures 17A to 17D show a case where, among multiple PTP sheets S stacked in the vertical direction Z in the insertion section 26, the topmost first PTP sheet is arranged with its back surface Sb1 facing up, and the second-highest second PTP sheet is arranged with its front surface Sa1 (pocket portion Sc) facing up, i.e., a case where the pocket portions Sc of the two PTP sheets S are interlocked.

[0093] As shown in Fig. 17A, when the stacked PTP sheets S rise and the uppermost first PTP sheet S comes into contact with the conveying body 41A of the front-stage separation section 41, as shown in Fig. 17B, the two PTP sheets S, the first PTP sheet S and the second PTP sheet S tightly bonded to this PTP sheet S, are conveyed to the left. The first and second PTP sheets S come into contact with and push the gate member 81. This causes the gate member 81 to swing to the left (downstream in the conveying direction), opening the conveying path for the first and second PTP sheets S.

[0094] When the first and second PTP sheets S push against the gate member 81, the claws 82a of the stopper member 82 protrude from between the claws 81a, and the first and second PTP sheets S come into contact with the claws 82a. Then, as shown in FIG. 17C, the first and second PTP sheets S also push against the stopper member 82. As a result, as shown in FIG. 17D, the stopper member 82 swings to the left (downstream in the conveying direction), opening the conveying path for the first and second PTP sheets S. The first and second PTP sheets S are delivered to the relay rollers 54, and are further conveyed by the relay rollers 54.

[0095] Figures 18A to 18D show a case where, among multiple PTP sheets S stacked in the vertical direction Z in the insertion section 26, the topmost first PTP sheet has its surface Sa1 facing upward, and the second-highest second PTP sheet has its back surface Sb1 facing upward, i.e., the first PTP sheet S and the second PTP sheet S have their back surfaces Sb1 facing each other.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 18A, when the stacked PTP sheets S rise and the topmost first PTP sheet S comes into contact with the transport body 41A of the front-stage separation section 41, the first PTP sheet S is transported to the left as shown in FIG. 18B. At this time, normally, only the first PTP sheet S is transported, and the second PTP sheet S, which is the second from the top, is not transported. However, if the back surface Sb1 of the first PTP sheet S and the back surface Sb1 of the second PTP sheet S are bonded together by the adhesion of ink used to print the GS1 code or the like, the second PTP sheet S may also be transported together with the first PTP sheet S. In this case, the first and second PTP sheets S come into contact with the gate member 81 and push the gate member 81. This causes the gate member 81 to swing to the left (downstream in the transport direction), opening the transport path for the first and second PTP sheets S. That is, the gate member 81 is biased with a biasing force that allows the passage of the first and second PTP sheets S that are joined together with their back surfaces Sb1.

[0097] When the first and second PTP sheets S push against the gate member 81, the claws 82a of the stopper member 82 protrude from between the claws 81a, and the first and second PTP sheets S come into contact with the claws 82a. Then, as shown in FIG. 18C, the first and second PTP sheets S also push against the stopper member 82. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18D, the stopper member 82 swings to the left (downstream in the conveying direction), opening the conveying path for the first PTP sheet S. Therefore, the first PTP sheet S is delivered to the relay roller 54 and further conveyed by the relay roller 54. However, the pocket portion Sc of the second PTP sheet S, which is second from the top, is caught by the claws 82a of the stopper member 82, and movement is prevented. Therefore, the second PTP sheet S does not reach the relay roller 54.

[0098] Therefore, the stopper member 82 is biased with a biasing force that allows the uppermost first PTP sheet S, which is being directly transported by the transport body 41A, to pass through, but that prevents the passage of the second PTP sheet S, which is not being directly transported by the transport body 41A and is being dragged by the first PTP sheet with a less strong bonding force.

[0099] 17A to 17D, it is possible that the back surface Sb1 of the third PTP sheet S, which is third from the top, will adhere to the back surface Sb1 of the second PTP sheet S, which is second from the top, and the third PTP sheet S will also be conveyed. In this case, the pocket portion Sc of the third PTP sheet S will be caught by the claw portion 82a of the stopper member 82, and the third PTP sheet S will not be conveyed any further. The claw portions 82a of the stopper member 82 are provided in plurality at intervals in the front-to-rear direction Y, so that the pocket portion Sc formed in the PTP sheet S can be caught even if its position or size changes.

[0100] Because the upper surface of the relay roller 54 is located higher than the conveying surface 48a of the conveying body 41A, even if the PTP sheet S is guided by the guide surface 81b, there is a possibility that the PTP sheet S will collide strongly with the relay roller 54. A torque limiter is provided in the drive section of the relay roller 54, and when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied from the PTP sheet S, the rotation speed of the relay roller 54 can be increased, or the drive can be stopped to release the constraint on the relay roller 54 so that it can rotate in accordance with the PTP sheet S.

[0101] (Pre-stage conveying section 42) As shown in FIG. 4B, the preceding conveying section 42 is disposed to the left of the preceding separation section 41 (downstream in the conveying direction). The preceding conveying section 42 further conveys one or two PTP sheets S separated by the preceding separation section 41 to one side (leftward) in the left-right direction X. As described above, the preceding separation section 41 separates the top two PTP sheets S only in the stacked state shown in FIG. 17A (a state in which the pocket portions Sc of the two PTP sheets S are interlocked), and in other stacked states, it separates the topmost PTP sheet S and reliably conveys the topmost sheet S from the group of PTP sheets S stacked with their fronts and backs irregular. The conveying direction of the preceding conveying section 42 is the same as the conveying direction of the preceding separation section 41, which is the left-right direction (first direction) X. Therefore, the left-right direction X in the following description can be rephrased as the conveying direction of the preceding conveying section 42.

[0102] The front-stage conveying section 42 includes a relay roller 54 , a lower conveyor 55 , an upper conveyor 56 , and a terminal roller 57 . As shown in Figure 9, the relay roller 54 is a rotatable roller. The axis of the relay roller 54 is approximately parallel to the axis of the rotating body 47 in the front-stage separation section 41. The relay roller 54 is rotated by a drive unit (not shown). The upper surface of the relay roller 54 forms a conveying surface. The conveying surface moves to the left as the relay roller 54 rotates. The relay roller 54 receives the PTP sheet S conveyed by the front-stage separation section 41 and conveys it to the left while supporting it from below.

[0103] The PTP sheet S that has been delivered to the relay roller 54 via the gate mechanism 80 is further transported by the lower conveyor 55 and upper conveyor 56 of the front-stage transport section 42 (see FIGS. 4B and 9). 4B, the lower conveyor 55 of the front-stage transport section 42 includes a plurality of rotating bodies 55a spaced apart in the left-right direction X, a transmission body 55b wound around the rotating bodies 55a, and a driver 55c that rotates and drives any one of the rotating bodies 55a. In this embodiment, each rotating body 55a is configured as a pulley, and the transmission body 55b is configured as a belt. The axis of each pulley 55a is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the relay roller 54.

