Bulk drug packaging equipment

Abstract

To provide a powder medicine packaging device capable of scraping a necessary number of packs of powder medicine simply by scattering a necessary amount of powder medicine in a powder medicine housing member once even when the number of packs is large.SOLUTION: A powder medicine packaging device includes: a rotatable powder medicine housing member 10 having a groove 10a having a circular arc cross section; and a rotary plate 25 which is rotatable in the state that it contacts the groove 10a, is provided for the groove 10a liftably, and is provided with a scraping plate 29 scraping off powder medicine housed in the powder medicine housing member 10. The scraping plate 29 is composed of first scraping plates 29a, 29b provided on a first surface of the rotary plate 25; and a second scraping plate 29c which is provided on a second surface of the rotary pate 25 and has scraping width smaller than the first scraping plates 29a, 29b. A first pack of power medicine is scraped by the second scraping plate 29c in prescribed division width, and after the powder medicine housing member 10 is moved from the second surface side of the rotary plate 25 to the first surface side, the power medicine in the second pack and beyond is scraped by the first scraping plates 29a, 29b in the prescribed division width.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder packaging device, particularly to a powder scraping portion that scrapes out a fixed amount of powder contained in a groove of a powder storage member one by one.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a powder packaging device, powder is uniformly supplied to a powder storage member (also referred to as an R disk or a dispensing dish) having an annular groove with a circular arc-shaped cross section, and a powder scraping device is provided that distributes and scrapes out the powder in the annular groove one pack at a time by a rotating plate having a scraping plate (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In a conventional powder packaging device, as shown in FIG. 16, when the rotating plate 102 is lowered onto the powder contained in the powder storage member 101 to cut the powder, and the powder of the first pack is scraped out by the scraping plate 103 of the rotating plate 102, if the powder with a splitting width S narrower than the scraping width W corresponding to the number of sub-packages is scraped out, the powder storage member 101 is reversed to scrape the powder contained in the powder storage member 101 to the side opposite to the scraping plate 103. However, as the number of sub-packages increases, the scraping amount increases, and as a result, the powder scraped to the side opposite to the scraping plate 103 collapses into the (N - 1)-th pack, the (N - 1)-th pack becomes large, and the N-th pack becomes small, and it cannot be evenly divided. Therefore, in the conventional sub-packaging device, depending on the dimension of the scraping width W of the scraping plate 103, the maximum number of divisions was 93 packs at most. In the case of a number of sub-packages exceeding this maximum number of divisions, the required amount of powder was divided into two and stored in the powder storage member 101. For example, in the case of 100 packs, first, 50 packs of powder were stored in the powder storage member 101 and divided into 50, and then the remaining 50 packs of powder were stored in the powder storage member 101 and divided into 50, so the sub-packaging operation took a long time.

[0004] Patent Document 3 describes a packaging device equipped with a narrow cutting member (scraping plate) and a wide cutting member (scraping plate) on one side of a rotating member, in which the first package is scraped out with the narrow cutting member and subsequent packages are scraped out with the wide cutting member. In the packaging device of Patent Document 3, after the second package and subsequent packages are scraped out with the wide cutting member, the narrow cutting member raises the rotating member that passes over the rotary table, which has the problem that it takes a long time until packaging is completed.

[0005] Patent Document 4 describes a packaging device in which a first scraping member is provided on the first surface of a rotating member, and a second scraping member with a wider scraping width than the first scraping member is provided on the second surface of the rotating member. For divisions of 1 to 63, the wide second scraping member is used to scrape while the rotating table is rotated in a first direction, and for divisions of 64 to 93, the narrow first scraping member is used to scrape while the rotating table is rotated in a second direction different from the first direction. In the packaging device of Patent Document 4, for divisions of 64 to 93, the narrow scraping member is used from the first package to the last package. As the number of divisions increases, the feed amount of the rotating table decreases, and after scraping the first package with the narrow scraping member, before scraping the second package, the wide scraping member scrapes off part of the powder in the last package. Therefore, the maximum number of divisions is 93 packages.

