Tablet dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a tablet takeout device capable of more securely guiding a PTP sheet to a grip position between a pair of feed rollers.SOLUTION: A tablet takeout device comprises a main body part, a first shaft, a second shaft, a first feed roller, a second feed roller, a press roller, and a guide device which has one or a plurality of PTP sheets arranged and feeds the PTP sheets, one by one, to a grip position between the first feed roller and second feed roller. The guide device comprises: a guide part which has one or a plurality of PTP sheets arranged on the front, and a passage for sending the PTP sheets, one by one, to the grip position being defined on the front of the guide part; and a slide member which is held on the front side of the guide part so that the slide member can slide on the front of the guide part in both a feed direction and a return direction. The slide member is configured to enter the passage from a base end side of the guide part and push out the PTP sheets arranged on the guide part, one body one, to the grip position along the passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tablet extraction device for removing tablets by unpacking a PTP sheet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various tablet extraction devices have been used to quickly and easily remove tablets from a PTP sheet. Here, the PTP sheet is a sheet for protecting tablets and is also called a "tablet sheet". Further, the tablets in this specification include not only tablet-shaped ones but also capsule-shaped ones. And the thickness of the tablets described below means the thickness in the normal direction of the PTP sheet plane in the state of being accommodated in the PTP sheet.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional tablet dispensing device. Hereafter, in this paragraph, the reference numerals of Patent Document 1 are indicated in parentheses. The tablet dispensing device (1) of Patent Document 1 includes a drive roller (210) for transporting a PTP sheet from the upstream side to the downstream side, a driven roller (230) that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the drive roller (210), a pressing roller (250) disposed coaxially with the drive roller (210) and pressing the tablet-holding portion of the PTP sheet when transported by the drive roller (210) and the driven roller (230), and a guide portion (pre-transport support portion (30)) on which the PTP sheet is placed and fed to the rollers (210, 230, 250). The drive roller (210) and the driven roller (230) are also provided with gripping portions (212a) that grip the ends of the PTP sheet (both sides of the tablet-holding portion). Furthermore, the tablet dispensing device (1) is provided with a drive roller spacing adjustment mechanism (50) that changes the position of the pressure roller (250) so that it is positioned midway between adjacent drive rollers (210, 210). In other words, the tablet dispensing device (1) can adjust the position of the pressure roller (250), etc., to match the width of the PTP sheet. In this tablet dispensing device (1), the PTP sheet is placed on the guide section (30), the guide section (30) guides the PTP sheet to the gripping surface between a pair of feed rollers (drive roller and driven roller), and the drive roller (210) and driven roller (230) are rotated to feed out the PTP sheet. Then, by pressing the tablet holding portion of the PTP sheet that has been fed to the gripping surface with the pressure roller (250), the tablet can be removed from the tablet holding portion. In addition, a plurality of protrusions (251) are formed on the circumferential surface of the pressure roller (250) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation. Since a recess (251a) is formed in the center of the projection (251), damage to the tablet itself inside the tablet holder is prevented when the pressing roller (210) presses the tablet holder. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-131149 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Conventional tablet dispensing devices work by sliding a PTP sheet placed on a guide section down an inclined surface to a gripping position between a pair of feed rollers (a drive roller and a driven roller), gripping the end of the PTP sheet with the feed rollers and feeding it forward, while simultaneously pressing the tablet-holding portion of the PTP sheet with a pressure roller to remove the tablet from the tablet-holding portion. However, sometimes the PTP sheet placed on the guide section does not slide smoothly to the gripping position, requiring user assistance. In particular, when multiple PTP sheets are stacked on the guide section, it is difficult to move only the first PTP sheet to the gripping position, requiring the user to place the PTP sheets one by one on the guide section. Therefore, the objective was to provide a tablet dispensing device having a mechanism that guides each PTP sheet to the gripping position between a pair of feed rollers when multiple PTP sheets are placed on the guide section.