[0104] The upper surface of the belt 55b is a conveying surface 55d, which moves to one side (leftward) in the left-right direction X. The conveying surface 55d of the lower conveyor 55 is approximately parallel to the conveying surface 48a of the conveyor 41A in the front-stage separation section 41. The lower conveyor 55 receives the PTP sheet S from the relay roller 54 and conveys it to the left while supporting it from below. The conveying surface 55d of the lower conveyor 55 is positioned slightly lower than the upper end of the relay roller 54. The driver 55c employs a known configuration such as a motor, a winding transmission mechanism, a variable speed gear, etc.

[0105] As shown in FIGS. 4B and 9, the upper conveyor 56 of the upstream conveying section 42 has a shorter conveying distance than the lower conveyor 55 and is disposed above the conveyance starting end (right side) of the lower conveyor 55. The upper conveyor 56 includes a pair of rotating bodies 56a spaced apart in the left-right direction X, a transmission body 56b wound around the pair of rotating bodies 56a, and a driver 56c that rotates and drives one of the rotating bodies 56a. In this embodiment, each rotating body 56a is configured by a pulley, and the transmission body 56b is configured by a belt. The axis of each pulley 56a is disposed approximately parallel to the axis of the relay roller 54. A lower surface 56d of the upper conveyor 56 serves as a conveying surface, and the conveying surface 56d moves to one side (leftward) in the left-right direction X. The driver 56c may be a known component such as a motor, a winding transmission mechanism, or a variable speed gear. The upper conveyor 56 receives the PTP sheet S from the relay roller 54 and conveys it leftward while pressing it down from above.

[0106] The conveying surface 55d of the lower conveyor 55 and the conveying surface 56d of the upper conveyor 56 are disposed with vertical gaps d1 and d2 between them. The gaps d1 and d2 in the vertical direction Z between the conveying surface 55d of the lower conveyor 55 and the conveying surface 56d of the upper conveyor 56 are wider toward the upstream side (d1) in the conveying direction and narrower toward the downstream side (d2). The separator 11 of this embodiment handles various PTP sheets S with different numbers of tablets, areas, thicknesses, etc. Therefore, by arranging the gaps d1 and d2 in the vertical direction Z between the lower conveyor 55 and the upper conveyor 56 to be wider toward the upstream side, various PTP sheets S with different thicknesses conveyed from the relay roller 54 can be easily introduced between the upper and lower conveyors 55 and 56. The upper conveyor 56 is also formed shorter than the lower conveyor 55, and the lower conveyor 55 is primarily responsible for conveying the PTP sheets. Therefore, the upper conveyor 56 functions to prevent the PTP sheet S from jumping up or floating up, and to place the PTP sheet S reliably on the lower conveyor 55.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 9, the front-stage conveying section 42 is provided with a conveying sensor 53 between the relay roller 54 and the lower conveyor 55 in the left-right direction X. The conveying sensor 53 is disposed below the conveying surface 55d of the relay roller 54 and the lower conveyor 55, and detects the PTP sheet S passing between them. The conveying sensor 53 is, for example, an optical sensor. The detection position (optical axis) of the conveying sensor 53 is disposed between the relay roller 54 and the lower conveyor 55 (downstream of the relay roller 54 in the conveying direction). When the conveying sensor 53 detects the PTP sheet S, it can be recognized that the PTP sheet S is being conveyed by the relay roller 54. Furthermore, when the conveying sensor 53 finishes detecting the PTP sheet S, it can be recognized that the PTP sheet S has completely passed through the relay roller 54 and moved to the lower conveyor 55.

[0108] After the topmost PTP sheet (and the second PTP sheet S from the top) is conveyed by the conveying body 41A and delivered to the relay roller 54, the PTP sheets S below it may be conveyed successively by the conveying body 41A without any gap between them, and may mistakenly reach the relay roller 54. To prevent such a case, in this embodiment, when the conveying sensor 53 recognizes that the PTP sheet S has completely passed through the relay roller 54, the relay roller 54 is rotated in the reverse direction. This makes it possible to push back the PTP sheet S that mistakenly reaches the relay roller 54 to the right (downstream in the conveying direction).

[0109] As described above, when the uppermost PTP sheet S is transported by transport body 41A to the detection position of transport sensor 53, swing mechanism 50 causes transport body 41A to retract upward from PTP sheet S, and lift mechanism 36 causes PTP sheet S to retract downward from transport body 41A. Therefore, transport sensor 53 detects two states: when PTP sheet S reaches the detection position and when it passes the detection position, and controls the operation of transport body 41A (retraction upward) and the operation of relay roller 54 (reverse rotation) based on each detection. Therefore, the number of sensors can be reduced compared to when the two states are detected by separate sensors.

[0110] The conveying speeds of the conveying body 41A, relay roller 54, lower conveyor 55, and upper conveyor 56 may be the same or different from one another. For example, the conveying speed of the relay roller 54 may be slower than the conveying speeds of the conveying body 41A, lower conveyor 55, and upper conveyor 56. In this way, when two PTP sheets S are conveyed by the conveying body 41A, the upper PTP sheet S can be conveyed faster than the lower PTP sheet S, causing the two to be misaligned, or the upper PTP sheet S can be preferentially delivered to the lower conveyor 55 and upper conveyor 56.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 4B, the end rollers 57 are arranged at an interval on the left side (downstream side in the conveying direction) of the lower conveyor 55. In this embodiment, two end rollers 57 are arranged side by side at an interval in the left-right direction X. Each end roller 57 is a rotatable roller. The axis of the end roller 57 is approximately parallel to the axis of each rotating body 55a of the lower conveyor 55. The end rollers 57 are driven to rotate by a driving body 55c shared with the lower conveyor 55. The upper surface of the end roller 57 forms a conveying surface. The conveying surface moves leftward as the end roller 57 rotates. The end roller 57 receives the PTP sheet S from the lower conveyor 55 and conveys it leftward while supporting it from below.

[0112] The pre-stage conveying section 42 has a reading unit 58 that reads the GS1 code (medicine information) printed on the back side of the PTP sheet S. The reading unit 58 is disposed to the left of the upper conveyor 56 (downstream in the conveying direction) and above the lower conveyor 55. The front and back orientations of the multiple PTP sheets S fed into the feeding section 26 are not uniform. Therefore, the reading unit 58 reads the GS1 code only on PTP sheets S fed by the lower conveyor 55 whose back side Sb1 faces upward. Therefore, the reading unit 58 functions as a "discrimination unit" that determines the up-down orientation of the PTP sheet S based on whether or not the GS1 code can be read.