[0006] Patent Document 5 describes a powder and granular material dividing device equipped with a wide-width cutting member and a narrow-width cutting member on one side of the damming section for cutting powder contained in an annular groove of a table. In multi-division cases, the first cut is made with the narrow-width cutting member, and subsequent cuts are made with the wide-width cutting member. In small-division cases, the cuts are made with the wide-width cutting member from the first to the last cut. In the device of Patent Document 5, since the wide-width cutting member and the narrow-width cutting member are provided on the same side of the damming section, after cutting with the wide-width cutting member, the narrow-width cutting member passes through the annular groove, and the narrow-width cutting member scrapes out the portion of the powder in the annular groove that was not cut by the wide-width cutting member and has collapsed. As a result, the collapsed portion is scraped out more than necessary, leading to a problem of excessive scraping. Furthermore, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 5, when cutting out a single packet with a width wider than the width of the wide cutting member, the annular groove of the table is rotated, and the powder exceeding the width of the wide cutting member is gathered by the damming part (rotating plate) before being scraped out. However, the greater the gathering width, the greater the tendency for the pile to collapse after scraping. When the pile collapses, the amount of the collapsed portion that is scraped out also increases when the narrow cutting member passes after the wide cutting member. As a result, the gathering width is limited, and the limit of the gathering width is set small, which results in a large number of scraping cycles and a problem that the packaging process takes a long time. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-179967 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-247841 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-262944 (Japanese Patent No. 5140483) [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-113551 (Patent No. 6531753) [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-177247 (Patent No. 6864351) [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the aforementioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a powder packaging device that can dispense the required number of powder packets by simply sprinkling the required amount of powder into the powder packaging member once, even when there are many packets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a means to solve the above problems, the powdered drug packaging apparatus of the present invention is A rotatable powder container having a groove with a circular arc cross-section, A powder packaging device comprising a rotating plate that is rotatable in contact with the groove and is provided to be vertically movable relative to the groove, and which is equipped with a scraping plate for scraping out the powder contained in the powder storage member, The scraping plate comprises a first scraping plate provided on the first surface of the rotating plate and a second scraping plate provided on the second surface of the rotating plate, having a smaller scraping width than the first scraping plate. Depending on the number of powder packets contained in the powder storage member, it is possible to switch between scraping out the powder using only the first scraping plate and scraping out the powder using both the first and second scraping plates. It is characterized by being constructed in this way. If the number of packets is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the powder is scraped out using only the first scraping plate. Preferably, if the number of packets exceeds a predetermined number, the second scraping plate scrapes out the first packet of powder in a predetermined division width, moves the powder-containing member from the second side to the first side of the rotating plate, and then the first scraping plate scrapes out the second and subsequent packets of powder in a predetermined division width.

[0010] In the aforementioned powder packaging device, when the first packet is scraped out by the narrow second scraping plate, the powder container is moved from the second side to the first side to scrape the powder contained in the container to the side opposite the second scraping plate, so that the powder is scraped out in a division width corresponding to the number of packets. However, because the scraping width of the second scraping plate is small, the amount scraped out is small. Therefore, even if there are many packets, the powder scraped out to the side opposite the second scraping plate will fit within the division width of the second packet and will be scraped out when the second packet is scraped out by the first scraping plate.

[0011] It is preferable that the powder-containing member is moved from the first side to the second side after the second scraping plate has finished scraping the first packet of powder, and before the first scraping plate begins scraping the second packet of powder. Further, after the first scraping plate scrapes out the bulk medicine, after moving the bulk medicine storage member from the first surface side to the second surface side, it is preferable that the second scraping plate is configured to enter the bulk medicine storage member.

[0012] It is preferable that the first scraping plate and the second scraping plate are provided at equidistant positions around the central axis of the rotating plate.

[0013] It is preferable that two first scraping plates and one second scraping plate are provided.

[0014] After the previous first scraping plate finishes scraping the bulk medicine, before the subsequent first scraping plate starts scraping the bulk medicine, it is preferable that the bulk medicine storage member is configured to move from the first surface side to the second surface side. In this case, after the previous first scraping plate scrapes out the bulk medicine and the subsequent first scraping plate scrapes out the bulk medicine, before the previous first scraping plate enters the bulk medicine storage member, it is preferable that the second scraping plate is configured to enter the bulk medicine storage member.

[0015] The program according to the present invention is a program for causing a control device that controls the bulk medicine storage member and the rotating plate of the bulk medicine packaging device to execute a step of scraping out the first pack of bulk medicine with a predetermined dividing width by the second scraping plate, after moving the bulk medicine storage member from the second surface side to the first surface side of the rotating plate, a step of scraping out the second pack of bulk medicine with a predetermined dividing width by the first scraping plate, and after moving the bulk medicine storage member from the second surface side to the first surface side of the rotating plate, a step of scraping out the bulk medicine of the third pack and subsequent packs with a predetermined dividing width by the first scraping plate.

