Binding device

Abstract

The present invention provides a binding device that can align the binding edges of multiple binding media and crimp them together. [Solution] The packaging stapler, which is a stapler, is equipped with a packaging guide 3, which is a guide member located on one side in the direction of the rotation axis of a pair of gears 4a and 4b, and extends from one side in the transport direction to the other side in the transport direction with respect to the meshing portion, and has a side guide 3a that guides the crimped staple end MA1 of the packaging M. In the transport direction, the side guide 3a downstream of the meshing portion is inclined to be located towards the gear as it moves downstream in the transport direction.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a binding device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a binding device provided with a pair of rotatable gears, in which a plurality of binding media are made to enter the meshing portion of the pair of rotating gears, and the binding media are pressure-bonded while being conveyed by the pair of gears.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a device provided with a guide portion that is located on the rear side of a medicine packet binding machine, which is on one side in the rotational axis direction of the gears with respect to the pair of gears, and guides the binding-side end portion on the side where the binding portion of the medicine packet as the binding medium is formed. The guide portion extends parallel to the conveyance direction from one side in the conveyance direction of the pair of gears to the other side in the conveyance direction with respect to the pair of gears. While guiding the binding-side end portion of the medicine packet with the guide portion, the medicine packet is made to enter the meshing portion of the pair of gears, and the central side of the medicine packet rather than the binding-side end portion is pressure-bonded by the pair of gears.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there has been a risk that the binding-side end portions of binding media such as a plurality of medicine packets are not aligned and are pressure-bonded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a binding device comprising a pair of rotatable gears, in which a plurality of binding media are introduced into the meshing portion of the rotating pair of gears, and the plurality of binding media are crimped and bound by the pair of gears while being transported, wherein the device comprises a guide member located on one side in the rotation axis direction of the gears with respect to the pair of gears, extending from one side in the transport direction to the other side in the transport direction with respect to the meshing portion, and having a guide portion that guides the crimped and bound end of the binding media, wherein in the transport direction, the guide portion downstream of the position of the meshing portion is inclined to be located towards the gears as it moves downstream in the transport direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, multiple binding media can be crimped and bound together with their binding-side edges aligned. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] External perspective view of the medicine package binding machine of this embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the internal structure of a medicine package binding machine. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of the binding mechanism. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram of the binding mechanism viewed from the left and right directions. [Figure 5] An enlarged diagram showing the surrounding area of ​​the pressurization mechanism. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram showing the surrounding area of ​​the first gear holder, viewed from above. [Figure 7] A schematic diagram showing the surrounding area of ​​the second gear holder, viewed from above. [Figure 8] A schematic diagram showing the second gear in the pressurized position. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram showing the second gear in the pressure release position. [Figure 10] A schematic diagram of the drive transmission mechanism. [Figure 11] Schematic plan view of the control panel. [Figure 12]A diagram for explaining the medicine packet detection sensor. [Figure 13] Side view of the main parts around the side guide and the upper guide. [Figure 14] Front view of FIG. 7. [Figure 15] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine packet binding machine. [Figure 16] Schematic diagram showing a medicine packet bundle bound by pressure bonding. [Figure 17] Schematic diagram when a medicine packet bundle MT composed of five conventional medicine packets enters the meshing part. [Figure 18] A diagram showing the state where the medicine packet in the middle position is displaced forward at the meshing part in the prior art. [Figure 19] Schematic diagram showing the medicine packet guide which is a guide member in this embodiment. [Figure 20] Schematic diagram when a medicine packet bundle MT composed of five medicine packets in this embodiment enters the meshing part. [Figure 21] (a) is a diagram for explaining the case without the upper guide, and (b) is a diagram for explaining the case with the upper guide provided. [Figure 22] Schematic diagram of the main part of Modification 1. [Figure 23] Schematic diagram of the main part of Modification 2. [Figure 24] Schematic diagram showing an example in Modification 2 where the inclination angle of the side guide on one side and the inclination angle of the side guide on the other side are respectively configured to be adjustable. [Figure 25] Schematic diagram seen in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 24. [Figure 26] (a) is a diagram showing an example where a binding device is arranged in the inner paper discharge part of the body of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. (b) is a diagram showing an example where a binding device is arranged in the side paper discharge part of the image forming apparatus.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. A person skilled in the art can easily make changes and modifications to the present invention within the scope of the claims to form other embodiments, and these changes and modifications are included in the scope of the claims. The following description is an example of the best mode in this invention and does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0009] The configuration of the main part of a medicine packet binding machine as a binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the medicine packet binding machine 1, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal configuration of the medicine packet binding machine 1 of FIG. 1. In the following, the left - right direction or the horizontal direction (also the width direction) of the medicine packet binding machine 1 is defined as the X direction, the front - rear direction or the depth direction as the Y direction, and the up - down direction or the vertical direction (also the vertical direction) as the Z direction.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medicine packet binding machine 1 as a binding device includes a main body 2, a medicine packet guide 3, a foot switch 6, an operation unit 16, and a binding mechanism 70. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 2 of the medicine packet binding machine 1 includes a base plate 7 (see FIG. 2), side plates 8, a right - side plate cover 9 (see FIG. 1), a left - side plate cover 10 (see FIG. 1), and a front - side plate cover 8a. Further, the main body 2 includes a pressure adjustment part cover 61a that covers the pressure adjustment part 61 (see FIG. 2) of the binding mechanism 70. The right - side plate cover 9 is provided with a power switch 91 and a power connector 92 for connecting to external power. The medicine packet guide 3 includes side guides 3a and 3c provided at both ends in the front - rear direction (Y direction), and an upper guide 3b as a pressing part provided on the rear side of the device.

[0011] The base plate 7 shown in FIG. 2 is also a bottom plate in the form of a frame body formed of sheet metal, and the lower parts of the side plates 8 are fixed thereto. Four legs 11 for supporting the medicine packet binding machine 1 are provided on the base plate 7. In FIG. 2, only two legs on the front side of the paper surface are visible, and the two legs provided on the back side of the paper surface are hidden by the base plate 7 and not visible. The side panel 8 is equipped with a binding mechanism 70 and a drive motor 5. The drive motor 5 and the base plate 7 are covered by a front side panel cover 8a, as shown in Figure 1.

[0012] A pressure release lever 12 is provided on the upper part of the side plate 8 via a bracket 60. The pressure release lever 12 is used by the operator to apply or release the pressure of the second gear 4b (see Figure 3) to the first gear 4a (see Figure 3), as will be described later.