[0006] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and its objective is to provide a tablet dispensing device that can reliably guide a PTP sheet by its gripping position between a pair of feed rollers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device for dispensing tablets from a PTP sheet having a sheet portion and a tablet holding portion, The main body and A first shaft is rotatably supported on the main body along the axial direction, A second shaft is rotatably supported on the main body along the axial direction, A first feed roller fixed to the first shaft and rotating together with the first shaft, A second feed roller is fixed to the second shaft and rotates with the second shaft in cooperation with the first feed roller to grip the sheet portion of the PTP sheet and to feed out the PTP sheet, A pressing roller is fixed to the first axis and is rotated in the forward direction when the PTP sheet is fed out, and is positioned to press the tablet holding portion so that the tablet can be removed. A guide device for arranging one or more PTP sheets and feeding the PTP sheets one by one to a gripping position between the first feed roller and the second feed roller, The guide device is, A guide portion extending from its base end to its tip edge toward the gripping position between the first feed roller and the second feed roller, wherein one or more PTP sheets are positioned on its front surface, a gap is formed between the tip edge of the guide portion and the gripping position, and a passage is defined on the front surface of the guide portion for feeding the PTP sheets one by one to the gripping position; The guide portion comprises a sliding member held on the front side of the guide portion so as to be slidable in both the forward and reverse directions on the front surface of the guide portion, The sliding member is characterized in that it enters the passage from the base end side of the guide portion and pushes the PTP sheets, which are placed on the guide portion, one by one along the passage to the gripping position.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the tablet dispensing device of the present invention, the guide device is provided with a sliding member that can slide on the front surface of the guide section in both the feeding and returning directions. The sliding member enters the passage from the base end side of the guide section and operates to push the PTP sheets arranged on the front surface of the guide section one by one along the passage to the gripping position. In other words, even when multiple PTP sheets are arranged on the guide section, the tablet dispensing device of the present invention can more reliably dispense PTP sheets by having the sliding member push the first PTP sheet in the passage to the gripping position between a pair of feed rollers (first feed roller and second feed roller).

[0009] A further embodiment of the tablet dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the guide device further comprises a first link mechanism connected to the slide member, which converts the forward rotational motion of the first axis into a sliding motion of the slide member, and the slide member is configured to reciprocate between a retracted position on the base end side of the passage and an extrusion position that has entered the passage, in conjunction with the forward rotational motion of the first axis. That is, by rotating the first axis in the forward direction (feed direction), the slide member is reciprocated in both the feed direction and the return direction via the first link mechanism, thereby effectively assisting in the dispensing of the PTP sheet with fewer operations.

[0010] A further embodiment of the present invention provides a tablet dispensing device in which the guide device further comprises a shutter member that is movable in a direction toward and toward the passage on a path intersecting the passage, wherein the shutter member is displaceable between a closed position that closes the passage and an open position that opens the passage. That is, when the shutter member is in the closed position that closes the passage, it restricts the PTP sheet from unintentionally moving to a gripping position between a pair of feed rollers. On the other hand, when unpacking the PTP sheet, the shutter member is displaced to an open position that opens the passage, allowing the PTP sheet to move to a gripping position between a pair of feed rollers.

[0011] A further embodiment of the tablet dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the guide device further comprises a second link mechanism connected to the shutter member, which converts the forward rotational movement of the first axis into displacement of the shutter member between the closed position and the open position, and the shutter member is configured to reciprocate between the closed position and the open position in conjunction with the forward rotational movement of the first axis. That is, by rotating the first axis in the forward direction (feed direction), the shutter member is moved back and forth between the closed position and the open position via the second link mechanism, thereby effectively assisting in the feeding of PTP sheets with fewer operations.

[0012] A further embodiment of the tablet dispensing device of the present invention is characterized in that the shutter member is in the closed position when the slide member is in the retracted position, the shutter member is maintained in the open position when the slide member is in the extrusion position, and the shutter member moves to the closed position when the slide member moves from the extrusion position to the retracted position. In other words, the tablet dispensing device of the present invention is controlled so that the slide member and the shutter member operate in conjunction, thereby enabling efficient feeding of the PTP sheet to the gripping position.

[0013] A further embodiment of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device characterized in that, in one stroke of the reciprocating movement of the slide member and the shutter member, the rear end of the PTP sheet placed in the passage is sent to a position beyond the shutter member in the feeding direction. That is, the tablet dispensing device of the present invention can efficiently perform a series of PTP sheet unpackaging processes by controlling the amount of PTP sheet fed by a pair of feed rollers in relation to the interlocking operation of the slide member and the shutter member.

[0014] A further embodiment of the present invention provides a tablet dispensing device in which the guide device further comprises a support plate extending on a plane perpendicular to the passage, wherein the support plate is positioned to support the second and subsequent PTP sheets stacked on the guide portion from the tip side of the guide portion, and the shutter member is slidably supported in a direction parallel to the plane of the support plate. That is, the support plate functions to restrict the movement of the second and subsequent PTP sheets toward the tip side when the first PTP sheet placed on the guide portion passes through the passage. Furthermore, by having the support plate slidably support the shutter member, the mechanical structure of the tablet dispensing device can be simplified.

[0015] In a further form of the tablet extraction device of the present invention, the guide device further includes a pair of side plates extending orthogonally to the guide portion on both sides of the guide portion, and the distance between the pair of side plates is adjustable according to the width of the PTP sheet. That is, the PTP sheet can move to the tip side of the guide portion while being guided in the width direction by the pair of side plates.