[0016] The medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, when scraping out the first pack using the narrow second scraping plate, the powder medicine with a divided width corresponding to the number of sub-packages is scraped out. The powder medicine storage member is moved from the second surface side to the first surface side so that the powder medicine stored in the powder medicine storage member is scraped towards the side opposite to the second scraping plate. However, since the scraping width of the second scraping plate is small and the scraping amount is small, even if the number of sub-packages is large, the powder medicine scraped towards the side opposite to the second scraping plate fits within the divided width of the second pack. As a result, when the second pack is scraped out by the first scraping plate, only by scattering the necessary amount of powder medicine in the powder medicine storage member once, it is possible to scrape out the powder medicine in the required number of sub-packages, which has the effect of being able to do so.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] Overall perspective view of the powder medicine packaging device. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the powder medicine packaging device. [Figure 3] Diagram (a) showing the operation panel of the powder medicine packaging device, and diagram (b) showing the state of the conventional touch panel when adjusting the feeder speed. [Figure 4] Diagram (a) showing the state of the touch panel of an embodiment when adjusting the feeder speed, and diagram (b) showing the state of the touch panel of another embodiment. [Figure 5] Perspective view of the powder medicine storage member and the powder medicine scraping device. [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view (a) seen from the first surface side of the rotating member, and perspective view (b) seen from the second surface side of the rotating plate. [Figure 7] Side view (a) of the rotating member, and front view (b) of the first surface side. [Figure 8A] Diagram showing the automatic cleaning system. [Figure 8B] Plan view and sectional view showing the state when the paper pack of the cleaner is mounted (a, b) and when it is replaced (c, d). [Figure 9] Diagram showing the cleaning procedure by the automatic cleaning system. [Figure 10] Diagram showing the configuration of the control device. [Figure 11] Flowchart showing the powder medicine scraping operation. [Figure 12]A diagram showing the process of scooping out powdered medicine in quantities of 93 packets or less. [Figure 13] A cross-sectional view showing the state of the powdered medicine being scraped out, as shown in Figure 12. [Figure 14] A diagram showing the process of scooping out more than 94 packets of powdered medicine. [Figure 15] A cross-sectional view showing the state of the powdered medicine being scraped out in Figure 14. [Figure 16] A cross-sectional view showing the conventional method of scraping out powdered medicine. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a powder packaging device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This powder packaging device 1 dispenses powdered medicine into a powder input unit 2, which is then scraped out in individual packets by a powder scraping unit 3, and then packaged by a packaging unit 4. The powder packaging device 1 also includes a tablet dispensing unit 5 for manually dispensing tablets in individual packets and supplying them to the packaging unit 4.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the powder feeding unit 2 comprises a feeding hopper 6 and a powder feeding feeder 7, and is configured to supply the powder fed from the feeding hopper 6 to the powder feeding feeder 7 to the powder storage member 10 of the powder scraping unit 3 by vibration of the powder feeding feeder 7.

[0022] The supply speed of the powder feeder 7 can be increased or decreased using the control panel 8 located on the top of the powder packaging device 1. As shown in Figure 3(a), the control panel 8 is equipped with 16 bar-shaped touch panels 9 that adjust the feeder speed of the two powder input sections 2, A and B, in 16 steps. When the power is turned on, the default setting is 8 steps, and the touch panels 9 from the left, from step 1 to step 8, are lit yellow (shown as hatching in the figure). To increase the feeder speed, swipe your fingertip to the right from step 8, and to decrease it, swipe your fingertip to the left from step 8. For example, as shown in Figure 3(b), to increase the feeder speed to step 14, swipe your fingertip to the right from step 8 to step 14. This causes the touch panels 9 from step 8 to step 14 to light up, allowing the set feeder speed to be recognized.

[0023] When swiping the touch panel 9, if the touch panel 9 lights up from the start to the end of the swipe, it is impossible to determine the starting point of the swipe and therefore impossible to determine how much the feeder speed has changed. To enable recognition of the change in feeder speed from the start to the end of the swipe, the touch panel 9 from the point where the finger first touched the swipe to the touch panel 9 at the end of the swipe will blink, as shown in Figure 4(a), or the lighting color will be changed from the swipe start position, as shown in Figure 4(b). This allows for visual recognition of the change in feeder speed.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the powder dispensing unit 3 comprises a powder containing member 10 and a powder dispensing device 11.

[0025] The powder storage member 10 consists of a perforated disc with an annular groove 10a in the shape of an arc in cross-section formed on the outer circumference of its upper surface, and rotates when driven by the motor 12. The powder introduced from the powder input section 2 is uniformly contained in the annular groove 10a.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the powder dispensing device 11 comprises a base 13, an arm 14, and a rotating member 15.

[0027] The base 13 is positioned inside the powder container 10 and has a rotary motor 16 and a lifting motor 17. The rotary motor 16 transmits power from its motor gear (not shown) to the pulley 19 of the drive shaft 18 via an intermediate gear 16a and a drive gear 16b. The lifting motor 17 rotates the lifting gear 17b via the motor gear 17a, and raises and lowers the lifting platform 20 via a pin 17c provided on the lifting gear 17b.