[0013] The bracket 60 is positioned and fixed to the side plate 8 and also serves as the mounting reference for the pressure release lever 12 and the pressure adjustment unit 61 located below it. The pressure adjustment unit 61, which operates when the pressure release lever 12 is operated, and the bracket 60 are covered by the pressure adjustment unit cover 61a.

[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the binding mechanism 70, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the binding mechanism 70 viewed from the left-right direction (X direction), and Figure 5 is an enlarged diagram showing the area around the pressurizing mechanism 67. The binding mechanism 70 includes a pair of crimping members, a first gear 4a and a second gear 4b. The binding mechanism 70 also includes a pressurizing mechanism 67, a pressure adjustment section 61, a pressure release lever 12, and the like.

[0015] The first gear 4a is mounted on the first gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first gear support shaft 30. As shown in the schematic diagram of the area around the first gear in Figure 6, the rear end of the first gear support shaft 30 penetrates the side plate 8 and is rotatably supported by the first gear holder 13a and the side plate 8 via bearing members 32a and 32b. The drive gear 28 of the drive transmission mechanism 80 (see Figure 10), which will be described later, is attached to the rear end of the first gear support shaft 30. As shown in Figure 6, the first gear holder 13a is fixed to a pair of holder fixing members 31a and 31b which are fixed to the side plate 8 in an upright position relative to the side plate 8.

[0016] The second gear 4b is mounted on the second gear support shaft 33 so as to rotate integrally with the second gear support shaft 33. The second gear support shaft 33 is rotatably supported on the second gear holder 13b via bearing members 32c and 32d, as shown in the schematic diagram of the area around the second gear viewed from above in Figure 7. The second gear holder 13b is screwed to the holder slider 36. Alternatively, the second gear support shaft 33 may be fixed to the second gear holder 13b, and the second gear 4b may be rotatably supported on the second gear support shaft.

[0017] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the pressurizing mechanism 67 includes a pressurizing plate 15, a pair of pressurizing springs 14, a holder slider 36 to which a second gear holder 13b is fixed, and the like. The pressurizing plate 15 has an upper surface portion 15a and a side portion 15b, and the side portion 15b is supported by a linear guide 35 fixed to the side plate 8 so as to be movable within a predetermined range in the vertical direction (Z direction).

[0018] Furthermore, two stepped pins 37 are fixed to the side portion 15b of the pressure plate 15 in the vertical direction (Z direction). These two stepped pins 37 are inserted into elongated holes 36a that extend in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the holder slider 36, and the holder slider 36 is held by these two stepped pins 37 so that it can move a specified distance in the vertical direction (Z direction) relative to the pressure plate 15.

[0019] A pair of pressure springs 14 are provided in the left-right direction (X direction) with respect to the second gear support shaft 33. The lower ends of these pressure springs 14 are locked to the second gear holder 13b, and the upper ends are locked to the upper surface 15a of the pressure plate 15, so that they are compressed and installed between the second gear holder 13b and the upper surface 15a of the pressure plate 15. As a result, the second gear holder 13b is biased downward (towards the first gear 4a) by the pair of pressure springs 14, and the second gear 4b held by the second gear holder 13b comes into contact with the first gear 4a at a predetermined pressure.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the pressure adjustment section 61 consists of a bolt 64 and two nuts 65 and 66. The bolt 64 is screwed to a female thread formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical shaft 62. The upper surface 15a of the pressure plate 15 is clamped and fixed between the head of the bolt 64 and the nut 65. The nut 66 is used to screw the bolt 64 onto the cylindrical shaft 62.

[0021] The pressure adjustment unit 61 adjusts the pressure applied by the second gear 4b to the first gear 4a by adjusting the vertical position of a bolt 64 that is screwed onto the cylindrical shaft 62. Specifically, with the second gear 4b positioned in a pressurizing position that pressurizes the first gear 4a, the vertical position of the bolt 64 is adjusted. As the bolt 64 is screwed onto the cylindrical shaft 62, the pressure plate 15 rises relative to the holder slider 36, which is biased downward by a pair of pressure springs 14. As a result, the dimension L between the second gear holder 13b and the upper surface 15a of the pressure plate 15, as shown in Figure 8, increases, and the amount of compression of the pair of pressure springs 14 is reduced. Consequently, the biasing force of the pair of pressure springs 14 on the second gear holder 13b is reduced, and the pressurizing force of the second gear 4b on the first gear 4a is reduced.

[0022] On the other hand, as the bolt 64 is loosened from its screwing into the cylindrical shaft 62, the pressure plate 15 moves downward relative to the holder slider 36, which is biased downward by the pair of pressure springs 14. As a result, the dimension L between the second gear holder 13b and the upper surface 15a of the pressure plate 15, as shown in Figure 8, decreases, and the amount of compression of the pair of pressure springs 14 increases. Consequently, the biasing force of the pair of pressure springs 14 on the second gear holder 13b increases, and the pressure force of the second gear 4b on the first gear 4a increases. Once the pressure applied by the second gear 4b to the first gear 4a falls within the desired range, the bolt 64 is secured with a nut 66 to prevent it from loosening.

[0023] The cylindrical shaft 62 is held in the bracket 60 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and its upper end is attached to the pressure release lever 12 via a link mechanism. The pressure release lever 12 is rotatably supported by a pivot pin 63 provided on the bracket 60.

[0024] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the second gear 4b in the pressurized position, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the second gear 4b in the depressurized position. The pressure release lever 12 is supported by a pivot pin 63 so as to be rotatable by approximately 180°. As shown in Figure 8, when pressurized, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right in the figure. Conversely, when the pressure is released, as shown in Figure 9, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the left in the figure.

[0025] As shown in Figure 8, when the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right in the figure, the second gear 4b is in contact with the first gear 4a with a predetermined pressure. When the operator rotates the pressure release lever 12 by 180° from the state shown in Figure 8, the rotational motion of the pressure release lever 12 is converted into vertical linear motion by the link mechanism, causing the cylindrical shaft 62 to rise. As the cylindrical shaft 62 rises, the pressure plate 15, which is sandwiched between the bolt 64 and nut 65 of the pressure adjustment section 61, is guided by the linear guide 35 and rises.