[0113] (Late stage separation section 43) Fig. 10 is a schematic front view showing a rear separation section of the transport section, and Fig. 11 is a schematic side view showing the rear separation section and the front half of the rear transport section of the transport section. As shown in FIG. 10, when two overlapping PTP sheets S are fed from the preceding conveying section 42, the subsequent separation section 43 separates them one by one. The subsequent separation section 43 has a stopper member 61, a lower suction section (second suction section) 62, an upper suction section (first suction section) 63, and drive sections 64 and 65. The stopper member 61 is disposed on the left side (downstream side in the conveying direction) of the terminal roller 57 at a distance from the stopper member 61. The stopper member 61 is formed in a plate shape and stops the conveyance of the PTP sheet S by contacting it with the PTP sheet S conveyed by the terminal roller 57. This positions the PTP sheet S at a predetermined separation position P1. The subsequent separation section 43 has a sensor 66 that detects the PTP sheet S positioned at the separation position P1. The sensor 66 is, for example, a reflective optical sensor, and is disposed above the left end of the PTP sheet S (the end on the downstream side in the conveying direction).

[0114] The lower suction unit 62 and the upper suction unit 63 separate two PTP sheets S positioned at a predetermined separation position P1. The lower suction unit 62 is disposed below the PTP sheet S positioned at the predetermined separation position P1. The lower suction unit 62 has a pair of suction cups 62a and an air pump (not shown) that applies negative pressure to the suction cups 62a. One of the suction cups 62a is disposed between the lower conveyor 55 and one of the end rollers 57. The other suction cup 62a is disposed between the pair of end rollers 57.

[0115] The drive units 64, 65 include a lower drive unit 64 that moves the lower suction unit 62 and an upper drive unit 65 that moves the upper suction unit 63. The lower suction unit 62 can be moved in the vertical direction Z by the lower drive unit 64. The air pump can individually apply negative pressure to each of the pair of suction cups 62a.

[0116] The upper suction unit 63 is disposed above the PTP sheet S positioned at a predetermined separation position P1. The upper suction unit 63 has a pair of suction cups 63a and an air pump (not shown) that applies negative pressure to the suction cups 63a. The upper suction unit 63 can be moved in the vertical direction Z by an upper drive unit 65. The air pump can apply negative pressure to each of the pair of suction cups 63a individually.

[0117] When two PTP sheets S are positioned at a predetermined separation position P1, the lower suction portion 62 rises to adsorb the back surface Sb1 of the lower PTP sheet S, and the upper suction portion 63 descends to adsorb the back surface Sb1 of the upper PTP sheet S. Thereafter, the lower suction portion 62 moves downward and the upper suction portion 63 moves upward, thereby separating the two PTP sheets S.

[0118] 11, the lower suction unit 62 not only moves up and down by the lower drive unit 64, but also oscillates in the front-to-rear direction Y and the up-down direction Z as shown by the arrow b1. Therefore, the PTP sheet S attracted by the lower suction unit 62 is removed rearward from the terminal end roller 57. Furthermore, the lower suction unit 62 turns the attracted PTP sheet S upside down by oscillating in the up-down direction Z. Therefore, the back surface Sb1 of the attracted PTP sheet S changes from a downward state to an upward state, and is delivered to the subsequent subsequent conveyance unit 44.

[0119] The upper suction section 63 not only moves up and down by the upper drive section 65, but also swings in the front-to-rear direction Y as shown by arrow b2. Therefore, the PTP sheet S attracted by the upper suction section 63 is removed rearward from the terminal end roller 57. The PTP sheet S attracted by the upper suction section 63 is delivered to the subsequent subsequent conveyance section 44 with the back surface Sb1 facing upward.

[0120] 10, when one PTP sheet S is sent to a predetermined separation position P1, the PTP sheet S is adsorbed by either the lower adsorption section 62 or the upper adsorption section 63 and delivered to the subsequent conveying section 44. When the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S faces downward, the lower adsorption section 62 adsorbs the PTP sheet S. When the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S faces upward, the upper adsorption section 63 adsorbs the PTP sheet S. This will be explained in detail below.

[0121] 20A to 20C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the post-stage separation unit. The rear separation section 43 adjusts the suction forces (the holding power of the PTP sheet S) of the lower suction section 62 and the upper suction section 63 according to the state of the PTP sheet S positioned at the separation position P1. Specifically, as shown in Figures 20A to 20C, the PTP sheet S can be positioned at the separation position P1 in the following three states. (a) One PTP sheet S with the back surface Sb1 facing downward (see Figure 20A) (b) One PTP sheet S with the back surface Sb1 facing up (see Figure 20B) (c) Two PTP sheets S consisting of an upper PTP sheet S with the back surface Sb1 facing up and a lower PTP sheet S with the back surface Sb1 facing down (see Figure 20C)

[0122] In the above-described embodiment (a), the lower suction portion 62 suctions the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S and delivers it to the subsequent conveying section 44. For this operation, the subsequent separation section 43 sets the suction force of the lower suction portion 62 to be greater than that of the upper suction portion 63. Specifically, negative pressure is applied to the two suction cups 62a of the lower suction portion 62, and negative pressure is applied to one suction cup 63a of the upper suction portion 63, while the negative pressure of the other suction cup 63a is released. In FIG. 20A, suction cups that have been placed under negative pressure are marked with a circle, and suction cups that have been released from negative pressure are marked with an x. This prevents the upper suction portion 63 from adsorbing the PTP sheet S, and allows the lower suction portion 62 to reliably adsorb the PTP sheet S. Note that in the above-described embodiment (a), the negative pressure of both suction cups 63a of the upper suction portion 63 may be released. However, by applying negative pressure to one of the suction cups 63a, even if two PTP sheets S are being transported (mode (c) above) and the reading unit 58 (details to be described later) mistakenly determines that the mode is (b) above, the two PTP sheets S can be separated and transported.

[0123] In the above embodiment (b), the upper suction section 63 suctions the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S and delivers it to the subsequent conveying section 44. For this operation, the subsequent separation section 43 makes the suction force of the upper suction section 63 greater than that of the lower suction section 62. Specifically, the two suction cups 63a of the upper suction section 63 are subjected to negative pressure, and one suction cup 62a (upstream in the conveying direction; right side) of the lower suction section 62 is subjected to negative pressure, and the negative pressure of the other suction cup 62a is released. This prevents the lower suction section 62 from suctioning the PTP sheet S, and allows the upper suction section 63 to reliably suction the PTP sheet S.

