Drug packaging machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a drug packaging machine that can shorten the transport distance of the packaging paper, suppress the occurrence of transport jams, and reduce the risk of the packaging paper being cut. [Solution] A drug packaging machine 1 comprising: a device body 2 equipped with a discharge port 53 for discharging drugs; a drug storage unit 10 provided at the top of the device body 2 for storing drugs and discharging predetermined amounts at a time; a packaging means 46 for packaging the drugs that have fallen from the drug storage unit 10 and for transporting the continuous packaging paper 38 containing the drugs to the discharge port 53 in a vertical position; and a posture displacement means 47 provided between the packaging means 46 and the discharge port 53 for receiving the packaging paper 38 transported by the packaging means 46 in a vertical position, displacing it in a horizontal position, and then discharging it from the discharge port 53.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical packaging machine that packages pharmaceuticals, and more particularly to a pharmaceutical packaging machine capable of delivering the discharged pharmaceuticals to a connecting device such as an inspection device.

Background Art

[0002] A pharmaceutical packaging machine that packages and discharges pharmaceuticals is known. The pharmaceutical packaging machine outputs a packaging paper in which a plurality of packages, which are individual packages containing pharmaceuticals, are connected as a product. The pharmaceutical packaging machine includes a plurality of pharmaceutical storage parts such as a pharmaceutical cassette in which pharmaceuticals are stored above the device, and discharges a prescribed number of pharmaceuticals from each pharmaceutical storage part according to prescription information. The discharged pharmaceuticals freely fall by gravity, and after the pharmaceuticals for one package are collected at one location, they are enclosed in the individual package by a packaging device provided at the bottom of the device, and the packaging paper is created. Since the pharmaceuticals that freely fall by gravity are enclosed in the packaging paper, the packaging paper conveyed in the pharmaceutical packaging machine is conveyed in a vertical posture standing upright in the vertical direction to receive the falling pharmaceuticals.

[0003] Generally, for medications sealed in packaging paper by a medication packaging machine, an inspection process is performed to confirm whether the packaging was accurate and matched the prescription information. This inspection process is traditionally performed by a pharmacist, but in recent years it has been carried out by an inspection device. This inspection device can take an image of the medication while it is still sealed in the packaging paper and, based on the captured image, can identify whether the sealed medication matches the prescription information. In this inspection process, since the medication sealed in the packaging paper is photographed, the packaging paper is transported in a horizontal position so that the medications inside do not overlap, and then the medication is photographed by the imaging device. Therefore, when introducing the packaging paper discharged from the packaging device of the medication packaging machine into the inspection device, it is necessary to displace the packaging paper, which is transported in a vertical position within the packaging device, to a horizontal position. Traditionally, the packaging paper discharged from the drug packaging machine was manually introduced into the inspection device. However, in recent years, with the promotion of DX (Digital Transformation), automation is being recommended to minimize manual work in order to improve competitiveness in the market.

[0004] As mentioned above, drug packaging machines dispense drugs that are free-falling due to gravity from each drug storage section without resisting that gravity. Therefore, the packaging device, which is responsible for the final stage of packaging, is located at the very bottom of the drug packaging machine, and the packaging paper is discharged from the bottom of the machine. In contrast, inspection devices, which perform the inspection process, often have their operation panel, display panel, and inspection panel positioned at a high location to improve work efficiency while the operator is standing. Consequently, in order to automatically introduce the packaging paper discharged from the drug packaging machine into the inspection device, it is necessary to change the orientation during transport from vertical to horizontal, and to raise the packaging paper, which has been discharged at a low position, to a higher position.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned technologies, a conveyor has been disclosed that transports packaging paper discharged from a drug packaging machine in a vertical position in a horizontal position, and is equipped with a detection device that detects when a tear occurs in the perforations formed in the packaging paper (see, for example, "Patent Document 1"). Also disclosed is a drug inspection support system that sends packaging paper discharged from a drug packaging machine in a vertical position downward in the height direction to a conveyor in a horizontal position, displaces it from downward in the height direction when sending it from the conveyor to an inspection device, and then transports it from upward in the height direction to an inspection device and discharges it downward in the height direction (see, for example, "Patent Document 2"). Furthermore, a drug packaging device has been disclosed that includes a packaging means for discharging packaging paper containing drugs in a vertical position from a discharge section, a transport means for inserting and transporting the discharged packaging paper in a horizontal position from a transport opening, and a changing means for contacting the packaging paper inserted from the discharge section to the transport opening and rotating the packaging paper by external force to change the vertical position to a horizontal position (see, for example, "Patent Document 3"). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7301988 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6911160 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6388049 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In each of the technologies described above, the packaging paper discharged from the drug packaging machine is in a vertical position, and the packaging paper is displaced from a vertical to a horizontal position either inside the connecting device connected to the drug packaging machine or between the drug packaging machine and the connecting device. As a result, the transport distance over which the packaging paper is carried becomes longer, raising concerns about the occurrence of transport jams. Furthermore, if the connecting device is not connected to the drug packaging machine, the packaging paper is discharged in a vertical position and stored in the storage container, which may cause stress on the perforations of the packaging paper when it lands, potentially causing the packaging paper to tear midway.