[0026] When the upper of the two stepped pins 37 on the pressure plate 15 abuts against the upper end of the elongated hole 36a of the holder slider 36, the holder slider 36 rises together with the pressure plate 15. As a result, the second gear holder 13b fixed to the holder slider 36 rises, and the second gear 4b held by the second gear holder 13b separates from the first gear 4a, releasing the pressure. As shown in Figure 9, when the pressure release lever 12 is pushed to the left, the second gear 4b is positioned in a pressure release position at a sufficient distance from the first gear 4a.

[0027] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the drive transmission mechanism 80 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 5 to the first gear 4a. The drive transmission mechanism 80 is provided on the back side of the side plate 8 and includes a timing belt 26 stretched between the motor shaft 5a of the drive motor 5 and the pulley 27a, a pulley gear 27 integrally mounted coaxially with the pulley 27a, and a drive gear 28 that meshes with the pulley gear 27. The drive gear 28 is attached to the rear end of the first gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first gear support shaft 30 to which the first gear 4a is attached (see also Figure 6).

[0028] When the drive motor 5 is driven to rotate, the pulley gear 27 rotates together with the pulley 27a via the timing belt 26, and the drive gear 28, which meshes with the pulley gear 27, rotates. This causes the first gear 4a to rotate via the first gear support shaft 30. When the drive motor 5 rotates in the CW direction (clockwise), the drive transmission mechanism 80 causes the first gear 4a to rotate in the CCW direction (counterclockwise) at a predetermined reduction ratio.

[0029] Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of the operating section 16 located on the upper surface of the main body 2 of the medicine packaging machine 1. The control unit 16 includes first and second rotation direction indicator lamps 17c and 17d, a rotation speed adjustment switch 18, a rotation speed indicator 18a, a mode switching switch 19, a mode indicator 19a, and a feed amount indicator 20. It also includes feed amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b, a stop time indicator 22, stop time adjustment switches 23a and 23b, a start / stop switch 24, and a start / stop indicator 24a.

[0030] The first and second rotation direction selector switches 17a and 17b are used to switch the rotation direction of the first gear 4a and change the direction of transport of the drug package. When transporting the drug package from right to left, pressing the first rotation direction selector switch 17a on the left side illuminates the first rotation direction indicator lamp 17c of the LED (light-emitting diode) on the left side. Conversely, when transporting the drug package from left to right, pressing the second rotation direction selector switch 17b on the right side illuminates the second rotation direction indicator lamp 17d of the LED.

[0031] The rotation speed adjustment switch 18 controls the rotation speed of the drive motor 5 and switches the rotation speed of the first gear 4a to multiple stages (three stages in this embodiment). The rotation speed adjustment switch 18 also functions as a rotation speed setting means (which is also a rotation speed setting means) for setting the rotation speed (which is also the rotation speed) of the drive motor 5 in a single binding operation. The rotation speed indicator 18a has three LED lamps that light up according to the three rotation speed stages (low speed, medium speed, high speed) switched by the operation of the rotation speed adjustment switch 18.

[0032] The mode selector switch 19 is used to switch the binding mode of this drug packaging machine 1. Each time the mode selector switch 19 is pressed, the binding mode changes sequentially from single-packet mode (also called single-packet feeding mode), intermittent mode, to continuous mode, and the current binding mode is indicated by the LED indicator on the mode display 19a located to its right.

[0033] The feed rate adjustment switches 21a and 21b are used to adjust the amount of drug package dispensed in a single run during single-packet mode (one-packet dispensing mode) and intermittent mode. The feed rate adjustment switches 21a and 21b also function as a dispensing distance setting means for setting the amount of drug package dispensed by the rotation of the first gear 4a and second gear 4b via the rotational drive of the drive motor 5. The currently set dispensing rate is displayed on the dispensing rate indicator 20. Pressing the dispensing rate adjustment switch 21a, which switches the dispensing rate upwards to the + side, increases the dispensing rate, and pressing the dispensing rate adjustment switch 21b, which switches the dispensing rate downwards to the - side, decreases the dispensing rate.

[0034] The stop time adjustment switches 23a and 23b are used to adjust the stop time between jobs in intermittent mode. The stop time adjustment switches 23a and 23b also function as stop time setting means for freely setting the stop time of the drive motor 5. The currently set stop time is displayed on the stop time indicator 22. Pressing the stop time adjustment switch 23a, which is displayed as "+", increases the stop time, and pressing the stop time adjustment switch 23b, which is displayed as "-", decreases the stop time.

[0035] The start / stop switch 24 is used to start and stop the medication packaging operation in each mode. By operating the start / stop switch 24, the start and stop status of the medication packaging operation in each mode can be confirmed by the illumination of the LED on the start / stop indicator 24a.

[0036] Furthermore, the foot switch 6 shown in Figure 1 can be used for the same operation as the start / stop switch 24, and the results of that operation can be confirmed on the start / stop indicator 24a. The LED can be turned off when stopped, lit green when in operation, and lit red when an error occurs. Furthermore, in the event of an error, the feed rate indicator 20, the stop time indicator 22, etc., can be used to display error codes and other information.

[0037] Figure 12 illustrates a medication package detection sensor that detects the entry of a medication package into the meshing portion (binding processing section) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. The drug packet detection sensor 40 consists of a detection member 40a that partially protrudes from the guide surface of the drug packet guide 3, and a detection unit that detects the movement of the detection member, and is held by a bracket 41 fixed to a base plate 7, also called a bottom plate.

[0038] As the medicine package moves towards the meshing portion (binding portion) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, the detection member 40a moves downward or rotates so that the part of the detection member 40a that protrudes from the guide surface of the medicine package guide 3 retracts from the guide surface. The detection unit detects this movement of the detection member 40a, thereby detecting the entry of the medicine package into the aforementioned meshing portion.

[0039] The drug packet detection sensor 40 is configured to detect drug packets before they enter the engagement portion (binding processing portion) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, regardless of whether the drug packet bundle moves from left to right or right to left in the diagram. Specifically, the shape of the detection member 40a is appropriately designed so that the detection member 40a moves or rotates smoothly in both cases, and the detection unit can detect the movement of the detection member 40a before the drug packet bundle enters the engagement portion.