[0028] The arm 14 is rotatably attached at one end to the drive shaft 18 of the base 13, and a rotating shaft 23, described later, is attached to the other end. A belt 22 is stretched between the pulley 19 of the drive shaft 18 and the pulley 21 of the rotating shaft 23, so that the rotational force of the drive shaft 18 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 23. The arm 14 is also supported by a lifting platform 20, and as the lifting platform 20 is raised and lowered, it rotates around the drive shaft 18 at a predetermined angle between a scraping position and a retracted position.

[0029] As shown in Figure 6, the rotating member 15 consists of a rotating shaft 23, a mounting base plate 24, and a rotating plate 25.

[0030] As mentioned above, the rotating shaft 23 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 14.

[0031] The mounting base plate 24 is made of a stainless steel disc and is integrally rotatably attached to one end of the rotating shaft 23. A triangular pyramidal projection 26 is attached to the rotating plate side of the mounting base plate 24. Conical mounting pins 27 are attached to symmetrical positions on both sides of the projection 26. The mounting pins 27 are slidable in the radial direction and are biased radially outward by a spring (not shown).

[0032] The rotating plate 25 is made of a stainless steel disc having the same radius of curvature as the arc of the annular groove 10a of the powder container member 10, and an elastic edge portion 28 made of silicon or the like is integrated around its entire circumference by heat fusion. A triangular mounting hole 25a is formed in the center of the rotating plate 25, into which a projection 26 of the mounting base plate 24 engages, and positioning holes 25b, which are elongated holes into which mounting pins 27 of the mounting base plate 24 engage, are formed on both sides of the mounting hole 25a. Two wide scraping plates (first scraping plates) 29a and 29b are integrally provided on the first surface (front) of the rotating plate 25 opposite the rotation axis 23, and one narrow scraping plate (second scraping plate) 29c is provided on the second surface (back) on the same side as the rotation axis 23.

[0033] The two wide scraping plates 29a and 29b and the one narrow scraping plate 29c have the same shape except for their scraping widths, so we will describe the wide scraping plate 29a. The scraping plate 29a is made by bending a plate-like body such as stainless steel to form a scraping portion 30 and a partition portion 31. An elastic piece 32 made of silicone or the like is integrated into the tip of the scraping portion 30. A part of the outer edge of the partition portion 31 is formed in an arc shape along the annular groove 10a of the powder container member 10. As shown in Figure 7(a), the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c is smaller than the scraping width Wa of the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b. Also, as shown in Figure 7(b), the two wide scraping plates 29a and 29b and the one narrow scraping plate 29c are provided at equally spaced positions (120° intervals) around the central axis of the rotating plate 25.

[0034] Returning to Figure 2, the packaging unit 4 is configured to receive the powdered medicine scraped from the powdered medicine scraping unit 3 via the packaging hopper 42 onto the packaging paper 41 that is unfurled from the paper roll 40 and folded in half, and then seal each package individually with heater rollers 43a and 43b before discharging it.

[0035] Figure 8A shows the automatic cleaning system of the powder packaging device 1. The cleaning nozzle 50 and suction hose 51 are located on the right side of the front of the powder packaging device 1, as shown in Figure 11, allowing for manual cleaning of each part. The suction hose 51 is connected to a vacuum cleaner 53 located inside the powder packaging device 1 via a switching valve 52. The switching valve 52 comprises a valve body 54, four suction nozzles 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d (numbered from the first to the fourth), and one discharge nozzle 56.

[0036] The valve body 54 is cylindrical, with one end closed and the other end open, and a communication hole 54a is formed in its circumferential wall. The valve body 54 is mounted in the center of the casing 57 and can be rotated forward and reverse by a motor 58.

[0037] The ends of the four suction nozzles 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d, numbered 1 to 4, inside the casing 57 converge around the valve body 54, sliding in a sealed state with the valve body 54, and communicating with the communication hole 54a of the valve body 54 at a predetermined stopping position in the rotational direction of the valve body 54. The ends of the four suction nozzles 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d outside the casing 57 are connected to the respective suction sections of the powder packaging device 1. Specifically, the first suction nozzle 55a is connected to the cleaning nozzle 50, the second suction nozzle 55b is connected to the upper suction section 59 of the powder storage member (R disc) 10, the third suction nozzle 55c is connected to the suction section 60 of the powder scraping device 11 and the lower suction section 61 of the powder storage member (R disc) 10, and the fourth suction nozzle 55d is connected to the suction section 62 of the packaging hopper 42.

[0038] The end of the discharge nozzle 56 inside the casing 57 is in sealed sliding contact with and in communication with the open end of the valve body 54. The end of the discharge nozzle 56 outside the casing 57 is connected to the vacuum cleaner 53.