[0008] The technology disclosed in "Patent Document 1" includes a pair of transport rollers that feed the packaging paper in a vertical position and a pair of transport rollers that receive and feed the packaging paper in a horizontal position, with the packaging paper simply passing between each pair of transport rollers. There is no structure to guide the packaging paper, and external forces act on the packaging paper, which may cause the packaging paper to tear at the perforations. In the technology disclosed in "Patent Document 2," the drug packaging machine feeds out the packaging paper in a vertical position and the conveyor receives the packaging paper in a horizontal position. However, this configuration also lacks a mechanism to guide the packaging paper, and there is a risk that external force will act on the packaging paper and cause it to tear at the perforations. Although a technology has been disclosed in which perforations are formed on the packaging paper just before it is discharged from the inspection device to prevent this, in this case the drug packaging machine cannot be operated on its own. In the technology disclosed in "Patent Document 3," the packaging paper is changed from a vertical position to a horizontal position by a changing means, but there is a risk that the packaging paper may be cut along the perforations when the changing means comes into contact with the packaging paper and rotates it with an external force. The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a drug packaging machine that can shorten the transport distance of the packaging paper, suppress the occurrence of transport jams, and reduce the risk of the packaging paper being cut. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The invention described in claim 1 is characterized by comprising: a device body equipped with an outlet for discharging a drug; a drug storage section provided at the top of the device body for storing a drug and discharging a predetermined amount at a time; a packaging means for packaging the drug that has fallen from the drug storage section and for transporting the continuous packaging paper containing the individual drug packages to the outlet in a vertical position; and a posture displacement means provided between the packaging means and the outlet for receiving the packaging paper transported by the packaging means in a vertical position, displacing it in a horizontal position, and then discharging it from the outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a packaged paper created in a horizontal position can be displaced back into a horizontal position and discharged from the discharge port. As a result, since the discharged packaged paper is in a horizontal position, no load is placed on the perforations of the packaged paper when it lands, and the cutting of the packaged paper is prevented. Furthermore, since the packaging paper is discharged from the outlet in a horizontal position, when connecting devices such as a winding device or inspection device for the packaging paper are connected to the drug packaging machine, the orientation is not displaced, thus shortening the transport distance of the packaging paper and suppressing problems such as transport jams and breakage at the perforations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front view of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional front view of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional side view of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a tablet cassette and cassette base used in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating the extended state of the upper shutter section used in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a schematic perspective view from below illustrating the lower chute section, which is pulled out from the main body of the device together with the upper shutter section used in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a schematic perspective view showing the front and rear shelves of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state where they are opened 180 degrees relative to the main body of the device. [Figure 9] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating (a) the support structure at the top and (b) the support structure at the bottom of the front shelf of the device body used in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10]It is a schematic perspective view for explaining a fixing structure of a front shelf by a device main body used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a schematic perspective view showing a packaging device used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a packaging device used in an embodiment of the present invention is pulled out from a device main body. [Figure 13] It is a schematic plan view showing a packaging device used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] It is a schematic perspective view showing attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] It is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which each cover of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened. [Figure 16] It is a schematic perspective view showing an internal main part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] It is (a) a schematic perspective view seen from the upstream side in the direction of conveyance of packaging paper and (b) a schematic perspective view seen from the downstream side in the direction of conveyance of packaging paper of an attitude displacement member used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] It is (a) a side sectional view at a position where the inclination angle of a curved surface body is 45 degrees and (b) a side sectional view at a position immediately before the inclination angle of the curved surface body becomes 0 degrees of an attitude displacement member used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] It is a schematic perspective view for explaining a vertical conveyance part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] It is a schematic plan view for explaining a vertical conveyance part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] It is a schematic front view for explaining a vertical conveyance part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] It is a schematic side view for explaining a vertical conveyance part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] It is a schematic perspective view for explaining a horizontal conveyance part of attitude displacement means according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24]This is a schematic plan view illustrating the horizontal transport section of a posture displacement means according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] This is a schematic front view illustrating the horizontal transport section of a posture displacement means according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] This is a schematic side view illustrating the horizontal transport section of a posture displacement means according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the upstream side in the direction of paper packaging transport. [Figure 28] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of each conveying member. [Figure 29] This is a schematic rear view of a posture displacement means according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] This is a schematic plan view of a posture displacement means according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a drug packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic side view thereof, Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional front view according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view thereof. The drug packaging machine 1 mainly consists of a main unit 2, a tablet shelf 3, and a packaging device 4. Inside the main unit 2, there is an upper drug collection mechanism 5 and a lower drug collection mechanism 6. The tablet shelf 3 is located at the top of the main unit 2 and the packaging device 4 is located at the bottom. Inside the main unit 2, the upper drug collection mechanism 5 is located at the top and the lower drug collection mechanism 6 is located at the bottom.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, a stepped section 2a is provided between the upper part of the device body 2 where the tablet shelf 3 is located and the lower part where the packaging device 4 is located, and the device is configured to allow dispensing work to be performed by an operator on the stepped section 2a. The main body of the device 2 contains control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the drug packaging machine 1, and a touch panel 7 is located on the upper front of the tablet shelf 3 for input when operating the drug packaging machine 1. The base end of the touch panel 7 is supported by an arm member 7a fixed to the main body of the device 2 located above the tablet shelf 3, and the touch panel 7 can occupy any position by rotating and extending the arm member 7a.

[0014] As shown in Figure 4, the tablet shelf 3 is composed of a front shelf 8 and a rear shelf 9. The front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9 house numerous tablet cassettes 10, which are drug storage units. In the example shown in this embodiment, 18 tablet cassettes 10 are housed in 3 rows and 6 columns on each of the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9. Here, the structure and operation of the tablet cassette 10 used in this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 5, the tablet cassette 10 is equipped with two rotors 11 and 12, a container body 13 for holding tablets, a handle 14, a lid 15, and two tablet outlets 16 and 17. It is larger than a normal tablet cassette and is configured to hold a larger quantity of tablets than a normal tablet cassette. The tablet cassette 10 is driven to rotate by the engagement of its base 19 with cassette bases 18, each of which are provided on the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9. This allows the rotors 11 and 12 to rotate, and tablets contained inside the container body 13 to be discharged one by one from the respective tablet outlets 16 and 17. The operator of the drug packaging machine 1 carries the tablet cassette 10 by grasping the handle 14.