[0124] In the above-described embodiment (c), the upper suction unit 63 suctions the back surface Sb1 of the upper PTP sheet S, and the lower suction unit 62 suctions the back surface Sb1 of the lower PTP sheet S, and they are delivered to the subsequent conveying unit 44. For this operation, the subsequent separation unit 43 sets the suction force of the upper suction unit 63 to be greater than that of the lower suction unit 62. Specifically, the two suction cups 63a of the upper suction unit 63 are subjected to negative pressure, and one suction cup 62a of the lower suction unit 62 (on the upstream side in the conveying direction; the right side) is subjected to negative pressure, and the negative pressure of the other suction cup 62a is released. This allows the upper PTP sheet S to be reliably suctioned by the upper suction unit 63. The suction force of the lower suction unit 62 is weaker than that of the upper suction unit 63, but is greater than the force with which the pocket portions Sc of the two PTP sheets S interlock. Therefore, the lower suction unit 62 can reliably suction the lower PTP sheet S using only one suction cup 63a.

[0125] The above determination of (a) to (c) is made based on whether or not the reading unit 58 was able to read the GS1 code provided on the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S. That is, if the reading unit 58 was unable to read the GS1 code, it is determined that the situation is (a) above. If the reading unit 58 was able to read the GS1 code, it is determined that the situation is (b) or (c) above. Therefore, if the reading unit 58 was able to read the GS1 code, that is, if the situation is (b) or (c) above, the suction forces of the lower suction unit 62 and the upper suction unit 63 are adjusted in the same manner.

[0126] In both of the above modes (b) and (c), the suction force of the upper suction portion 63 is stronger than the suction force of the lower suction portion 62, so even if the reading unit 58 cannot determine whether the mode is (b) or (c), it can adsorb and transport the PTP sheet S.

[0127] In another embodiment, a reading unit 58 may be provided below the PTP sheet S being conveyed, thereby enabling a distinction between the above-mentioned embodiments (b) and (c). In this case, in the above-mentioned embodiment (b), the negative pressure of both suction cups 62b may be released, and in the above-mentioned embodiment (c), both suction cups 62a may be placed under negative pressure. However, since the reading unit 58 may mistakenly determine that the above embodiment is (b) even though two PTP sheets S are being conveyed (the above-mentioned embodiment (c)), in the above-mentioned embodiment (b), it is preferable to place negative pressure on one of the suction cups 62b.

[0128] In the above-described embodiment (c), two upper and lower PTP sheets S may be interlocked while being misaligned relative to each other in the left-right direction X. In this case, even if one PTP sheet S reaches the stopper member 61, the other PTP sheet S may not reach the stopper member 61. In this embodiment, of the two suction cups 62a of the lower suction unit 62, the suction cup 62a that is more upstream in the conveying direction is held at a negative pressure. Therefore, even if the lower PTP sheet S does not reach the stopper member 61, the PTP sheet S can be reliably attracted by the negatively pressurized suction cup 62a. If the upper PTP sheet S does not reach the stopper member 61, the PTP sheet S can be attracted without any problems as long as it is in a position where it can be attracted by the two suction cups 63a.

[0129] (Post-stage conveying section 44) 11 and 12, the rear-stage conveying unit 44 conveys the PTP sheet S, which has been separated by the rear-stage separation unit 43 and aligned with the back surface Sb1 facing upward, in the front-to-rear direction Y. In other words, while the aforementioned front-to-left direction X conveys the PTP sheet S, the rear-stage conveying unit 44 conveys the PTP sheet S in the front-to-rear direction Y, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the front-to-rear conveying unit 42. In the following description, the "front-to-rear direction Y" can be rephrased as the "conveying direction" of the rear-stage conveying unit 44. The rear-stage conveying unit 44 also conveys the PTP sheet S along its short side.

[0130] The rear-stage conveying section 44 includes a lower conveyor 67 and an upper conveyor 68. The lower conveyor 67 includes multiple rotating bodies 67a spaced apart in the front-rear direction Y, transmission bodies 67b wound around the multiple rotating bodies 67a, and a driver 67c that rotates and drives any of the rotating bodies 67a. In this embodiment, each rotating body 67a is configured as a pulley, and the transmission body 67b is configured as a belt. The axis of each pulley 67a is disposed substantially horizontally along the left-right direction X. The upper surface of the belt 67b serves as a conveying surface 67d, which moves to one side (rear) in the front-rear direction Y. The driver 67c may be a known component such as a motor, a winding transmission mechanism, or a speed change gear. The lower conveyor 67 receives the PTP sheet S from the lower suction unit 62 and conveys it rearward while supporting it from below.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 11 , the upper conveyor 68 is shorter than the lower conveyor 67 in the front-rear direction Y and is disposed above the conveyance starting end (front side) of the lower conveyor 67. The upper conveyor 68 includes a plurality of rotating bodies 68a spaced apart in the front-rear direction Y, a transmission body 68b wound around the rotating bodies 68a, and a driver 68c that rotates and drives any of the rotating bodies 68a. In this embodiment, each rotating body 68a is configured as a pulley, and the transmission body 68b is configured as a belt. The axis of each pulley 68a is disposed substantially horizontally along the left-right direction X. The upper surface of the belt 68b serves as conveying surfaces 68A1 and 68B1, which move to one side (rearward) in the front-rear direction Y. The driver 68c may be a known component such as a motor, a winding transmission mechanism, or a speed change gear.

[0132] The upper conveyor 68 has a horizontal section 68A on the front side (upstream side in the conveying direction) and an inclined section 68B on the rear side (downstream side in the conveying direction). The horizontal section 68A has a substantially horizontal conveying surface 68A1. The horizontal section 68A receives the PTP sheet S from the upper suction section 63 and conveys it rearward while supporting the lower side.

[0133] The inclined portion 68B has a conveying surface 68B1 that slopes downward and rearward from the horizontal portion 68A. The inclined portion 68B conveys the PTP sheet S conveyed by the horizontal portion 68A further downward and rearward. A rear end P2 of the inclined portion 68B is disposed above the lower conveyor 67 with a gap therebetween. This gap is greater than the thickness of the PTP sheet S. The rear end of the inclined portion 68B is the conveying terminal end P2, and the conveyed PTP sheet S falls therefrom to be handed over to the lower conveyor 67.