[0039] The casing 57 of the switching valve 52 is provided with sensors 63a, 63b, 63c, and 63d that detect when the communication hole 54a of the valve body 54 is positioned toward the first to fourth suction nozzles 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d. The switching valve 54 is driven by a motor 58 so that it can stop when the communication hole 54a is facing any of the first to fourth suction nozzles 55a, 55b, 55c, and 55d.

[0040] As shown in Figure 8B, the vacuum cleaner 53 includes a filter 53a, a fan 53b, and a motor 53c that drives the fan 53b, and is equipped with a removable paper bag 64. The paper bag 64 is provided with means to prevent the scattering of chemicals, dirt, dust, mites, etc. from inside when it is replaced.

[0041] In other words, as shown in Figure 8B, the paper bag 64 consists of a rectangular opening paper 65 having a suction port 65a in the center that communicates with a discharge nozzle 56, and a bag 66 attached to the opening paper 65 that has an opening 66a communicating with the suction port 65a of the opening paper 65. The opening paper 65 can be attached by engaging it with a predetermined position on the vacuum cleaner, and after use it can be removed and replaced with a new paper bag 64. The opening paper 65 has a double-layered structure, with three sides closed and both ends of the remaining side closed, providing a notch 65b in the center. A rectangular intermediate paper 67, smaller than the opening paper 65, is slidably inserted inside the opening paper 65. The intermediate paper 67 has a tab 67a that can be pulled out from the notch 65b of the opening paper 65, and a hole 67b that is approximately the same size as the suction port 65a of the opening paper 65. When the intermediate paper 67 is inserted into the opening paper 65, the hole 67b of the intermediate paper 67 is in the same position as the suction port 65a of the opening paper 65, so that the suction port 65a of the opening paper 65 opens, allowing the aspirated chemicals, dirt, dust, mites, etc. to be drawn into the bag 66. When replacing the paper pack 64, the tab 67b of the intermediate paper 67 is pulled in the direction of the arrow, so that the intermediate paper 67 closes the suction port 65a of the opening paper 65. Therefore, when removing the paper pack 64, the chemicals, dirt, dust, mites, etc. inside the bag 66 will not scatter.

[0042] Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 53 is provided with a means for detecting when the paper bag 64 is full. Conventionally, one method for detecting when the paper bag 64 is full is to detect a decrease in flow rate using a flow sensor provided on the discharge nozzle 56. However, the criteria for determining whether or not it is full from the detected flow rate are ambiguous, making it impossible to accurately detect when it is full. In this embodiment, an acrylic plate 53d with a strain gauge attached is installed below the paper bag 64. When the capacity or weight of the paper bag 64 increases, the acrylic plate 53d bends due to the pressure or weight, causing the strain gauge to deform. This allows the limit of the capacity or weight of the paper bag 64 to be measured via a bridge circuit (not shown). The output voltage of the bridge circuit can be adjusted and calibrated using a variable resistor so that it changes with the amount of strain when unloaded and when full (with a weight equivalent to the allowable weight placed on it). By changing the variable resistor to a digital potentiometer, measuring the voltage when unloaded and when full, using this as a threshold, and controlling it with software, adjustment and configuration work becomes easier.

[0043] The automatic cleaning system automatically cleans four areas: the top of the powder container (R disc) 10, the bottom of the powder container (R disc) 10, the powder scraping device 11, and the packaging hopper 42. Cleaning the top of the powder container (R disc) 10 involves rotating the powder container (R disc) 10 while a cleaner (not shown) placed in the annular groove 10a sucks up the powder adhering to the annular groove 10a. Cleaning the bottom of the powder container (R disc) 10 involves rotating the powder container (R disc) 10 while a cleaner (not shown) placed on the back of the powder container (R disc) 10 sucks up the powder adhering to the back surface of the powder container (R disc) 10. To clean the powder dispensing device 11, the rotating plate 25 is rotated while a brush (not shown) is brought into contact with the rotating plate 25 to suction out the powder adhering to the rotating plate 25 and the dispensing plates 29a, 29b, and 29c. To clean the packaging hopper 42, the opening of the packaging hopper 42 is closed and the powder adhering to the inside is suctioned out.

[0044] After packaging one formulation, each part is automatically cleaned. However, conventionally, cleaning was performed sequentially at four locations by switching the switching valve 52, requiring a total of eight steps, including the switching of the switching valve 52. In this embodiment, in order to shorten the cleaning time and improve efficiency, cleaning of the area under the powder container (R disc) 10 and the powder scraping device 11 is performed simultaneously. That is, as shown in Figure 9, in step 1, the switching valve 52 is switched from the fourth suction nozzle 55d to the third suction nozzle 55c. In step 2, the powder container (R disc) 10 and the powder scraping device 11 are rotated simultaneously to clean the area under the powder container (R disc) 10 and the powder scraping device 11 at the same time. In step 3, the switching valve 52 is switched from the third suction nozzle 55c to the fourth suction nozzle 55d. In step 4, the packaging hopper 42 is cleaned. In step 5, the switching valve 52 is switched from the fourth suction nozzle 55d to the second suction nozzle 55b, and in step 6, the powder containment member (R disc) 10 is rotated to clean the top of the powder containment member (R disc) 10. As a result, the conventional 8-step process is reduced to 6 steps, shortening the cleaning time and improving efficiency.