[0040] The drive motor 5 starts driving when the drug package detection sensor 40 detects a drug package, and stops driving when the drug package detection sensor 40 does not detect a drug package. This allows the first gear 4a to be rotated only when crimping multiple drug packages together, thus preventing wear on the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

[0041] Figure 13 is a side view of the key parts around the side guide and upper guide used when binding multiple drug packets, and Figure 14 is a front view of Figure 7. The medicine package guide 3 is configured to support multiple medicine packages on the upper guide surface 131, and as shown in Figure 13, it has a pair of side guides 3a and 3c and an upper guide 3b. The side guides 3a and 3c are provided at the front-rear ends of the medicine package guide 3. The upper guide 3b is optional. Omitting the upper guide 3b improves the ease of setting multiple medicine packages when stacking them and the ease of removing the bundle of medicine packages after crimping. On the other hand, having the upper guide 3b is preferable because it allows for good guidance of multiple stacked medicine packages even when the rear (back) end of the medicine package is curved upward, and prevents the crimping position of the medicine packages from shifting from the desired position.

[0042] Multiple cartridges stacked on the guide surface 131 of the cartridge guide 3 are guided by the cartridge guide 3 to the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. In addition, both sides of the lower surface of the second gear holder 13b in the left-right direction (X direction) are inclined surfaces that slope downwards as they approach the meshing portion, and this lower surface of the second gear holder 13b also functions as a guide portion that guides the stacked multiple cartridges to the meshing portion.

[0043] The first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are pressurized to a predetermined pressure. When the aforementioned drug package detection sensor 40 detects a drug package, the drive motor 5 starts to operate, causing the first gear 4a to rotate and the second gear 4b to rotate along with the first gear 4a. The stacked drug packages inserted into the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b by the operator's operation are crimped and bound together by the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b as they are transported.

[0044] When the drug package detection sensor 40 stops detecting drug packages, the rotation of the drive motor 5 stops, the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b stops, the binding operation stops, and the transport of drug packages stops.

[0045] Figure 15 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine packaging binder 1 of this embodiment. The control board 105 is equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and is connected to the drive motor 5, drug package detection sensor 40, power switch 91, foot switch 6, and operation unit 16. Operations performed on the operation unit 16 and foot switch 6 are sent to the control board 105, which then controls each operation based on this information. The drive motor 5 is a DC servo motor capable of controlling the feed position by pulses and is controlled by pulse signals from the control board 105. This makes it possible to accurately control the amount of drug package fed. Although it is also possible to accurately control the amount of drug package fed with a stepping motor, the torque fluctuates greatly depending on the number of drug packages to be bound, the material of the drug packages to be bound, and the position of the medicine inside the drug packages, so there is a risk of stepping out of step with a stepping motor. Therefore, a DC servo motor is preferred as the drive motor 5.

[0046] The drug package, having entered the meshing section (binding section) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, is pushed in the vertical direction (Z direction) by the teeth of the first gear 4a or the teeth of the second gear 4b, and is transported by the pair of gears. The drug package is then gripped between the tooth surfaces of the first gear 4a and the tooth surfaces of the second gear 4b, and the gripping force compresses the drug package, thus binding it. Immediately after entering the meshing area, the clamping force between the tooth surfaces of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b on the drug bundle is weak, allowing the device to move in the front-to-back direction (Y direction).

[0047] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing a crimped and bound drug package bundle MT. Figure 16 shows a bundle of three drug packets M1, M2, and M3, where multiple drug packets M are connected in the transport direction, and perforations, for example, are formed between the drug packets. Each drug packet has a drug-containing section MF in which the drug is sealed and a binding section MA in which crimp binding is performed. As shown in Figure 16, the drug packet is crimped and bound at a distance X from the binding end MA1 by a pair of gears, forming a crimped binding section B.

[0048] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional bundle of five drug packets (MT) inserted into the interlocking section. The drug-encapsulating portion MF of a drug packet is bulging due to the encapsulated drug, making the drug-encapsulating portion MF side of the drug packet bundle MT bulky. As a result, the binding portions MA of the drug packets M in the drug packet bundle MT face each other with a predetermined gap. When the tip of the drug packet bundle MT enters the interlocking portion (binding portion) in this state, the teeth of the second gear 4b push the binding portion of the uppermost drug packet of the drug packet bundle MT downwards. Then, as shown in Figure 17, the binding portion MA moves downwards, and the drug-encapsulating portion MF of the upper drug packet in the drug packet bundle MT lifts up, using the area near the teeth of the second gear 4b as a fulcrum. When the drug-encapsulating portion MF lifts up, the upper drug packet tries to push the lower drug packet forward. At this time, the binding portions MA of the intermediate drug packets M2 to M4 in the 2nd to 4th layers of the drug packet bundle MT are not in contact with each other, and even if they were in contact, the pressure exerted on the gear teeth is weak. Therefore, due to this pushing force Fx, the intermediate drug packets m2 to m4 move towards the front of the device.

[0049] In this embodiment, the front side guide 3c restricts the movement of intermediate-positioned drug packets m2 to m4 toward the front of the device. However, because drug packets M are flexible and lack rigidity, the force Fx trying to push them out causes the drug-encapsulating portion MF to bend and deform, and the binding portion MA of drug packets M2 to M4 moves toward the front. As a result, as shown in Figure 18, the binding ends of intermediate-positioned drug packets m2 to m4 are separated from the side guide 3a on the rear side of the device, and there is a risk that the binding ends of the drug packets will not be aligned when crimping and binding. In some cases, the binding ends of drug packets m2 to m4 may move toward the front of the position of the pair of gears, and there is a risk that they will not be crimped and bound.

[0050] Furthermore, the lowest pill packet M1 is subjected to a force Fx that tries to push it out from pill packet M2, but the binding portion MA of the lowest pill packet M1 is restricted from moving towards the front of the device by the teeth of the first gear 4a. As a result, the pill-filling portion MF of the lowest pill packet M1 does not bend.

[0051] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram showing the drug packaging guide 3, which is a guide member in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 19, in this embodiment, the side guide 3a on the rear side of the device, which is the guide section, is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the drug bundle MT by a pair of gears 4a and 4b, such that it is positioned towards the front of the device as it moves downstream in the transport direction of the drug bundle MT.

[0052] By tilting the side guide 3a as shown in Figure 19, at the point where the drug bundle MT receives conveying force from the pair of gears 4a and 4b, the conveying direction is changed from the conveying direction H1 by the pair of gears 4a and 4b to the direction H2 along the side guide 3a, and a force Fr acts on the drug bundle MT, causing it to rotate counterclockwise in the figure. As a result, a pressing force Ft is generated at the point where the drug bundle MT is engaged, pressing the binding end MA1 against the side guide 3a. This pressing force Ft becomes stronger as the tilt angle θ of the side guide 3a with respect to the conveying direction by the pair of gears increases, and in this embodiment, the tilt angle is such that the pressing force Ft is greater than or equal to the pushing force Fx.