[0134] The conveying speed of the upper conveyor 68 and the conveying speed of the lower conveyor 67 can be the same. In this case, it is preferable to make the distance from the conveying start end of the upper conveyor 68 (the position where the PTP sheet S is received from the upper suction unit 63) to the conveying end P2 of the upper conveyor 68 different from the distance from the conveying start end of the lower conveyor 67 (the position where the PTP sheet S is received from the lower suction unit 62) to the conveying end P2 of the upper conveyor 68. The lower suction unit 62 and the upper suction unit 63 of the rear separation unit 43 deliver the PTP sheet S to the lower conveyor 67 and the upper conveyor 68 almost simultaneously. Therefore, by making the conveying distances to the conveying end P2 of the lower conveyor 67 and the upper conveyor 68 different, it is possible to prevent interference on the lower conveyor 67 between the PTP sheet S conveyed by the lower conveyor 67 and the PTP sheet S delivered from the upper conveyor 68 to the lower conveyor 67.

[0135] In addition, when the conveying distances to the conveying end P2 of the lower conveyor 67 and the upper conveyor 68 are the same, interference of the PTP sheets S can be suppressed by making the conveying speed of the upper conveyor 68 and the conveying speed of the lower conveyor 67 different.

[0136] The rear conveying section 44 is provided with a reading section (second discrimination section) 69 behind the upper conveyor 68 and above the lower conveyor 67. The reading section 69 is, for example, a barcode reader. The reading section 69 in this embodiment reads the GS1 code, which is the drug information printed on the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S.

[0137] The PTP sheets S delivered from the rear separation unit 43 are aligned so that their back surfaces Sb1 face up. However, it is possible that, due to some malfunction, the PTP sheets S may be conveyed by the rear conveying unit 44 with their front surfaces Sa1 facing up. If such PTP sheets S are loaded into the cassette 90 by the loading unit 45 (described later), the orientation of the PTP sheets S within the cassette 90 will become uneven, which is undesirable. The rear conveying unit 44 of this embodiment does not target PTP sheets S with their front surfaces Sa1 facing up for loading by the loading unit 45, but rather rejects them.

[0138] Specifically, in this embodiment, the subsequent conveying unit 44 determines the orientation of the PTP sheet S based on whether or not the reading unit 69 can read the GS1 code. If it is determined that the front surface Sa1 of the PTP sheet S is facing upward, the lower conveyor 67 conveys the PTP sheet S beyond a predetermined take-out position P3 to the end of the conveyance path. A cylindrical chute 70 and a collection box 71 are provided below the end of the conveyance path of the lower conveyor 67, and after the PTP sheet S passes the end of the conveyance path of the lower conveyor 67, it is dropped into the collection box 71 via the chute 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the collection box 71 can be removed to the outside through an opening 73 formed on the side of the housing 20 and closed by a lid that can be opened and closed.

[0139] The rear separation unit 43 is equipped with a shape discrimination unit 72 located behind the reading unit 69. The shape discrimination unit 72 is, for example, a camera, and captures an image of the outer shape of the PTP sheet S. The rear separation unit 43 processes the image data of the PTP sheet S and determines the size (length in the longitudinal and lateral directions, thickness, etc.), position, tilt, etc. of the PTP sheet S. The lower conveyor 67 transports the PTP sheet S that has passed through the shape discrimination unit 72 to a predetermined take-out position P3 and stops it there.

[0140] (Filling section 45) The filling unit 45 has a suction unit 45a that suctions the PTP sheets S with negative pressure, and a drive unit 45b that moves the suction unit 45a three-dimensionally, up and down, left and right, and front and back. The drive unit 45b moves the suction unit 45a to the take-out position P3 according to the size, position, and inclination of the PTP sheets S, and the suction unit 45a sucks the PTP sheets S positioned at the take-out position P3. The drive unit 45b moves the PTP sheets S that have been sucked by the suction unit 45a to a cassette 90 set at a predetermined filling position and fills the cassette 90. The PTP sheets S are aligned so that their back surfaces Sb1 face up as they pass from the feed unit 26 through the subsequent separation unit 43, and therefore are filled in the cassette 90 with the same orientation. In addition, when the number of PTP sheets inserted at the start of operation is input, that number is compared with the number of PTP sheets S loaded in cassette 90, and an error message can be displayed on display unit 21b, or a message can be displayed urging the user to check whether cassette 90 is present or not, its installation status, etc.

[0141] [Other configurations] 21A and 21B are plan views showing the configuration of a refilling device. In the replenishing device 12, the cassettes 90 are stored on a predetermined liftable shelf 85 as shown in Figures 21A and 21B, and are pulled out from this liftable shelf 85 and set at a predetermined filling position P4 where PTP sheets S are filled by the filling section 45 of the separating device 11. The liftable shelf 85 can store a plurality of cassettes 90 in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X. In the example shown in Figure 21B, three tiers of cassettes 90 are arranged in the vertical direction Z, and two rows are arranged in the horizontal direction X. These cassettes 90 can be raised and lowered vertically by a lifting device 86.

[0142] Sensors 87 are provided at the top and bottom of the lift-up shelf 85, in front of the cassettes 90. These sensors 87 are, for example, optical sensors such as light-emitters and receivers, with one of the upper and lower sensors 87 functioning as a light emitter and the other as a light receiver. A plurality of windows 90a are formed in the bottom surface of each cassette 90. The cassette 90 is divided into four areas by approximately cross-shaped partition members 90b, and a window 90a is formed corresponding to each area. When a PTP sheet S is stored in each area, the window 90a is covered by the PTP sheet S. The position of each window 90a in the left-right direction X corresponds to the position of the sensor 87 in the left-right direction X.

[0143] When any of the cassettes 90 housed in the lift-up shelf 85 is pulled forward by a pull-out device (not shown), the optical axis of the sensor 87 is interrupted, and the presence of the cassette 90 is detected. When the cassette 90 is further pulled out, if there are no PTP sheets S in the cassette 90, the optical axis of the sensor 87 passes through each window 90a, and it is detected that there are no PTP sheets S in the area where the window 90a is formed. If there are no PTP sheets S housed in all or any of the areas of the cassette 90, the cassette 90 moves to a predetermined loading position P4 and is used for loading PTP sheets S by the loading unit 45.

[0144] [Variations] The above-described embodiment is an example, and the medicine dispensing system 10 is not limited to the embodiment. (1) FIGS. 22A to 22D are schematic explanatory views showing a separation unit according to a modified example. In this modified example, a plurality of PTP sheets S are stacked in a space surrounded by the placement surface 31a and side walls 32, 33 of the insertion section 26. At least one of the side walls 32, 33 can move left and right, allowing the distance between them to be increased or decreased in the left and right direction.

[0145] The multiple PTP sheets S are stacked in pairs, each pair having interlocking pocket portions Sc, as shown in Fig. 13D. In order to separate the two PTP sheets S with interlocking pocket portions Sc in this manner, in the above embodiment, the front-stage separation unit 41 separates and conveys the two PTP sheets S with interlocking pocket portions Sc from the stacked multiple PTP sheets S, and then the rear-stage separation unit 43 separates the two PTP sheets S with interlocking pocket portions Sc by suction from above and below. Therefore, a two-stage separation operation is required.