[0015] The cassette base 18 has a transmission drive unit 20 that engages with the rotation drive mechanisms of each rotor 11, 12 provided on the tablet cassette 10 from below the base portion 19 and transmits rotational driving force to each rotor 11, 12. When the transmission drive unit 20 is rotated by the operation of the pulse motor, each rotor 11, 12 is also rotated in synchronous motion. The outer circumference of each rotor 11, 12 is provided with a plurality of grooves and protrusions formed at equal pitches, and as each rotor 11, 12 rotates, one tablet enters into each groove and protrusion. Then, when the groove containing the tablet aligns with each tablet discharge port 16, 17, one tablet is discharged from each tablet discharge port 16, 17. Note that when the grooves and protrusions on rotor 11 align with the tablet discharge port 16, the protrusions on rotor 12 align with the tablet discharge port 17. As a result, tablets are dispensed from each tablet dispensing port 16 and 17 at different times.

[0016] An identification member 21 is provided on the bottom surface of the base portion 19 of the tablet cassette 10, which records the type of tablet contained inside the container body 13. A commercially available thin, flexible RFID tag is used as the identification member 21, and information about the tablets contained in each tablet cassette 10 is pre-written on it. The combination of the contained tablets and the identification member 21 is stored by a control means (not shown), and this information can be confirmed, for example, via a touch panel 7. The cassette base 18 is provided with an identification sensor 23 on its upper surface 22 that recognizes an identification member 21. The identification sensor 23 is configured to identify the tablet cassette 10 that is placed on and engaged with the cassette base 18 by identifying the identification member 21 provided on any tablet cassette 10. In the configuration described above, a tablet cassette 10 is shown as the drug storage unit, which is larger than a normal tablet cassette and capable of storing a large number of tablets. However, the drug storage unit that can be used in the drug packaging machine 1 of this embodiment is not limited to this, and any storage unit that can store a large number of tablets and discharge the stored tablets one by one according to the instructions of the control means can be used. For example, in addition to a tablet cassette that is detachably attached to the tablet shelf 3, a tablet feeder fixed to the drug shelf 3 can also be used.

[0017] The front shelf 8, to which each cassette base 18 is fixed, allows the operator to attach and detach tablet cassettes 10 to each cassette base 18 from the front side of the device, and the tablets contained in the tablet cassettes 10 mounted on the front shelf 8 are packaged by the packaging device 4. In addition, the rear shelf 9, to which each cassette base 18 is fixed, allows the operator to attach and detach tablet cassettes 10 to each cassette base 18 from the rear side of the device, and the tablets contained in the tablet cassettes 10 mounted on the rear shelf 9 are also packaged by the packaging device 4. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9 are each provided with retractable doors 24 and 25, respectively, to protect the stored tablet cassettes 10. Thus, the drug packaging machine 1 allows for the attachment and detachment of tablet cassettes 10 to the tablet shelf 3 from either the front or the back, significantly improving operability compared to conventional drug packaging machines where tablet cassettes can only be attached and detached from the front. Furthermore, it enables operation by two or more operators, improving work efficiency.

[0018] As shown in Figure 4, an upper drug collection mechanism 5 having individual guide passages 26 and a collective guide passage 27 is positioned between the tablet cassettes 10 housed on the front shelf 8 and the tablet cassettes 10 housed on the rear shelf 9. The individual guide passages 26, formed from sheet metal members, are provided corresponding to each cassette base 18 and guide the tablets discharged from each tablet outlet 16, 17 downwards. The collective guide passage 27, formed by the opposition of sheet metal plate members 36, is provided on the rear side of each shelf 8, 9 and guides the tablets released from each individual guide passage 26 downwards in a single unit.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower drug collection mechanism 6 is located below the tablet shelf 3 and collects tablets that have fallen from the multiple tablet cassettes 10 housed in the tablet shelf 3 via the upper drug collection mechanism 5, and then drops the collected tablets towards the packaging device 4 located further below. In the drug packaging machine 1, the lower drug collection mechanism 6 mainly consists of an upper chute section 28, a lower chute section 29, and an upper shutter section 30. The upper chute section 28 is located at the very top of the lower drug collection mechanism 6 and is a large, rectangular tubular member that is inclined and narrows at the bottom, designed to send the drug falling from the upper drug collection mechanism 5 from the rear to the front of the device. The lower chute section 29 is located below the upper chute section 28 and is a small, rectangular tubular member that is inclined and narrows at the bottom, so as to send the drug falling from the upper chute section 28 further from the rear to the front of the device. The openable and closable upper shutter section 30 is located between the upper chute section 28 and the lower chute section 29. It temporarily stores the chemical that falls from the upper chute section 28 in a closed state, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, it opens up and allows the chemical to fall into the lower chute section 29.

[0020] In the lower drug collection mechanism 6, the lower chute section 29 and the upper shutter section 30 are configured to be retractable from the main body 2 of the device. As shown in Figure 1, the front portion of the main body 2 of the device, which houses the packaging device 4, is provided with a front cover 31 that can be opened and closed forward and downward, with its lower end acting as an opening and closing pivot. Above the front cover 31 is a front plate 32 that can be retracted toward the front of the device when the front cover 31 is open. As shown in Figure 6, a shelf section 33 is connected to the front plate 32 by a rail member (not shown) that is supported so as to be retractable toward the front of the device, and the upper shutter section 30 is detachably attached to the shelf section 33 inside the shelf section 33.

[0021] Figure 7 is a view from below of the shelf section 33 extended from the main body of the device 2. Below the bottom plate 33a of the shelf section 33, a lower chute section 29 is positioned. The lower chute section 29 is supported by a rail member (not shown) and is configured to be detachably attached to the shelf section 33, which is extended to the front side of the device and forms part of the main body of the device 2. At the rear end of the lower chute section 29, a ball catch mechanism 34 is provided to hold the lower chute section 29 when it is attached to the shelf section 33, and a chute section detection sensor 35 is provided to detect when the lower chute section 34 is attached to a predetermined position on the shelf section 33. In addition, the bottom plate 33a to which the lower chute section 29 is attached is provided with a hole (not shown) that connects the upper shutter section 30 and the lower chute section 29.