[0053] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram showing the state when the five-packet bundle MT in this embodiment is inserted into the interlocking portion. As described above, by tilting the side guide 3a as shown in Figure 19, the pressing force Ft generated at the meshing portion becomes greater than or equal to the pushing force Fx, thereby suppressing the forward movement of the binding ends of the intermediate medication packets M2 to M4 in the medication bundle MT. As a result, the separation of the binding ends MA1 of the intermediate medication packets M2 to M4 from the side guide 3a immediately after entering the meshing portion is suppressed. This allows the medication bundle MT to be crimped and bound by the clamping force between the tooth surface of one gear 4a and the tooth surface of the other gear 4b while the binding ends of all medication packets M1 to M5 are in contact with the side guide 3a, and the binding ends MA1 of the medication bundle MT can be aligned and crimped together.

[0054] The side guide 3a is positioned perpendicularly to the guide surface 131 of the drug packet guide 3 on which the drug packet bundle MT is placed. Therefore, by applying a pressing force Ft, the binding end MA1 of each drug packet M1 to M5 in the drug packet bundle MT is brought into contact with the side guide 3a, thereby aligning the binding end MA1 of the drug packets M1 to M5 and binding the drug packet bundle MT. As a result, for all drug packets in the drug packet bundle MT, a crimped binding portion B can be formed at a distance X from the binding end MA1 of the drug packet, as shown in Figure 16.

[0055] In the configuration shown in Figure 19, the front side guide 3c is also tilted so as it moves downstream in the transport direction of the drug bundle MT, it is positioned towards the front of the device, and the distance between the rear side guide 3a and the front side guide 3c in the front-to-back direction (Y direction) is kept constant in the transport direction (X direction).

[0056] In this embodiment, as described above, a pressing force Ft is generated at the interlocking portion that presses the drug packet bundle MT against the side guide 3a. If the drug packet M is flexible and lacks rigidity, in a configuration without an upper guide 3b, as shown in Figure 21(a), this pressing force Ft may cause the drug packet M to lift up from the interlocking portion on the device side. As a result, the drug packet bundle MT may be bound without the binding ends of the drug packets M being aligned.

[0057] On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the drug packet guide 3 has an upper guide 3b on the side of the device behind the interlocking portion, so as shown in Figure 21(b), the upper guide 3b can suppress the lifting of the drug packet on the side of the device behind the interlocking portion. This makes it possible to align the binding end of the drug packet even more precisely when binding the drug packet bundle MT.

[0058] Next, a modified example of this embodiment will be described.

[0059] [Example 1] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of Modified Example 1. As shown in Figure 22, in this modified example 1, the drug packet guide 3 is rotatably attached to the main body 2. Specifically, the main body 2 has a holding shaft 120, which is a holding part that rotatably holds the drug packet guide 3, located at the same position as the meshing part of a pair of gears in the transport direction (X direction). Specifically, the holding shaft 120 is positioned so that the rotation center position of the pair of gears (hereinafter referred to as the meshing center O1) and the axial center position of the holding shaft 120 coincide in the transport direction (X direction). A holding hole 3e is provided at the center of the transport direction of the rear end of the drug packet guide 3, and by inserting the holding shaft 120 into this holding hole 3e, the drug packet guide 3 is held so as to be rotatable with the holding shaft 120 as the pivot point.

[0060] Furthermore, the retaining hole 3e is provided with a female threaded portion 3e1, and a fixing screw 121 for fixing the drug packet guide is screwed into this female threaded portion 3e1. By screwing this fixing screw 121 into the female threaded portion 3e1 and pressing the tip of the fixing screw against the retaining shaft 120, the drug packet guide 3 is fixed to the main body 2 so that it cannot rotate.

[0061] As described above, the medicine package binding machine 1 can switch the transport direction of the medicine package M by switching the rotation direction of the first gear 4a. When the transport direction of the medicine package M is switched from the left side of the device shown in Figure 19 to the right side of the device, the inclination of the side guide 3a shown in Figure 19 becomes such that it is positioned towards the rear of the device as the transport direction of the medicine package bundle MT moves downstream.

[0062] As shown in Modification 1, by attaching the drug package guide 3 to the main body 2 so that it can rotate, the tilt of the side guide 3a can be switched in accordance with the change in the transport direction of the drug packages. This makes it possible to tilt the rear side guide 3a so that, in both the transport from left to right and the transport from right to left of the device, the tilt of the rear side guide 3a is positioned towards the front of the device as the drug package bundle MT moves downstream in the transport direction.

[0063] Specifically, when switching the tilt of the side guide 3a, the fixing screw 121 is loosened to allow rotation. Then, the cartridge guide 3 is rotated using the holding shaft 120 as a pivot point to switch the tilt of the side guide 3a, and after that, the fixing screw 121 is tightened to fix the cartridge guide 3 in place.

[0064] Furthermore, in this modified example 1, the inclination angle of the side guide 3a with respect to the transport direction of the drug packet bundle MT can also be adjusted. For example, the force Fx that tries to push out changes depending on the temperature, humidity, and material of the drug packet, and in some cases the force Fx that tries to push out may be stronger than the pressing force Ft. In this case, the drug packet guide 3 is rotated to increase the inclination angle of the side guide 3a. By increasing the inclination angle, the pressing force Ft increases, which can be made to be greater than the force Fx that tries to push out, and the movement of the drug packet towards the front of the device can be suppressed at the engagement point.

[0065] Thus, in the modified example 1, the inclination angle of the side guide 3a can be adjusted to an appropriate inclination angle according to the temperature and humidity during the binding process and the material of the drug packaging, allowing the binding end of the drug packaging to be aligned well and the drug packaging bundle MT to be bound.

[0066] Furthermore, in this modified example 1, the tilt of the side guide 3a is switched by manually rotating the drug package guide 3, but the tilt of the side guide 3a may be switched automatically. For example, a driving means for rotating the drug package guide 3 is provided, and when the user presses the first rotation direction switching switch 17a shown in Figure 11, the drug package guide 3 is rotated by the driving means so that the tilt of the side guide 3a is such that the left side (-X direction) of the device is positioned towards the front of the device.