[0045] Next, the operation of the powder dispensing unit 3 in the powder packaging device having the above configuration will be described.

[0046] In the following description, the side of the rotating plate 25 with the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b is referred to as the first surface or front surface, and the side of the rotating plate 25 with the narrow scraping plate 29c and the rotating shaft 23 is referred to as the second surface or back surface. Also, the direction in which the powder container member 10 is rotated from the first surface side to the second surface side of the rotating plate 25 is referred to as the forward rotation direction, and the direction in which the rotating plate 25 is rotated from the second surface side to the first surface side is referred to as the reverse rotation direction.

[0047] The powder dispensing operation by the powder dispensing unit 3 is controlled by the control device 70 shown in Figure 10, which is provided in the powder packaging device 1. The central processing unit 71 of the control device 70, in cooperation with the RAM memory 73 and according to a program stored in the ROM memory 72, controls the motor 12 of the powder storage member 10, the rotation motor 16 and lifting motor 17 of the powder dispensing unit 3 to store the powder indicated in the prescription in the powder storage member 10, divide it into the number of packets N indicated in the prescription, and dispens it into the packaging hopper 42.

[0048] As shown in Figure 11, in step 11, the motor 12 is driven to rotate the powder container member 10, and the powder according to the prescription is uniformly dispensed from the powder dispensing unit 2 into the annular groove 10a of the powder container member 10. The operation of the powder dispensing unit 2 and the adjustment of the feeder speed have already been explained.

[0049] In step 12, it is determined whether the number of packets is 93 or less, or 94 or more. While conventional powder dispensing devices had a maximum of 93 packets, this embodiment allows for dispensing 94 or more packets, but the operation differs depending on whether the number of packets is 93 or less or 94 or more. This is because, in this embodiment, the scraping width Wa of the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b is 1 / 93 of the circumference at the center of the annular groove 10a of the powder storage member 10. In the following explanation, the cases are distinguished between the case of 93 or fewer packets, where the division width is greater than or equal to the scraping width Wa of the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b, and the case of 94 or more packets, where the division width is less than or equal to the scraping width Wa of the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b.

[0050] <For 93 packets or less> If the number of packets is 93 or less, in step 13 the rotating plate 25 is rotated and stops at the first origin position where the narrow scraping plate 29c and the wide scraping plate 29a are on the inside and outside of the powder storage member 10, as shown in Figure 12(a). Specifically, this is before the partition portion 31 of the wide scraping plate 29a enters the powder storage member 10, and after the scraping portion 30 of the narrow scraping plate 29c has exited the powder storage member 10. In step 14, when the rotating plate 25 is lowered into the annular groove 10a of the powder storage member 10, a part of the periphery of the rotating plate 25 cuts into the powder uniformly stored in the powder storage member (R disc) 10.

[0051] In step 15, the powder container member (R disc) 10 is rotated in the forward direction, and as shown in Figures 12(a) and 13(b), the powder on the first side of the rotating plate 25 is scraped together, and a region without powder is created on the second side of the rotating plate 25, thereby adjusting the division width S of the powder scraped out by the wide scraping plate 29a. Here, if the circumference of the deepest part of the annular groove 10a of the powder container member 10 is L and the number of packets is N, then the division width S of the powder is S = L / N, so the powder container member 10 is rotated forward by a displacement a, which is the division width S minus the scraping width Wa of the wide scraping plate 29a.

[0052] In step 16, the rotating plate 25 is rotated clockwise in Figure 12(a) to scrape out the first packet of powder from the powder container member 10 with the wide scraping plate 29a. As shown in Figure 12(b), after the scraping portion of the wide scraping plate 29a has left the powder container member 10, and before the partition portion of the wide scraping plate 29b enters the powder container member 10, in step 17, the powder container member (R disc) 10 is rotated forward, and as shown in Figure 13(b), the powder container member 10 is advanced by a pitch equal to the division width S.

[0053] In step 18, the rotating plate 25 is rotated clockwise in Figure 12(b) to scrape out the second packet of powder from the powder container member 10 with the wide scraping plate 29b. As shown in Figure 12(c), after the scraping portion of the wide scraping plate 29b exits the powder container member 10, and before the partition portion of the narrow scraping plate 29c enters the powder container member 10, in step 19, the powder container member (R disc) is rotated forward, and the powder container member 10 is advanced by a pitch equal to the division width S, as shown in Figure 13(c).