[0022] With the above configuration, the lower chute section 29 and the upper shutter section 30 can be pulled out integrally from the main body 2 of the device. As the upper shutter section 30 is exposed when pulled out from the main body 2, the upper shutter section 30 can be easily cleaned, improving ease of cleaning. Furthermore, cleaning can be improved by removing the upper shutter section 30 from the shelf section 33. Furthermore, since the lower chute section 29 is detachable from the shelf section 33, the lower chute section 29 can be removed from the main unit 2 for cleaning, improving ease of cleaning. In addition, a ball catch mechanism 34 for fixing the lower chute section 29 to the shelf section 33 and a chute section detection sensor 35 that detects when the lower chute section 34 is installed in a predetermined position on the shelf section 33 are provided, so the lower chute section 34 can be reliably set in the predetermined position. Moreover, even if the lower chute section 29 is forgotten to be set on the shelf section 33 and the shelf section 33 is stored in the main unit 2, the chute section detection sensor 35 will detect that the lower chute section 29 is not installed on the shelf section 33, thus preventing contamination and malfunction of the device that may occur when the device is operated without the lower chute section 29 installed.

[0023] As described above, the tablet shelf 3 consists of a front shelf 8 and a rear shelf 9, and as shown in Figure 8, the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9 are each rotatably supported on the main body 2 of the device. Specifically, the front shelf 8 is rotatably supported on one side toward one side of the main body 2 of the device and is configured to be openable toward the front of the device, and the rear shelf 9 is rotatably supported on one side toward one side of the main body 2 of the device and is configured to be openable toward the rear of the device. The support structure of the rear shelf 9 to the main unit 2 is described below. Since the front shelf 8 is configured similarly, only the rear shelf 9 will be described here.

[0024] The rear shelf 9 is rotatably supported by a hinge mechanism 50 shown in Figure 9(a) on the upper part of one side of the device body 2, and by a hinge mechanism 54 shown in Figure 9(b) on the lower part of one side of the device body 2. The device body 2 and the rear shelf 9 are provided with an open state holding mechanism (not shown) that holds the rear shelf 9 in the open state when it is opened at a 90-degree angle relative to the device body 2 as shown in Figure 8. The device body 2 and the rear shelf 9 are also provided with a detection mechanism that detects when the rear shelf 9 is in a predetermined position closed relative to the device body 2, which is the dispensing position where tablets can be dispensed. The detection mechanism consists of a dog 55a provided on the rear shelf 9 and a sensor 55b provided on the device body 2, and when the dog 55a is detected by the sensor 55b, it is detected that the rear shelf 9 is in the dispensing position. The front shelf 8 is supported on one side of the device body 2 by a hinge mechanism similar to that of the rear shelf 9, allowing it to rotate on one side. When opened at a 90-degree angle relative to the device body 2, it is held open by a similar open-state holding mechanism. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 8, the front shelf 8 is open at a 90-degree angle toward the front of the device body 2, and the rear shelf 9 is open at a 90-degree angle toward the rear of the device body 2, meaning that the tablet shelf 3 can be held open at a 180-degree angle relative to the device body 2.

[0025] On the side opposite to the pivot point of the front shelf 8 and the main body 2, a fixing member 56 is provided to fix the front shelf 8 to the main body 2 when the front shelf 8 is closed to the main body 2 and occupies the dispensing position. As shown in Figure 10, the fixing member 56 is composed of an engaging member 57 provided on the main body 2 side and an engaged member 58 provided on the front shelf 8 side, and the engaged member 58 engages with the engaging member 57 when the front shelf 8 occupies the dispensing position. The engaging member 57 is equipped with a ball catch mechanism, and the engaged member 58 is equipped with an engaging piece that engages with the engaging member 57. In this way, the front shelf 8 can be fixed to the main body 2 when it is in the dispensing position by the fixing member 56. The rear shelf 9 is also configured to be fixed to the main body 2 when it is in the dispensing position by a similar fixing member.

[0026] As described above, an upper drug collection mechanism 5 is provided in the area between the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9, and the tablets contained in each tablet cassette 10 pass through the individual guide paths 26 and the collective guide path 27 of the upper drug collection mechanism 5 and fall into the lower drug collection mechanism 6. Therefore, as drug supply from the tablet shelf 3 progresses, the upper drug collection mechanism 5 becomes contaminated by the falling tablets, and thus the upper drug collection mechanism 5 needs to be cleaned. In the drug packaging machine 1 of the present invention, the front shelf 8 and the rear shelf 9 can each be opened 90 degrees relative to the main body 2. With the rear shelf 9 closed, the front shelf 8 is held open 90 degrees forward by the open state holding mechanism. In this state, the plate members 36 that constitute the collection guide passage 27 of the upper drug collection mechanism 5 provided on each shelf 8 and 9 are exposed, making it easy to clean the upper drug collection mechanism 5 provided on each shelf 8 and 9.

[0027] The packaging device 4, located at the bottom of the main body 2 of the device, is visible from the front when the front cover 31 is opened, as shown in Figure 11, and is configured to be pullable out towards the front of the device, as shown in Figure 12. The packaging device 4 is placed in a unit state on the upper surface of a plate-shaped base member 37, which is supported so as to be pullable by a rail member (not shown), and is pulled out towards the front of the device when the base member 37 is pulled out from the main body 2 of the device. When the packaging device 4 is pulled out from the main body 2 of the device, as shown in Figure 12, it can be cleaned by airflow from an air compressor or the like.