[0067] On the other hand, when the user presses the second rotation direction switching switch 17b shown in Figure 11, the drug package guide 3 is rotated by the drive mechanism so that the tilt of the side guide 3a is such that the right side (+X direction) of the device is positioned towards the front of the device. This automatically switches the tilt of the side guide 3a based on the transport direction of the drug package bundle.

[0068] Furthermore, the operating unit 16 shown in Figure 11 may be provided with adjustment buttons to increase the tilt angle of the side guide 3a by a predetermined angle and adjustment buttons to decrease the tilt angle of the side guide by a predetermined angle, so that the tilt angle of the side guide 3a can be adjusted automatically.

[0069] [Differentiation 2] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of Modified Example 2. As shown in Figure 23, in this modified example 2, in the transport direction (X direction), both the side guide 3aR on one side (right side in the figure) and the side guide 3aL on the other side (left side in the figure) are inclined so that they are located towards the front of the device as they move away from the meshing portion (specifically, the meshing center O1) with respect to the meshing portion.

[0070] With this configuration, whether the drug bundle MT is transported from the right side in the figure or from the left side in the figure, the side guide 3a downstream of the interlocking portion in the transport direction is tilted so that it is positioned towards the front of the device as it moves downstream in the transport direction. Therefore, unlike the modified example 1, when switching the transport direction of the drug bundle, the drug bundle guide 3 does not need to be rotated to change the tilt of the rear side guide 3a, and a pressing force Ft can be generated in both cases, whether the drug bundle is transported from the right side or the left side in the figure. As a result, the binding end MA1 of the drug bundle M can be aligned and the drug bundle MT can be bound together.

[0071] Furthermore, since the transport direction of the drug package bundle MT before entering the interlocking section and the transport direction of the drug package bundle after entering the interlocking section are different, a change in the transport direction is also made when the drug package bundle MT enters the interlocking section. In modified example 2, the side guide 3a upstream of the interlocking section is inclined to be located towards the front of the device as it moves downstream in the transport direction, and the drug package bundle that enters the interlocking section guided by the upstream side guide 3a attempts to rotate counterclockwise in the figure due to the change in the transport direction. As a result, even upstream of the interlocking section, a pressing force can be generated that presses the binding end MA1 of the drug package M against the side guide 3a. This prevents the binding end MA1 of the drug package from separating from the side guide 3a upstream of the interlocking section. Therefore, the drug package bundle can be entered into the interlocking section with the binding ends of the drug packages aligned, making it possible to bind the drug package bundle MT with the binding ends of the drug packages aligned even more precisely.

[0072] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram showing an example in Modification 2 in which the inclination angle of the side guide 3aR on one side in the transport direction (right side in the figure) and the inclination angle of the side guide 3aL on the other side in the transport direction (left side in the figure) are configured to be adjustable with respect to the meshing portion (specifically, the meshing center O1). Figure 25 is a schematic diagram viewed in the direction of arrow A in Figure 24. In Figure 24, the drug packet guide 3 has a first guide member 3R with a side guide 3aR formed on one side (right side in the figure) in the transport direction, with respect to the interlocking portion (specifically, the interlocking center O1), and a second guide member 3L with a side guide 3aL formed on the other side (left side in the figure) in the transport direction.

[0073] Each guide member 3R and 3L is provided with holding holes 3eR and 3eL, and a holding shaft 120 is inserted into each holding hole 3eR and 3eL, so that each guide member 3R and 3L is held so as to be rotatable with the holding shaft 120 as a pivot point. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 25, the second guide member 3L is held on the holding shaft 120 such that the holding hole 3eL of the first guide member 3R overlaps with the holding hole 3eL of the second guide member 3L.

[0074] Similar to Modification 1, each retaining hole 3eR and 3eL has a female threaded portion 3e1R and 3e1L formed therein, into which a fixing screw 121 is screwed. Similar to Modification 1, by tightening the fixing screw 121, the tip of the fixing screw 121 presses against the retaining shaft 120, thereby fixing the first and second guide members 3R and 3L.

[0075] As shown in Figure 24, a gap 3f is formed between the first guide member 3R and the second guide member 3L. Due to the presence of the gap 3f, the first guide member 3R can rotate clockwise in Figure 24, and the second guide member 3L can rotate counterclockwise in Figure 24, by a predetermined angle.

[0076] By loosening the fixing screw 121 screwed into the holding hole 3eR and rotating the first guide member 3R around the holding shaft 120 as a pivot point, the inclination angle of the side guide 3aR on one side (right side in the figure) is adjusted with respect to the meshing portion (meshing center O1). After adjustment, the fixing screw 121 is tightened to fix the first guide member 3R. Similarly, by loosening the fixing screw 121 screwed into the holding hole 3eL and rotating the second guide member 3L around the holding shaft 120 as a pivot point, the inclination angle of the side guide 3aL on the other side (left side in the figure) is adjusted with respect to the meshing portion (meshing center O1). After adjustment, the fixing screw 121 is tightened to fix the first guide member 3R. This allows the side guide 3aR on one side in the transport direction (right side in the figure) and the side guide 3aL on the other side in the transport direction (left side in the figure) to be adjusted to an appropriate inclination angle depending on the temperature and humidity during the binding process and the material of the medicine package. Therefore, the binding ends of the drug packets can be aligned properly, allowing the drug packet bundle MT to be bound together.

[0077] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the invention as described in the claims, unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description.

[0078] For example, the binding device of the present invention can be applied to the binding device 201 of an image forming apparatus, as shown in Figure 26. Figure 26(a) shows an example in which the binding device 201 is installed in the paper discharge section inside the cylinder of an image forming apparatus, and Figure 26(b) shows an example in which the binding device 201 is installed in the side paper discharge section of an image forming apparatus. The paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus is discharged to the binding device 201. Once a predetermined number of sheets of paper are stacked in the binding device, the binding machine performs pressure binding at the desired position of the stack of paper. The bound stack of paper is then stacked in the output tray 201a of the binding device 201. By applying the present invention to this binding device 201, the binding edge of the paper can be aligned and the stack of paper can be bound together.