[0146] This modified example includes a separation unit 100 that removes PTP sheets S one by one from multiple sets of PTP sheets S with interlocking pocket portions Sc in a single separation operation. Specifically, the separation unit 100 includes at least three suction units 101A, 101B above the stacked PTP sheets S. These suction units 101A, 101B are each independently movable in the vertical direction Z. The three suction units 101A, 101B descend to pick up the topmost PTP sheet S and ascend to separate the topmost PTP sheet S one by one. The suction units 101A, 101B then deliver the separated PTP sheets S to a predetermined conveying device. The conveying device includes two conveying devices: one that conveys PTP sheets with their back surfaces Sb1 facing upward, and another that conveys PTP sheets S with their front surfaces Sa1 facing upward.

[0147] The separator 100 of this modified example also includes a discrimination unit 102 that discriminates the front and back orientations of the stacked PTP sheets S. The discrimination unit 102 is a reading unit such as a barcode reader, and reads the drug information (GS1 code) printed on the back surface Sb1 of the topmost PTP sheet S. The reading unit 102 is capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction X.

[0148] Before starting the reading operation, the reading unit 102 waits in a position away from above the PTP sheet S. When the reading operation starts, the reading unit 102 moves back and forth above the PTP sheet S to read the GS1 code. If the reading unit 102 is able to read the GS1 code, it is determined that the back surface Sb1 of the topmost PTP sheet S is facing up. If the reading unit 102 is unable to read the GS1 code, it is determined that the front surface Sa1 (pocket portion Sc) of the topmost PTP sheet S is facing up.

[0149] Next, as shown in FIG. 22B, the three suction units 101A, 101B descend to suction the topmost PTP sheet S. If it is determined that the back surface Sb1 of the PTP sheet S is facing upward, the PTP sheet S is interlocked with the second-top PTP sheet S at the pocket portion Sc. Therefore, if the topmost PTP sheet S is moved upward, the second-top PTP sheet S may also be lifted. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22C, the PTP sheets are curved by first raising only the suction units 101A at both ends. This disengages some of the pocket portions Sc between the topmost PTP sheet S and the second-top PTP sheet S, making them easier to separate.

[0150] Next, as shown in Fig. 22D, the PTP sheet is bent in the opposite direction by lifting only the central suction portion 101B. This completely disengages the pocket portions Sc of the topmost PTP sheet S and the second-highest PTP sheet S, allowing only the topmost PTP sheet S to be separated. The operation shown in Fig. 22C and the operation shown in Fig. 22D may be repeated, which makes it easier to separate the two PTP sheets S.

[0151] When it is determined that the surface Sa1 of the PTP sheet S is facing upward, instead of moving the three suction parts 101A, 101B up and down individually as described above, all of the suction parts 101A, 101B are lowered simultaneously to suction the PTP sheet S, and then are raised simultaneously to separate the PTP sheet S.

[0152] Thereafter, the suction units 101A and 101B that have suctioned the PTP sheet S deliver the PTP sheet S to one of two conveying devices depending on the orientation of the PTP sheet S determined by the reading unit 102. This allows PTP sheets S of the same orientation to be conveyed to the same location.

[0153] In this modified example, the left and right side walls 32, 33 may also be inclined in the left-right direction X.

[0154] (2) FIGS. 23A to 23F are schematic explanatory diagrams showing a front-end separation section according to a modified example. In this modified example, the front-stage separation section 41 has a transport body 41A made up of a conveyor, and a gate member 81. A plurality of PTP sheets S are stacked on the upper surface of the transport body 41A. The transport body 41A transports the stacked PTP sheets S in order, starting with the bottommost PTP sheet S. Although not shown, an input section 26 like that shown in the above embodiment is provided before the front-stage separation section 41, and a plurality of PTP sheets S are aligned in advance.

[0155] The gate member 81 of this modified example moves up and down. When the gate member 81 moves up, it forms an opening between itself and the upper surface of the conveying body 41A, through which one (or two) PTP sheets S can pass.

[0156] The front-stage conveying section 42 has a lower conveyor 55 and two sensors 103a, 103b. The lower conveyor 55 is disposed adjacent to the left side (downstream in the conveying direction) of the conveying body 41A. The lower conveyor 55 has a faster conveying speed than the conveying body 41A. The two sensors 103a, 103b are disposed above the lower conveyor 55. The two sensors 103a, 103b are disposed at an interval in the left-right direction X. The two sensors 103a, 103b are, for example, reflective optical sensors.

[0157] In the example shown in Figures 23A and 23B, only multiple PTP sheets S are stacked on the conveyor 41A with their surfaces Sa1 (pocket portions Sc) facing upward. When the conveyor 41A and lower conveyor 55 are driven and the gate member 81 is raised, the bottommost PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveyor 41A, passes through the gate member 81, and is delivered to the lower conveyor 55. When the sensor 103a (hereinafter referred to as the upstream sensor) on the right side (upstream side in the conveying direction) detects the PTP sheet S, the gate member 81 stops rising. Thereafter, the gate member 81 remains stopped in this raised position. When the bottommost PTP sheet S is detected by the sensor 103b (hereinafter referred to as the downstream sensor) on the left side (downstream side in the conveying direction), the conveyor 41A stops, and only the lower conveyor 55 is driven. When the PTP sheet S passes the downstream sensor 103b, the conveying body 41A is driven again, and the next lowermost PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveying body 41A.

[0158] The bottom two PTP sheets S do not reach the lower conveyor 55 because their pocket portions Sc are caught on the gate member 81, and when the bottom PTP sheet S completely passes through the gate member 81, the second PTP sheet S from the bottom becomes the bottom and is transported by the transport body 41A.

[0159] The upstream sensor 103a is positioned so as not to detect the edge of the second-lowest PTP sheet S that has protruded from the gate member 81 when the pocket portion Sc of that PTP sheet S is caught in the gate member 81. The downstream sensor 103b is positioned so as to detect the largest PTP sheet S transported from the transport body 41A at a position where the center of gravity of the PTP sheet S rests on the lower conveyor 55. Therefore, when the downstream sensor 103b detects the PTP sheet S, approximately half or more of the PTP sheet S is placed on the lower conveyor 55, and the PTP sheet S can be transported by the lower conveyor 55 even if the transport body 41A is stopped.