[0028] As shown in Figure 13, the packaging device 4 includes, in order along the transport path of the packaging paper 38, a packaging strip feeding unit 39 that holds the roll of packaging paper 38 and applies appropriate tension to feed the packaging paper 38 from the front, a printer 40 that prints on the packaging paper 38, and a vertical sealing unit 41 that has a heating element extending in the width direction of the packaging paper 38, i.e., in the direction of the paper in Figure 13, to heat and fuse the packaging paper 38 and form perforations. Furthermore, the packaging device 4 includes a hopper 42 that moves up and down inside the folded packaging paper 38 to insert and remove the tip, a heating element extending in the left and right directions as shown in Figure 13, a lateral sealing section 43 that heats and fuses the packaging paper 38, a roller section 44 that applies tension to the packaging paper 38, and a cutter 45 that cuts the packaging paper 38.

[0029] With the above configuration, the packaging paper 38 forms individual packages divided into predetermined lengths, tablets are enclosed in these packages, and the tops of each package are heat-sealed and transported downstream. The packaging paper 38 is drawn out from the packaging supply unit 39, which is rolled up in a valley-fold state so that the top is open. The packaging paper 38 drawn out from the packaging supply unit 39 is printed on by the printer 40 and moves to the bottom of the hopper 42, where the front and back in the direction of transport are fused by the vertical sealing unit 41 to form individual packages. After that, tablets are put into the individual packages from the hopper 42, the top of the individual packages is fused by the horizontal sealing unit 43, and then the packages are transported downstream. After the above-described packaging operation is stopped, the cutter 45 is activated, the packaging paper 38 is cut and discharged outside the machine.

[0030] As tablets fall into the hopper 42 from the lower drug collection mechanism 6, each individual package formed in the packaging paper 38 contains one tablet. When the hopper 42 detects that tablets have been sealed inside the packaging paper 38, the upper part of the packaging paper 38 is fused together by the lateral sealing section 43, and the roller section 44 pulls the packaging paper 38 in by a predetermined amount, so that the packaging paper 38 is transported for the length of one package. By repeating this operation, a series of medicine bags, each containing one tablet in an individual package on the packaging paper 38, are transported downstream. The packaging means 46 for sealing tablets inside the packaging paper 38 is composed of the packaging band feeding unit 39, printer 40, vertical sealing unit 41, hopper 42, horizontal sealing unit 43, roller unit 44, and cutter 45 described above. As shown in Figure 13, the packaging means 46 transports the packaging paper 38 while maintaining a vertical position in which the packaging paper 38 is upright and facing the direction of the paper in the figure. The transported packaging paper 38 is transported toward the discharge port 53 provided on the side of the device body 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and discharged from the front side of the drug packaging machine 1 toward the side.

[0031] Downstream of the cutter 45 in the direction of paper packaging transport, between the packaging means 46 and the discharge port 53, is a posture displacement means 47 that displaces the paper packaging 38, which is received in a vertical position, to a horizontal position and transports it further downstream. Figure 14 shows a schematic perspective view of the posture displacement means 47, which includes a displacement means body 48, a first cover 51, a second cover 52, etc. Figure 15 shows the state in which the first cover 51 and the second cover 52 are open from the displacement means body 48, and Figure 16 shows the state in which the first cover 51 and the second cover 52 and a part of the outer casing member have been removed from the displacement means body 48, with a posture displacement member 49 arranged inside the posture displacement means 47. In Figures 14 to 16, the left side is the upstream side in the direction of paper packaging transport, and the right side is the downstream side in the direction of paper packaging transport.

[0032] The first cover 51 is supported by the displacement means body 48 so as to be openable and closable, and selectively occupies a closed position as shown in Figure 14 and an open position as shown in Figure 15, where it tilts laterally from the closed position to open the upper side surface of the posture displacement means 47, and is fixed by a fixing member 51a when it is in the closed position. The second cover 52 is supported by the displacement means body 48 so as to be openable and closable, and selectively occupies a closed position as shown in Figure 14 and an open position as shown in Figure 15, where it displaces upward from the closed position to open the upper plane of the posture displacement means 47, and is fixed by a fixing member 52a when it is in the closed position. When each cover 51, 52 is in the open position, it is held in the open position by its own weight or by a positioning member (not shown).

[0033] Figure 17 shows (a) a perspective view of the posture displacement member 49 from the upstream side in the direction of paper packaging transport, and (b) a perspective view from the downstream side in the direction of paper packaging transport. The posture displacement member 49, which was fabricated using three-dimensional CAD, has a receiving opening 49a for receiving paper packaging 38 transported from the roller section 44 via the cutter 45. On the right side of the receiving opening 49a in Figure 17(b), i.e., on the left side of the receiving opening 49a in the direction of paper packaging transport, there is a vertical wall portion 49c that is cut almost vertically from the bottom surface portion 49b. A boundary portion 49d that functions as a guide is formed at the boundary between the bottom surface portion 49b and the vertical wall portion 49c, and the transported paper packaging 38 is transported downstream in the transport direction while resting on the boundary portion 49d.

[0034] As shown in Figure 17(a), the posture displacement member 49 has a curved surface in which the vertical wall portion 49c, which is formed so that the boundary portion 49d moves upward as it moves downstream in the direction of conveying the paper packaging, i.e., is almost perpendicular to the bottom surface 49b, displaces so that it becomes almost parallel to the bottom surface 49b as it moves downstream in the direction of conveying the paper packaging. With this configuration, the posture displacement member 49 forms a flat portion 49e that is almost parallel to the bottom surface 49b near its end, and the curved surface body 49f that displaces from the vertical wall portion 49c to the flat portion 49e constitutes a twisting portion that twists the paper packaging 38 from a vertical state to a horizontal state. Figure 18(a) shows a side cross-sectional view of the posture displacement member 49 at a position where the inclination angle of the curved surface body 49f is 45 degrees, and Figure 18(b) shows a side cross-sectional view of the posture displacement member 49 at a position just before the inclination angle of the curved surface body 49f becomes 0 degrees. Inside the posture displacement means 47, on the downstream side of the flat portion 49e in the direction of conveying the packaged paper, a horizontal conveying guide plate 59 is arranged, as shown in Figure 16, which constitutes the discharge port 53 and guides the horizontal conveyance of the packaged paper 38.