[0054] Returning from step 20 to step 16, when the rotating plate 25 is rotated, the narrow scraping plate 29c enters the powder storage member 10 before the wide scraping plate 29a. However, at this point, the second surface of the rotating plate 25 on which the narrow scraping plate 29c is attached is free of powder equivalent to two division widths S, so it misses and passes through without disturbing the powder.

[0055] The process of scraping out the powder using the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b is repeated until the final Nth packet of powder is scraped out.

[0056] In step 20, if it is determined that the final Nth packet has been scraped out, the rotating plate 25 is raised in step 21 to end the powder scraping operation.

[0057] However, if the number of packets is 46 or less, the above method will result in a larger area being scraped up with the powder, so the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b should be used twice to scrape out the powder for one dose.

[0058] <For orders of 94 packets or more> When the number of packets is 94 or more, the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c is 1 / 135 (10 mm in this embodiment) of the circumference at the center of the annular groove 10a of the powder storage member 10. Therefore, the operation when scraping out the first packet with the narrow scraping plate 29c differs depending on whether the number of packets is 94 to 134, 135, or 136 or more.

[0059] If the number of packets is between 94 and 134, the division width (e.g., 12 mm) is greater than the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c. Therefore, before scraping out the first packet with the narrow scraping plate 29c, the powder container member 10 is rotated from the second side to the first side (2 mm in this embodiment), and the rotating plate 25 is used to scrape the powder from the second side.

[0060] When the number of packets is 135, the division width (10 mm) is the same as the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c, so the scraping action of the rotating plate 25 is unnecessary.

[0061] If the number of packets is 136 or more, the division width (e.g., 5 mm) is smaller than the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c. Therefore, before scraping out the first packet with the narrow scraping plate 29c, the powder container member 10 is rotated from the first side to the second side (5 mm in this embodiment), and the rotating plate 25 is used to scrape the powder from the first side.

[0062] In all cases, the procedure after removing the first packet is the same, so the following will explain in detail the case where the number of packets is 136 or more.

[0063] If the number of packets is 136 or more, in step 22 the rotating plate 25 is rotated and stops at a second origin position where the narrow scraping plate 29c and the wide scraping plate 29b are on the inside and outside of the powder storage member 10, as shown in Figure 14(a). Specifically, this is before the partition portion 31 of the narrow scraping plate 29c enters the powder storage member 10, and after the scraping portion 30 of the wide scraping plate 29b exits the powder storage member 10. In step 23, when the rotating plate 25 is lowered into the annular groove 10a of the powder storage member 10, a part of the periphery of the rotating plate 25 cuts into the powder uniformly stored in the powder storage member (R disc) 10.

[0064] In step 24, the powder container member (R disc) 10 is rotated in the forward direction, and as shown in Figures 14(a) and 15(a), the powder on the first side of the rotating plate 25 is scraped together, creating a region on the second side of the rotating plate 25 where there is no powder, and adjusting the division width S of the powder scraped out by the narrow scraping plate 29c. Here, if the circumference of the deepest part of the annular groove 10a of the powder container member 10 is L and the number of packets is N, then the division width S of the powder is S = L / N, so the powder container member 10 is rotated forward by a displacement b obtained by subtracting the division width S from the scraping width Wb of the narrow scraping plate 29c.

[0065] In step 25, the rotating plate 25 is rotated clockwise in Figure 14(a) to scrape out the first packet of powder from the powder container member 10 with the narrow scraping plate 29c. As shown in Figure 14(b), after the scraping portion of the narrow scraping plate 29c has left the powder container member 10, and before the partition portion of the wide scraping plate 29a enters the powder container member 10, in step 26, the powder container member (R disc) 10 is reversed to create a region on the first surface side of the rotating plate 25 where there is no powder, and the division width S of the powder scraped out by the wide scraping plate 29a is adjusted. Here, since (Wb-S) of powder has already been scraped onto the first surface side of the rotating plate 25, the actual division width Sa is Sa = S - (Wb-S) = 2S - Wb. In this case, the amount of movement c of the powder container member 10 is obtained by subtracting Sa from Wa, so d = Wa - (2S - Wb) = Wa + Wb - 2S.

[0066] In step 27, the rotating plate 25 is rotated clockwise in Figure 14(b) to scrape out the second packet of powder from the powder container member 10 with the wide scraping plate 29a. As shown in Figure 14(c), after the scraping portion of the wide scraping plate 29a has left the powder container member 10, and before the partition portion of the wide scraping plate 29b enters the powder container member 10, in step 28, the powder container member (R disc) 10 is rotated forward, and the powder container member 10 is advanced by the division width S.