[0160] In the example shown in Figures 23C and 23D, only multiple PTP sheets S with their back surfaces Sb1 facing upward are stacked on the conveying body 41A. When the conveying body 41A and the lower conveyor 55 are driven and the gate member 81 is raised, the lowermost PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveying body 41A, passes through the gate member 81, and is delivered to the lower conveyor 55. When the upstream sensor 103a detects the PTP sheet S, the gate member 81 stops rising. Thereafter, the gate member 81 remains stopped in this raised position. When the downstream sensor 103b detects the lowermost PTP sheet S, the conveying body 41A stops, and only the lower conveyor 55 is driven. When the PTP sheet S passes the downstream sensor 103b, the conveying body 41A is driven again, and the next lowermost PTP sheet S is conveyed by the conveying body 41A.

[0161] The second PTP sheet S from the bottom does not reach the lower conveyor 55 because it is caught on the gate member 81, and when the bottommost PTP sheet S completely passes through the gate member 81, the second PTP sheet S from the bottom becomes the bottommost and is transported by the transport body 41A.

[0162] In the example shown in Figures 23E and 23F, multiple sets of PTP sheets S are stacked on the conveyor 41A, with each set consisting of two PTP sheets S with their surfaces Sa1 (pocket portions Sc) facing each other and their pocket portions Sc interlocking. When the conveyor 41A and the lower conveyor 55 are driven and the gate member 81 is raised, the bottommost PTP sheet S and its associated second-lowest PTP sheet S are conveyed by the conveyor 41A, pass through the gate member 81, and are delivered to the lower conveyor 55. When the upstream sensor 103a detects the PTP sheet S, the gate member 81 stops rising. Thereafter, the gate member 81 remains stopped in this raised position. When the bottommost and second-lowest PTP sheets S are detected by the downstream sensor 103b, the conveyor 41A stops, and only the lower conveyor 55 is driven. When the two PTP sheets S pass the downstream sensor 103b, the conveying body 41A is driven again, and the next lowermost PTP sheet S and the second PTP sheet S from the bottom are conveyed by the conveying body 41A.

[0163] The third PTP sheet S from the bottom does not reach the lower conveyor 55 because it gets caught on the gate member 81, and when the lowest and second-lowest PTP sheets S have completely passed through the gate member 81, the third PTP sheet S from the bottom becomes the lowest, and the fourth PTP sheet S from the bottom becomes the second-lowest, and these are transported by the transport body 41A.

[0164] (3) The conveying unit 27 in the above embodiment includes a front-stage conveying unit 42 that conveys the PTP sheet S in the left-right direction X and a rear-stage conveying unit 44 that conveys the PTP sheet S in the front-back direction Y. This allows both conveying units 43, 44 to be compactly arranged in a small space. However, the front-stage conveying unit 42 and the rear-stage conveying unit 44 may both convey the PTP sheet S in the same direction (for example, the left-right direction X or the front-back direction Y).

[0165] (4) In the above embodiment, the loading section 26 has the placement surface 31a inclined diagonally downward and the rear side wall 34 inclined diagonally upward and rear. However, the placement surface 31a may be disposed horizontally, and the rear side wall 34 may be disposed vertically.

[0166] (5) In the above embodiment, the input section 26 has the inclined left and right side walls 32, 33. However, the left and right side walls 32, 33 may be disposed vertically.

[0167] (6) In the above embodiment, the front-stage separation unit 41 separates and transports the uppermost PTP sheet S from among the PTP sheets S stacked in the vertical direction Z. However, the front-stage separation unit 41 may separate and transport the PTP sheets S in order, starting with the lowermost PTP sheet S. In this case, the gate mechanism 80 may be configured in a manner in which the gate mechanism 80 described in the above embodiment is turned upside down. That is, the upper sides of the gate member 81 and the stopper member 82 may be rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 83, and the lower sides of the gate member 81 and the stopper member 82 may be configured to be swingable in the left-right direction X.

[0168] (7) In the above embodiment, the upstream separation section 41 retracts the conveying body 41A from the stacked PTP sheets S by moving the conveying body 41A in the vertical direction Z and the left-right direction X using the swinging mechanism 50. However, the conveying body 41A may also be retracted from the PTP sheets S by moving only in the vertical direction Z.

[0169] (8) In the above embodiment, the upstream transport section 42 includes the relay rollers 54 and the lower conveyor 55. However, these may be configured as a single lower conveyor. Also, while the upstream transport section 42 includes the lower conveyor 55 and the upper conveyor 56, the upper conveyor 56 may be omitted.

[0170] (9) In the above embodiment, the rotating body and the power transmission body that make up the conveyor (conveyor) are configured by pulleys and belts, but they may also be configured by sprockets and chains.

[0171] (10) In the above embodiment, the rear conveying section 44 includes a lower conveyor 67 and an upper conveyor 68 that convey two PTP sheets S separated by the rear separation section 43. These are arranged one above the other, but the two PTP sheets S may also be conveyed by two conveyors arranged at the same height.

[0172] (11) Among the conveying sections shown in the above embodiments, those formed in a conveyor shape may be formed in a roller shape, and conversely, those formed in a roller shape may be formed in a conveyor shape.

[0173] 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.

[0174] [Note] The following appendix describes characteristic disclosures included in the above-described embodiments and modifications.

[0175] (assignment) In the dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the dispensing cassette is provided with a partition member that sets the height of the opening for removing the PTP tablet sheet. The vertical position of this partition member must be adjusted in advance according to the thickness of the PTP tablet sheets to be stored in the dispensing cassette. Therefore, the vertical position of the partition member must be changed every time the PTP tablet sheets stored in the dispensing cassette are changed.

[0176] (Note 1) A separation device 11 for separating a plurality of stacked tablet sheets S, The separating device 11 includes a first conveying section (conveying body) 41A that conveys a first tablet sheet located at one end of the stacking direction among a plurality of stacked tablet sheets S in a direction intersecting the stacking direction; A second conveying unit (relay roller) 54 is arranged downstream in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit 41A and further conveys the first tablet sheet received from the first conveying unit 41A; A gate member 81 is provided in the conveying path of the first tablet sheet between the first conveying unit 41A and the second conveying unit 54, The gate member 81 has a portion on one end side in the stacking direction that can swing in the conveying direction and is biased toward the upstream side of the conveying direction, and is pushed by the first tablet sheet S conveyed by the first conveying section 41A to swing toward the downstream side of the conveying direction.

[0177] According to the above configuration, when a first tablet sheet located at one end in the stacking direction is transported by the first transport section 41A and comes into contact with the gate member 81, the gate member 81 swings to open the transport path, allowing the first tablet sheet S to pass. Therefore, the gate member 81 can be opened an appropriate amount without having to adjust the opening degree of the gate member 81 in advance according to the thickness of the tablet sheets S. When a second tablet sheet located second from one end in the stacking direction is dragged by the first tablet sheet and transported, the biasing force applied to the gate member 81 can prevent the second tablet sheet from passing through.