[0035] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, a conveying means 60 is positioned above the posture displacement member 49 and the horizontal conveying guide plate 59 to convey the packaged paper 38 received from the receiving section 49a toward the discharge port 53. The conveying means 60 includes a vertical conveying section 61 located above the posture displacement member 49 that conveys the packaged paper 38 conveyed in a vertical position from the packaging means 46, and a horizontal conveying section 62 that conveys the packaged paper 38 that has been displaced from a vertical position to a horizontal position by the curved surface body 49f. First, the vertical conveying section 61 will be described.

[0036] Figures 19 to 22 are diagrams illustrating the vertical transport section 61. Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of the state with the first cover 51, second cover 52, horizontal transport guide plate 59, horizontal transport section 62, etc. removed from the posture displacement means 47. Figure 20 is a schematic plan view of the same, Figure 21 is a schematic front view of the same, and Figure 22 is a schematic side view of the same. As shown in Figure 20, the vertical conveying section 61 is composed of a pair of conveying members, a first conveying member 63 and a second conveying member 64. The first conveying member 63, one of the conveying members of the vertical conveying section 61, has two rollers 65 and 66, a support frame 68 that rotatably supports each roller 65 and 66, and the support frame 68 is attached to a first cover 51 (not shown).

[0037] The second conveying member 64, which is the other conveying member of the vertical conveying section 61, has two rollers 69 and 70, a vertical conveying belt 71 (see Figure 15) stretched between each roller 69 and 70, and a support frame 72 that rotatably supports each roller 69 and 70, and the support frame 72 is attached to the immovable member of the displacement means body 48. The vertical conveying section 61 is configured such that each roller 65, 66 and the vertical conveying belt 71 grips and conveys the packaged paper 38 in a vertical position. The positions of each roller 65, 66 and the vertical conveying belt 71 are set to correspond to the sealing position of the upper end of the packaged paper 38 when the packaged paper 38 is brought in from the receiving port 49a and placed on the boundary portion 49d. The vertical conveying section 61 is configured such that each roller 65, 66 and the vertical conveying belt 71 grips the packaged paper 38 when the first cover 51 is in the closed position.

[0038] Figures 23 to 26 are diagrams illustrating the horizontal transport section 62. Figure 23 is a schematic perspective view of the state with the first cover 51, second cover 52, posture displacement member 49, vertical transport section 61, etc. removed from the posture displacement means 47. Figure 24 is a schematic plan view of the same, Figure 25 is a schematic front view of the same, and Figure 26 is a schematic side view of the same. As shown in Figures 23 and 25, the horizontal conveying section 62 is composed of a pair of conveying members, a third conveying member 73 and a fourth conveying member 74. The third conveying member 73, one of the conveying members of the horizontal conveying section 62, has two rollers 75 and 76, a conveying assisting member 77 provided between each roller 75 and 76, and a support frame 78 that rotatably supports each roller 75 and 76 and holds the conveying assisting member 77. The support frame 78 is attached to a second cover 52, which is not shown in the figure. The conveying assisting member 77 has multiple protrusions and indentations, and each protrusion approaches the horizontal conveying belt 81, which will be described later, to assist in the conveying of the packaged paper 38.

[0039] The fourth conveying member 74, which is the other conveying member of the horizontal conveying section 62, has two rollers 79 and 80, a horizontal conveying belt 81 stretched between each roller 79 and 80, and support frames 82 that rotatably support each roller 79 and 80, and the support frames 82 are integrally formed with the displacement means body 48. The horizontal conveying section 62 is configured to convey the packaged paper 38, which has been displaced from a vertical position to a horizontal position by the position displacement member 49, by being gripped by the rollers 75, 76, the conveying auxiliary member 77, and the horizontal conveying belt 81. Each of the members 75, 76, 77, and 81 is positioned to grip the sealed upper end of the packaged paper 38. The horizontal conveying section 62 is configured such that when the second cover 52 is in the closed position, the conveying auxiliary member 77 approaches the horizontal conveying belt 81 and each of the rollers 75, 76 contacts the horizontal conveying belt 81 to convey the packaged paper 38. Furthermore, the position of the horizontal conveying section 62 in the height direction is set so that the gripping position of the packaged paper 38 by each of the members 75, 76, 77, and 81 is at the same height as the flat section 49e.

[0040] Figure 27 shows an enlarged view of the upstream side in the direction of conveying the packaged paper in Figure 15, Figure 28 shows detailed views of each conveying member 63, 64 in Figure 22, and Figure 29 shows a schematic rear view of the attitude displacement means 47. The drive mechanism of the conveying means 60 will be described below using Figures 27 to 29. In Figure 27, a motor 83 is attached to the back side of the displacement mechanism body 48 via a bracket 67, and a pulley 84, as shown in Figure 29, is attached to the output shaft of the motor 83. Also, as shown in Figure 29, a pulley 85 is attached to the support shaft 69a of the roller 69, and a timing belt 86 is stretched between the pulleys 84 and 85 to transmit the rotational driving force of the motor 83 to the roller 69.

[0041] A bevel gear 87, which rotates in sync with the roller 70, is attached to the support shaft 70a of the roller 70, which transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 83 to the roller 69 via a vertical conveyor belt 71 stretched between the roller 70 and the roller 70. Near the bevel gear 87, a rotatable bevel gear 88 that meshes with the bevel gear 87 is positioned, and the support shaft 88a of the bevel gear 88 is positioned parallel to the depth direction of the attitude displacement means 47 which is perpendicular to the support shaft 70a (the plane of the paper direction which is perpendicular to the length direction, which is the left-right direction, and the height direction, which is the up-down direction, respectively). A pulley 89 is attached to the end of a support shaft 88a, which is rotatably supported by a fixed member (not shown) of the displacement means body 48, on the side opposite to the bevel gear 88. A pulley 90 corresponding to the pulley 89 is provided on the support shaft 79a of the roller 79, and a timing belt 91 is stretched between each of the pulleys 89 and 90. With this configuration, the rotational driving force of the roller 70 is transmitted to the roller 79, and the roller 79 and the roller 80 connected to the roller 79 by the horizontal conveying belt 81 rotate in synchronization with the rotation of each of the rollers 69 and 70.