[0067] In step 29, the rotating plate 25 is rotated clockwise in Figure 14(c) to scrape out the third packet of powder from the powder container member 10 with the wide scraping plate 29b. After the scraping portion of the wide scraping plate 29b exits the powder container member 10, and before the partition portion of the narrow scraping plate 29c enters the powder container member 10, in step 30, the powder container member (R disc) is rotated forward, and the powder container member 10 is advanced by a pitch equal to the division width S, as shown in Figure 15(c).

[0068] Returning from step 31 to step 27, when the rotating plate 25 is rotated, the narrow scraping plate 29c enters the powder storage member 10 before the wide scraping plate 29a. However, at this point, the second surface of the rotating plate 25 on which the narrow scraping plate 29c is attached is free of powder equivalent to two division widths S, so it misses and passes through without disturbing the powder.

[0069] The process of scraping out the powder using the wide scraping plates 29a and 29b is repeated until the final Nth packet of powder is scraped out.

[0070] In step 31, if it is determined that the final Nth packet has been scraped out, the rotating plate 25 is raised in step 21 to end the powder scraping operation.

[0071] In the tablet dispensing device of the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 15, when the first packet is dispensed by the narrow dispensing plate 29c, the powder storage member 10 is moved from the second side to the first side to dispensing the powder stored in the powder storage member 10 to the side opposite the narrow dispensing plate 29c, so that the powder with a division width S corresponding to the number of packets is dispensed. However, because the dispensing width Wb of the wide dispensing plate 29c is smaller than the dispensing width Wa of the wide dispensing plates 29a and 29b, the amount of powder that is dispensed is small. Therefore, even if there are many packets, the powder that is dispensed to the side opposite the narrow dispensing plate 29c will be contained within the division width S of the second packet and will be dispensed when the second packet is dispensed by the wide dispensing plate 29a. As a result, the required number of packets of powder can be dispensed by simply sprinkling the required amount of powder into the powder storage member 10 once.

[0072] In this embodiment, when the scraping width is greater than or equal to the width of the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate) and there are 93 packets or fewer, the powdered medicine is scraped out using only the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate). When the scraping width is less than or equal to the width of the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate) and there are 94 packets or more, the first packet is scraped out with the narrow scraping plate (second scraping plate), and the second and subsequent packets are scraped out with the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate). However, even when the scraping width is greater than or equal to the width of the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate) and there are 93 packets or fewer, it is also possible to scrape out the first packet with the narrow scraping plate (second scraping plate) and the second and subsequent packets with the wide scraping plate (first scraping plate).

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified or altered without changing the gist of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, there are two first scraping plates (wide scraping plates 29a, 29b) and one second scraping plate (narrow scraping plate 29c), but there may be one first scraping plate and one second scraping plate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1 Powder packaging equipment 10 Powder containment member 10a Annular groove 11. Powder Dispensing Device 25 Rotating Plates 29a, 29b Wide scraping plate (first scraping plate) 29c Narrow scraping board (second scraping board) 70 Control device

Claims

1. A rotatable powder container having a groove with a circular arc cross-section, A powder packaging device comprising a rotating plate that is rotatable in contact with the groove and is provided to be vertically movable relative to the groove, and which is equipped with a scraping plate for scraping out the powder contained in the powder storage member, The scraping plate comprises a first scraping plate provided on the first surface of the rotating plate and a second scraping plate provided on the second surface of the rotating plate, having a smaller scraping width than the first scraping plate. If the number of packets is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the powder is scraped out using only the first scraping plate. A powder packaging device characterized in that, when the number of packets exceeds a predetermined number of packets, the second scraping plate scrapes out the first packet of powder in a predetermined division width, moves the powder containing member from the second side to the first side of the rotating plate, and then the first scraping plate scrapes out the second and subsequent packets of powder in a predetermined division width.

2. The powder packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the powder containing member is moved from the first side to the second side after the second scraping plate has finished scraping the first packet of powder and before the first scraping plate begins scraping the second packet of powder.

3. The powder packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after the first scraping plate scrapes out the powder, the powder containing member is moved from the first side to the second side, and then the second scraping plate enters the powder containing member.

4. The powder packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first scraping plate and the second scraping plate are provided at equally spaced positions around the central axis of the rotating plate.

5. The powder packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two first scraping plates and one second scraping plate are provided.

6. The powder packaging device according to claim 5, characterized in that the powder containing member is moved from the first side to the second side after the first scraping plate has finished scraping the powder and before the second first scraping plate begins scraping the powder.

7. The powder packaging device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first scraping plate scrapes out the powder, the second scraping plate enters the powder container before the first scraping plate enters the powder container.

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