[0178] (Supplementary Note 2) The separation device of (Supplementary Note 1) further includes a stopper member 82 disposed in the conveying path of the first tablet sheet between the first conveying unit 41A and the second conveying unit 54, a portion of the stopper member 82 on one end side in the stacking direction can swing in the conveying direction, and is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction with a biasing force stronger than the biasing force applied to the gate member 81; The stopper member 82 engages with the second tablet sheet located second from one end in the stacking direction to restrict the movement of the second tablet sheet.

[0179] When a second tablet sheet, which is second from one end of the stacking direction, is transported together with a first tablet sheet located at one end of the stacking direction, if the bonding force between the first and second tablet sheets is strong, the passage of the second tablet sheet may not be prevented by gate member 81. According to the above configuration, stopper member 82 engages with the second tablet sheet, thereby restricting the movement of the second sheet and allowing the second tablet sheet to be peeled off from the first tablet sheet.

[0180] (Appendix 3) In the above (Appendix 2), the stopper member 82 is arranged downstream of the gate member 81 in the conveying direction, and protrudes upstream of the gate member 81 in the conveying direction when the gate member 81 swings downstream in the conveying direction.

[0181] According to the above configuration, the second tablet sheet attempting to pass through the gate member can be engaged with the stopper member.

[0182] (Appendix 4) In the above (Appendix 2) or (Appendix 3), The stopper member 82 is When the first tablet sheet and the second tablet sheet are engaged with each other at their surfaces Sa1 from which the tablet storage section Sc protrudes, both tablet sheets are allowed to pass through, and when the first tablet sheet and the second tablet sheet are attached with their flat back surfaces Sb1 attached to each other, a spring force is applied that allows the first tablet sheet to pass through and prevents the second tablet sheet from passing through.

[0183] According to the above configuration, the first and second tablet sheets, which are tightly interlocked with each other on their surfaces Sa1, can be transported together by the first conveying section 41A, and the first and second tablet sheets, which are adhered to each other on their back surfaces Sb1, can be peeled off and only the first tablet sheet can be transported by the first conveying section 41A.

[0184] (Appendix 5) In the above (Appendix 4), A separating section 43 is provided which further separates the first tablet sheet and the second tablet sheet which have been transported in a stacked state by the first transporting section 41A.

[0185] According to the above configuration, when the first and second tablet sheets with their surfaces Sa1 interlocking are conveyed by the first conveying section 41A, they can be separated by the separating section 43.

[0186] (Appendix 6) In the above (Appendix 5), the separation unit 43 has a first suction portion 63 that adsorbs to the back surface Sb1 of the first tablet sheet, a second suction portion 62 that adsorbs to the back surface of the second tablet sheet, and drive units (upper drive unit 65, lower drive unit 64) that move the first suction portion 63 and the second suction portion 62 in directions that move them away from each other.

[0187] According to the above configuration, the first and second tablet sheets can be peeled and separated by the first suction part 63 and the second suction part 62.

[0188] (Appendix 7) In any one of the above (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 6), The first transport section 41A transports the uppermost tablet sheet among a plurality of tablet sheets stacked one above the other.

[0189] According to the above configuration, the topmost tablet sheet is not subjected to the weight of the other tablet sheets, and can therefore be transported with a constant transport force.

[0190] (Appendix 8) In the above (Appendix 7), Further provided is a lifting unit (a mounting table 31, a lifting mechanism 36) that raises and lowers the multiple tablet sheets stacked vertically in the stacking direction, The first conveying unit 41A is disposed above the lifting units 31 and 36, and contacts the upper surface of the uppermost tablet sheet to convey the tablet sheet. The gate member 81 has a guide surface 81b that guides the uppermost tablet sheet from the lifting section 36 to the second conveying section 54 by swinging downstream in the conveying direction.

[0191] According to the above configuration, the uppermost tablet sheet can be guided to the second conveying section 54 by utilizing the gate member 81. [Explanation of symbols]

[0192] 11: Separation device 20: Housing 23: Inlet 26: Insertion section 27: Transport unit 31a: Placement surface 31b: recess 32: Left side wall (1st side wall) 33: Right side wall (second side wall) 34: Rear wall (third wall) 35: Drive mechanism 37: Sensor S: PTP sheet (tablet sheet)

Claims

1. A separation device for separating a plurality of stacked tablet sheets, an input section into which a plurality of tablet sheets stacked one above the other are input; A conveying unit that separates and conveys the plurality of tablet sheets input into the input unit, The input unit is A placement surface on which a plurality of tablet sheets are placed; A first side wall facing a first edge of a plurality of tablet sheets placed on the placement surface; A second side wall facing a second edge, which is an opposite edge to the first edge, of a plurality of tablet sheets placed on the placement surface; A tablet sheet separating device comprising: a drive mechanism for expanding and contracting the gap between the first side wall and the second side wall.

2. The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 1 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are inclined in the same direction relative to the vertical direction.

3. The conveying unit conveys the uppermost tablet sheet in a direction in which the first side wall and the second side wall face each other, The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 2 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are positioned downstream in the conveying direction of the tablet sheet toward the upper side.

4. The conveying unit conveys the uppermost tablet sheet in a direction in which the first side wall and the second side wall face each other, The first side wall is fixed with respect to the conveying direction of the tablet sheet, the second side wall is disposed on the upstream side of the first side wall in the conveying direction, The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism moves the second side wall toward and away from the first side wall.

5. The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 4 , wherein the second side wall is arranged to straddle the placement surface from above and below.

6. The input section further includes a third side wall facing a third edge of the tablet sheets placed on the placement surface, the third edge being located between the first edge and the second edge, The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 1 , wherein the placement surface is inclined relative to the horizontal direction so that the third side wall side is lower.

7. The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 6, wherein the third side wall is disposed perpendicular to the placement surface.

8. The separating device further includes a housing having an outer shell and an inlet formed on a side thereof for inserting a plurality of tablet sheets into the inserting section, The input section further includes a third side wall facing a third edge of the tablet sheets placed on the placement surface, the third edge being located between the first edge and the second edge, A tablet sheet separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the inlet is formed at a position opposite the third side wall.

9. 9. The tablet sheet separating device according to claim 8, wherein the input section has a recess that is recessed downward from the placement surface and is open at the input port.

10. The tablet sheet is formed into a rectangular shape, A tablet sheet separating device as described in claim 8, wherein the loading surface loads the plurality of tablet sheets with the longitudinal direction of the tablet sheets aligned in the opposing direction between the first side wall and the second side wall.

11. A tablet sheet separation device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, which is provided with a sensor that detects the length of the tablet sheet placed on the loading surface in the direction opposite the first side wall and the second side wall.

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