[0042] Based on the above configuration, the operation of the drug packaging machine 1 will be described below. After the prescription information to be packaged is entered, the operator presses the package start key on the control panel 7. The required number of tablets are then discharged from the tablet cassette 10 containing the tablets to be packaged, and the discharged tablets are sent to the hopper 42 via the upper drug collection mechanism 5 and the lower drug collection mechanism 6. In the hopper 42, when it is determined that enough tablets to be placed in individual packages of the packaging paper 38 have been collected, the hopper 42 descends and the tablets are placed into the packaging paper 38 all at once. The packaging paper 38, now containing the required tablets in individual packages, is sealed at the top by the lateral seal section 43 and then transported sequentially downstream in amounts corresponding to one individual package by the intermittent operation of the roller section 44. Perforations (not shown) are formed between each individual package of the packaging paper 38 to facilitate the separation of each package.

[0043] The packaging paper 38, conveyed by the roller section 44 via the cutter 45, is sent to the posture displacement means 47 and transported vertically into the interior of the posture displacement member 49 through the receiving opening 49a, while the sealing portion located at the top is gripped by the roller 65 and the vertical conveying belt 71. During this gripping, the motor 83 that drives the vertical conveying belt 71 operates to intermittently transport the packaging paper 38 at a transport rate greater than the intermittent transport rate of the roller section 44, so that a predetermined tension is applied to the packaging paper 38 that is gripped between the roller section 44 and the vertical conveying belt 71. At this time, to prevent excessive tension from being applied to the packaging paper 38, the pulley 84 is provided with a torque limiter (not shown) that slips when a predetermined tension is applied. With this configuration, a predetermined tension is applied to the packaging paper 38 transported between the packaging means 46 and the posture displacement means 47.

[0044] The packaged paper 38, held between the rollers 65 and the vertical conveyor belt 71, is guided with its sides aligned with the vertical wall portion 49c and its bottom resting on the boundary portion 49d from the bottom portion 49b. Subsequently, the packaged paper 38 is also held by the roller 66 and intermittently conveyed downstream while held between each roller 65, 66 and the vertical conveyor belt 71. At this time, the packaged paper 38 is conveyed downstream along the curved body 49f with its bottom resting on the boundary portion 49d, and its orientation is changed from a vertical to a horizontal position. Then, the packaged paper 38 escapes from the vertical conveyor section 61 at a position where the inclination angle of the curved body 49f is less than 45 degrees and is conveyed along the curved body 49f.

[0045] The packaging paper 38 exits the curved surface 49f and immediately reaches the flat section 49e, whereupon it assumes a horizontal position and is gripped by the rollers 75 and the horizontal conveyor belt 81. Here, the conveying speed of the packaging paper on the horizontal conveyor belt 81 is set to be equal to the conveying speed of the packaging paper on the vertical conveyor belt 71. After that, the packaging paper 38 passes below the conveying support member 77 and is also gripped by the rollers 76. While being gripped by each roller 75, 76, the conveying support member 77, and the horizontal conveyor belt 81, it is intermittently conveyed downstream and discharged to the outside from the discharge port 53 in a horizontal position.

[0046] Thus, the drug packaging machine 1 of the present invention has a posture displacement means 47 provided between the packaging means 46 and the discharge port 53, which receives the packaging paper 38 conveyed by the packaging means 46 in a vertical position, displaces it to a horizontal position, and then discharges it from the discharge port 53. As a result, the packaging paper 38 created in a vertical position can be displaced to a horizontal position and discharged from the discharge port 53. Because the packaging paper 38 discharged from the drug packaging machine 1 is in a horizontal position, no load is placed on the perforations of the packaging paper 38 when it lands, and the cutting of the packaging paper 38 is prevented.

[0047] Furthermore, since the packaging paper 38 is discharged from the discharge port 53 in a horizontal position, when connecting devices such as a packaging paper winding device or inspection device are connected to the drug packaging machine 1, the orientation is not displaced, thus shortening the transport distance of the packaging paper 38 and suppressing the occurrence of problems such as transport jams and tearing at the perforations. In addition, depending on the configuration of the connecting devices, the height of the discharge port 53 and the packaging paper receiving port of the connecting devices can be aligned, preventing an increase in the transport mechanism for the packaging paper 38 and reducing costs. Furthermore, the occurrence of problems such as transport jams and tearing at the perforations of the packaging paper 38, which occur as the transport distance of the packaging paper 38 increases with the increase in the transport mechanism, can be reduced.

[0048] Furthermore, as described above, tension is applied to the packaging paper 38 being transported between the packaging means 46 and the discharge port 53, thus preventing the occurrence of packaging paper transport jam caused by the loosening of the packaging paper 38. Furthermore, since the posture displacement means 47 includes a posture displacement member 49 and a transport means 60, it is possible to transport the packaged paper 38 received in a vertical position and then displace it to a horizontal position. Furthermore, since the posture displacement member 49 has a boundary portion 49d that functions as a guide portion and a curved surface 49f that functions as a twisting portion, the packaging paper 38 can be displaced and transported without putting a load on the packaging paper 38.