[0079] The above is just one example; each of the following embodiments produces its own unique effects. (Aspect 1) In a binding device such as a medicine package binding machine 1, which has a pair of rotatable gears 4a and 4b, and in which a bundle of binding media such as a bundle of medicine packages MT, consisting of multiple binding media such as medicine packages M, is inserted into the meshing portion of the pair of gears 4a and 4b, and the bundle of binding media is crimped and bound while being transported by the pair of gears, a guide member such as a medicine package guide 3 is provided, which is located on one side (rear side of the device) in the direction of the rotation axis of the gears with respect to the pair of gears, extends from one side in the transport direction to the other side in the transport direction with respect to the meshing portion, and has a guide portion such as a side guide 3a that guides the crimped and bound end of the bundle of binding media, and in the transport direction, the guide portion downstream of the position of the meshing portion in the transport direction is inclined so as it goes downstream in the transport direction it is positioned towards the gear. Multiple binding media that enter the meshing portion of a rotating pair of gears are transported by the pair of gears, being pushed by the teeth of one gear towards the tooth roots of the other gear. The multiple binding media are then gradually clamped between the tooth surfaces of one gear and the tooth surfaces of the other gear, and the clamping force causes the binding media to be compressed and stapled at the central portion rather than at the binding end. Immediately after three or more binding media enter the meshing section, the binding-side end of the intermediate binding media that is not in contact with the gear teeth may separate from the guide section due to the pushing of the gear teeth. This is because, immediately after entering the meshing section, the clamping force between the tooth surface of one gear and the tooth surface of the other gear is not sufficiently acting, and the binding media can move in the direction away from the guide section. In particular, if the binding media is like a medicine package, with medicine sealed on the opposite side of the binding side, and the opposite side of the binding side of multiple binding media is bulky, there is a high risk that the binding-side end of the intermediate binding media will separate from the guide section. This is because, when the opposite side of the binding side of multiple binding media is bulky, the binding sides of the binding media enter the meshing section with gaps between them. Then, when the binding side of the uppermost binding medium is pushed downward by the teeth of the gear above the binding medium, the end opposite the binding side of the uppermost binding medium lifts up, narrowing the gap between it and the binding side of the intermediate binding medium below it. At this point, which acts as the pivot point for the lifting of the uppermost binding medium, the uppermost binding medium attempts to push the intermediate binding medium below it away from the guide. This pushing force makes it highly likely that the binding end of the intermediate binding medium will separate from the guide. Thus, if the binding end of an intermediate binding medium separates from the guide immediately after multiple binding media enter the meshing section, the binding end of the intermediate binding medium will remain separated from the guide when the multiple binding media are compressed and bound together by the clamping force between the tooth surfaces of one gear and the other gear. As a result, there was a risk that the binding ends of the multiple binding media would not be aligned when they were bound together. In Embodiment 1, the guide portion downstream of the meshing portion in the transport direction is inclined so that it is positioned towards the gear as it moves downstream in the transport direction. As a result, the meshing portion of the binding medium that is receiving the transport force from the pair of gears is redirected to move along the guide portion. When the transport direction is redirected by the guide portion, a pressing force is generated at the meshing portion of the binding medium, pushing the binding-side end against the guide portion. This pressing force prevents the binding-side end of the binding medium in the intermediate position immediately after entering the meshing portion from separating from the guide portion. As a result, with the binding-side ends of all binding mediums in contact with the guide portion, the leading edges in the transport direction of multiple binding mediums can be crimped and bound by the clamping force between the tooth surfaces of one gear and the other gear, and the binding-side ends of multiple binding mediums can be aligned and crimped together.

[0080] (Aspect 2) In embodiment 1, the guide member such as the medicine package guide 3 has a pressing portion such as an upper guide 3b that faces the crimped end MA1 of the binding medium such as the medicine package from above and suppresses the lifting of the crimped end of the binding medium. According to this, as described in the embodiment, the pressing force Ft applied to abut the binding ends of multiple binding media, such as a drug package bundle MT, against a guide part such as the side guide 3a prevents the binding ends of the multiple binding media from lifting up, which can then be held down by a pressing part such as the upper guide 3b. This allows for crimp binding with the binding ends of the multiple binding media abutting against the guide part, enabling the binding ends of the multiple binding media to be aligned and bound together.

[0081] (Aspect 3) In embodiment 1 or 2, the guide member such as the drug package guide 3 has a mounting surface portion which is a guide surface 131 on which a plurality of binding media such as a drug package bundle MT are placed, and the guide portion such as the side guide 3a extends perpendicularly from the mounting surface portion. According to this, as described in the embodiment, when crimping, multiple binding media such as a drug package bundle MT can be brought into contact with the guide portion, thereby aligning the binding-side ends of the binding media and binding multiple binding media together.

[0082] (Aspect 4) In any of embodiments 1 to 3, the transport direction of multiple binding media such as drug bundles MT by a pair of gears is configured to be switchable, and in the transport direction, with respect to the meshing portion, one side of the guide portion such as the side guide 3a in the transport direction and the other side in the transport direction are inclined with respect to the transport direction such that they are positioned towards the gear side as they move away from the meshing portion. According to this, as explained in Modification 2, when transporting multiple binding media such as drug bundles MT from one side, or when transporting multiple binding media from the other side, the guide portion such as the side guide 3a on the downstream side in the transport direction is inclined to be positioned towards the gear as it moves downstream in the transport direction. Therefore, when transporting multiple binding media from one side, or when transporting multiple binding media from the other side, the binding ends of the binding media can be aligned and the multiple binding media can be bound together.

[0083] (Appendix 5) In any of embodiments 1 to 4, the device is equipped with a means for changing the inclination angle of a pair of gears in a guide section, such as a side guide 3a, with respect to the transport direction of the binding medium (in this embodiment, this means is a holding shaft that rotatably holds a guide member such as a medicine package guide 3). According to this, as explained in Modification 1, the force Fx that tries to push out when multiple binding media such as a drug bundle MT enter the interlocking part varies depending on the temperature and humidity and the material of the binding media at that time. By changing the inclination angle of the guide part such as the side guide 3a using the changing means according to the temperature and humidity and the material of the binding media when performing the binding process, the pressing force Ft can be made greater than or equal to the force trying to push out Fx, and multiple binding media can be bound together with good alignment of the binding side edges of the binding media.

[0084] (Aspect 6) In embodiment 5, the transport direction of multiple binding media, such as drug bundles, by a pair of gears is configured to be switchable, and the changing means changes the inclination angle according to the transport direction. According to this, as explained in Modification 1, when transporting multiple binding media such as drug bundles MT from one side, or when transporting multiple binding media from the other side, the downstream side of the guide part such as the side guide can be inclined so that it is positioned towards the gear side as it goes downstream in the transport direction, and the binding end of the binding media can be aligned and the bundle of binding media can be bound.