[0049] Furthermore, the conveying means 60 includes a vertical conveying section 61 and a horizontal conveying section 62. The vertical conveying section has conveying members 63 and 64, and the horizontal conveying section 62 has conveying members 73 and 74. This allows the packaging paper 38 to be securely held and conveyed, preventing the occurrence of conveying jams. Furthermore, each of the posture displacement means 47 has a first cover 51 and a second cover 52 that can be opened and closed, and the first transport member 63 is supported by the first cover 51 and the third transport member 73 is supported by the second cover 52. Therefore, when each cover 51, 52 is opened, the paper packaging transport paths of each transport unit 61, 62 are opened. As a result, even if a paper packaging transport jam occurs, recovery can be easily performed by opening each cover 51, 52, and cleaning is also improved.

[0050] Figure 30 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment described above only in that it has a dispersion member 92 on the horizontal transport guide plate 59; the other configurations are the same. The dispersion member 92 is a member that disperses the tablets contained in the packaging paper 38 and transported within the packaging paper 38 so that they do not overlap, and specifically, a configuration similar to the technology described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4668906 can be used. The presence of the dispersion member 92 allows for the dispersion of tablets within the packaging paper 38, and prevents the occurrence of problems where accurate inspection is hindered due to tablets overlapping within the packaging paper 38, especially when the connected device connected to the discharge port 53 is, for example, an inspection device.

[0051] Examples of the present invention are as follows: [1] A drug packaging machine comprising: a main body equipped with a discharge port for discharging drugs; a drug storage section provided at the top of the main body for storing drugs and discharging predetermined amounts at a time; a packaging means for packaging the drugs that have fallen from the drug storage section and for transporting the continuous packaging paper containing the individual drugs in a vertical position to the discharge port; and a posture displacement means provided between the packaging means and the discharge port for receiving the packaging paper transported by the packaging means in a vertical position, displacing it in a horizontal position, and then discharging it from the discharge port. [2] The drug packaging machine according to [1], characterized in that tension is applied to the packaging paper being transported at a position between the packaging means and the discharge port. [3] The drug packaging machine according to [1] or [2] is characterized in that the posture displacement means comprises a posture displacement member for displacing the posture of the packaging paper being transported and a transport means for transporting the packaging paper. [4] The drug packaging machine according to [3] is characterized in that the posture displacement member has a guide portion for guiding the conveyed packaging paper and a twisting portion for twisting the conveyed packaging paper. [5] The transport means comprises a vertical transport section for transporting the transported packaged paper in a vertical position and a horizontal transport section for transporting the transported packaged paper in a horizontal position, wherein the vertical transport section and the horizontal transport section each have a pair of transport members for gripping and transporting the transported packaged paper. This is the drug packaging machine according to [3] or [4]. [6] The posture displacement means comprises a displacement means body, a first cover that covers the vertical transport section and is provided to open and close with respect to the displacement means body, and a second cover that covers the horizontal transport section and is provided to open and close with respect to the displacement means body, wherein one of the transport members of the vertical transport section is supported by the first cover, one of the transport members of the horizontal transport section is supported by the second cover, and the other transport members of the vertical transport section and the horizontal transport section are each supported by the displacement means body, characterized in that the drug packaging machine is as described in [5]. [7] The drug packaging machine according to any one of [1] to [6], characterized in that the posture displacement means has a dispersion member for dispersing the drug in the packaging paper that has been displaced to a horizontal posture.

[0052] 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 present invention as described in the claims, unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely examples of the most preferred effects that can result from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1. Drug packaging machine 2. Main unit of the device 10. Medication storage section (tablet cassette) 38 Wrapping paper 46 Packaging means 47 Posture displacement means 48 Displacement mechanism body 49 Posture displacement member 49d Guide section (boundary section) 49f Twisted section (curved surface) 51 Cover 1 52 Second Cover 53 Outlet 60 Conveying means 61 Vertical conveying section 62 Horizontal conveying section 63 A pair of transport members, one of the transport members (first transport member) 64 A pair of transport members (second transport member) 73 A pair of transport members, one of which is a transport member (third transport member) 74 A pair of transport members (fourth transport member) 92 Dispersed member

Claims

1. The device body is equipped with an outlet for discharging the drug, A drug storage section is provided at the top of the main body of the device, which stores the drug and discharges it in predetermined amounts, A packaging means for packaging the drug that has fallen from the drug storage section and for transporting the packaging paper, which consists of a series of individual packages containing the drug, in a vertical position to the discharge port, A drug packaging machine having a posture displacement means provided between the packaging means and the discharge port, which receives the packaging paper conveyed by the packaging means in a vertical position, displaces it in a horizontal position, and then discharges it from the discharge port.

2. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 1, A drug packaging machine characterized in that tension is applied to the packaging paper being conveyed at a position between the packaging means and the discharge port.

3. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 1, The drug packaging machine is characterized in that the posture displacement means comprises a posture displacement member for displacing the posture of the packaging paper being transported and a transport means for transporting the packaging paper.

4. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 3, The drug packaging machine is characterized in that the posture displacement member has a guide portion for guiding the conveyed packaging paper and a twisting portion for twisting the conveyed packaging paper.

5. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 3, The transport means comprises a vertical transport section for transporting the transported packaging paper in a vertical position and a horizontal transport section for transporting the transported packaging paper in a horizontal position, and the vertical transport section and the horizontal transport section each have a pair of transport members for gripping and transporting the transported packaging paper.

6. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 5, The posture displacement means comprises a displacement means body, a first cover that covers the vertical transport section and is provided to open and close with respect to the displacement means body, and a second cover that covers the horizontal transport section and is provided to open and close with respect to the displacement means body, wherein one of the transport members of the vertical transport section is supported by the first cover, one of the transport members of the horizontal transport section is supported by the second cover, and the other transport members of the vertical transport section and the horizontal transport section are each supported by the displacement means body.

7. In the drug packaging machine according to claim 1, The drug packaging machine is characterized in that the posture displacement means has a dispersion member that disperses the drug inside the packaging paper which has been displaced to a horizontal position.

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