[0085] (Aspect 7) In embodiment 5 or 6, the modification means has a holding part such as a holding shaft 120 that rotatably holds a guide member such as a drug packet guide 3 at the same position as the interlocking part in the transport direction. According to this, as explained in Modification 1, the inclination angle of the guide part, such as the side guide 3a, can be changed by rotating the guide member, such as the drug packaging guide 3, around the holding part, such as the holding shaft 120, as a pivot point.

[0086] (Pattern 8) In embodiment 5, the modification means can change the inclination angle of the guide portion on one side in the transport direction (side guide 3aR) and the inclination angle of the guide portion on the other side in the transport direction (side guide 3aL), respectively, with reference to the position of the rotation center of the gear. According to this, as explained in Modification 2, depending on the temperature and humidity during the binding process and the material of the medicine package, the guide portion on one side in the transport direction (right side in the figure), such as side guide 3aR, and the side guide 3aL on the other side in the transport direction (left side in the figure), such as side guide 3aL, can be adjusted to an appropriate inclination angle, allowing multiple binding media to be bound together with good alignment of the binding-side edges.

[0087] (Aspect 9) In embodiment 8, the guide member such as the drug packaging guide 3 has a first member such as a first guide member 3R having a guide portion on one side in the transport direction such as a side guide 3aR, and a second member such as a second guide member 3L having a guide portion on the other side in the transport direction such as a side guide 3aL, and the changing means has a holding portion such as a holding shaft 120 that rotatably holds the first member and the second member at the same position as the interlocking portion in the transport direction. According to this, as explained in Modification 2, the inclination angle of the guide portion on one side in the transport direction, such as the side guide 3aR, can be changed by rotating the first member, such as the first guide member 3R, around the holding part, such as the holding shaft 120, as a pivot point. Furthermore, the inclination angle of the guide portion on the other side in the transport direction, such as the side guide 3aL, can be changed by rotating the first member, such as the second guide member 3L, around the holding part as a pivot point.

[0088] (Aspect 10) In any of embodiments 1 to 9, the binding medium is a medicine package. According to this, as described in the embodiment, because the drug-containing portion MF of the drug packet contains the drug, the drug-containing portion side of the drug packet bundle, which consists of multiple drug packets, becomes bulky, and gaps are created between the binding portions MA of the drug packet bundle. In this state, when the drug packet bundle enters the interlocking portion and the binding portion side of the drug packet bundle is pushed downward by the teeth of one gear, the drug-containing portion of the drug packet lifts up. This lifting causes the upper drug packet to try to push the lower drug packet away from the guide portion side, such as the side guide 3a. As a result, the drug packets in the drug packet bundle are prone to shifting away from the guide portion, and there is a high risk that the binding end will shift and the drug packet bundle MT will be bound together. Therefore, as described above, the guide portion on the downstream side in the transport direction is inclined with respect to the transport direction so that it is positioned towards the gear side as it moves downstream in the transport direction, thereby generating a pressing force on the drug package bundle that has entered the meshing portion, and preventing the drug package bundle MT from being bound by misalignment of the binding end. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 1: Medicine package binding machine 2: Main unit 3: Medicine Packaging Guide 3R: First guide member 3L: Second guide member 3a: Rear side guide 3b: Upper guide 3c: Front side guide 3e: Holding hole 3e1: Female threaded section 3f: Gap 4a: First Gear 4b: Second Gear 16:Operation section 17a: First rotation direction changeover switch 17b: Second rotation direction changeover switch 120: Holding axis 121: Fixing screw 131: Guide surface F1: Pushing force Ft: Pressing force Fx: The force that tries to push something out M:Medicine package MA: Binding section MA1: Binding edge MF: Drug Encapsulation Department MT:Medicine bundle O1: Center of occlusion θ: Inclination angle of the rear side guide with respect to the transport direction [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0090] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-19245

Claims

1. Equipped with a pair of rotatable gears, A binding device that inserts a plurality of binding media into the meshing portion of a rotating pair of gears, and presses and binds the plurality of binding media while transporting them with the pair of gears, The guide member is located on one side in the rotation axis direction of the gears with respect to the pair of gears, and extends from one side in the transport direction to the other side in the transport direction of the binding medium with respect to the meshing portion, and has a guide portion that guides the crimped end of the binding medium, A binding device characterized in that, in the aforementioned transport direction, the guide portion downstream of the position of the meshing portion in the transport direction is inclined to be positioned towards the gear side as it moves downstream in the transport direction.

2. A binding device according to claim 1, The binding device is characterized in that the guide member faces the crimp binding end of the binding medium from above and has a pressing portion that suppresses the lifting of the crimp binding end of the binding medium.

3. A binding device according to claim 1, The binding device is characterized in that the guide member has a mounting surface on which the plurality of binding media are placed, and the guide portion extends vertically from the mounting surface described above.

4. A binding device according to claim 1, The transport direction of the binding medium by the pair of gears is configured to be switchable. A binding device characterized in that, in the aforementioned transport direction, one side of the guide portion in the transport direction and the other side in the transport direction are inclined with respect to the transport direction such that they are positioned toward the gear as they move away from the meshing portion, with reference to the position of the meshing portion.

5. A binding device according to claim 1, A binding device characterized by comprising a means for changing the inclination angle of the guide portion with respect to the transport direction of the binding medium by the pair of gears of the guide portion.

6. A binding device according to claim 5, The transport direction of the binding medium by the pair of gears is configured to be switchable. The binding device is characterized in that the modification means changes the inclination angle according to the transport direction of the pair of gears.

7. A binding device according to claim 5, The binding device is characterized in that the modification means has a holding portion that rotatably holds the guide member at the same position as the meshing portion in the transport direction.

8. A binding device according to claim 5, The binding device is characterized in that the modification means can change the inclination angle of the guide portion on one side of the transport direction and the inclination angle of the guide portion on the other side of the transport direction, respectively, with reference to the position of the meshing portion in the transport direction.

9. A binding device according to claim 8, The guide member comprises a first member having a guide portion on one side in the conveying direction and a second member having a guide portion on the other side in the conveying direction. The binding device is characterized in that the modifying means has a holding portion that rotatably holds the first member and the second member at the same position as the interlocking portion in the transport direction.

10. A binding device according to claim 1, A binding device characterized in that the binding medium is a medicine package.

Images