Effects of the Invention

[0016] The tablet extraction device of the present invention can surely guide the PTP sheet to the gripping position between the pair of feed rollers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] Schematic perspective view of a tablet extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic perspective view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 1 with the main body side plate omitted. [Figure 3] Front view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] Right side view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] Plan view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 2. [Figure 6] A-A cross-sectional view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] B-B cross-sectional view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 3. [Figure 8] C-C cross-sectional view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 3. [Figure 9] (a) D-D cross-sectional view and (b) E-E cross-sectional view of the tablet extraction device of FIG. 4. [Figure 10] Partially enlarged perspective view showing the guide device of the tablet extraction device according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] In the guide device of FIG. 10, a schematic perspective view showing a form in which the slide member is located on the proximal end side and the shutter member closes the passage. [Figure 12] In the guide device of FIG. 10, a schematic perspective view showing the first link mechanism and the second link mechanism. [Figure 13]Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second link mechanisms in the guide device, showing the slide member in its initial retracted position. [Figure 14] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second link mechanisms in the guide device, showing the state in which the slide member has moved to the middle of the extrusion position. [Figure 15] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second link mechanisms in the guide device, showing the configuration in which the slide member is positioned at its lower end in the extrusion position. [Figure 16] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second link mechanisms in the guide device, showing the form in which the slide member returns to its retracted position. [Figure 17] (a) Perspective view and (b) Cross-sectional view of a PTP sheet. [Figure 18] A schematic diagram showing one step in removing tablets from a PTP sheet using a tablet dispensing device according to one embodiment, the diagram showing a state in which multiple PTP sheets are set in the guide section. [Figure 19] A schematic diagram showing one step in removing tablets from a PTP sheet using a tablet dispensing device according to one embodiment, the diagram showing the state in which the PTP sheets are fed out one by one on the guide section. [Figure 20] A schematic diagram showing one step in removing a tablet from a PTP sheet using a tablet dispensing device according to one embodiment, the diagram showing the state in which the tablet-holding portion of the PTP sheet is pressed by a pressure roller to remove the tablet. [Figure 21] A schematic diagram showing one step of removing a tablet from a PTP sheet using a tablet dispensing device according to one embodiment, the diagram showing the state in which the tablet is removed by pressing the tablet-holding portion of the PTP sheet with a pressing ring. [Figure 22] A schematic diagram showing one step in removing a tablet from a PTP sheet using a tablet dispensing device according to one embodiment, the diagram showing the state in which the feeding of the PTP sheet is completed and the slide member and shutter member have returned to their original positions. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes in the drawings referenced in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for illustrating preferred shapes, and the dimensional ratios, etc., do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios shown in the drawings.

[0019] A tablet dispensing device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to remove a tablet T from a PTP sheet S. Here, Figures 17(a) and (b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the PTP sheet S. The PTP sheet S comprises a sheet portion S1 and a tablet holding portion S2 that holds the tablet T inside. Aluminum foil is attached to the back surface of the sheet portion S1 of the PTP sheet S, and the tablet T is sealed inside the tablet holding portion S2. This tablet holding portion S2 is made of a flexible material (synthetic resin) and has a predetermined height. By pressing the tablet holding portion S2 from the surface, the tablet holding portion S2 is indented, the aluminum foil is torn, and the tablet T can be removed from the tablet holding portion S2.

[0020] The tablet dispensing device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the tablet dispensing device 100 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the tablet dispensing device 100 with the housing portion (main body portion 101) omitted in order to depict its internal structure. Figure 3 is a front view of the tablet dispensing device 100 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a right side view of the tablet dispensing device 100 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a front view of the tablet dispensing device 100 of Figure 2. Figures 6 to 9 are cross-sectional views of various parts of the tablet dispensing device 100.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the tablet dispensing device 100 comprises a main body 101, a first shaft 103 rotatably supported and rotationally driven on the main body 101 along the axial direction, a second shaft 104 rotatably supported on the main body 101 along the axial direction, a first feed roller 105 fixed to the first shaft 103 and rotating together with the first shaft 103, a second feed roller 106 fixed to the second shaft 104 and rotating together with the second shaft 104, a pressing roller 111 fixed to the first shaft 103 and rotating together with the first shaft 103, a shaft 113 supported along the axial direction on the main body 101 and spaced apart from the pressing roller 111, a pressing ring (pressing member) 115 wound around the pressing roller 111 and the shaft 113, and a guide device 121 for placing one or more PTP sheets S on it and feeding out the PTP sheets S one by one.

[0022] The main body 101 is a hollow housing or enclosure on which various components are supported or fixed, and comprises a bottom wall 101a and a pair of side walls 101b erected from the bottom wall 101a. The main body 101 is also capable of accommodating a drawer (not shown), and the drawer can receive tablets T removed from the PTP sheet S. In this embodiment, the main body 101 is open on the front, top, and back.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the first shaft 103 is rotatably supported by a pair of side walls 101b of the main body 101 along the axial direction that extends horizontally to the left and right in a front view. A drive handle 108 is attached to one end of the first shaft 103. In other words, the first shaft 103 is rotated by power supplied to the first shaft 103 by the rotational operation of the drive handle 108. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5, the second shaft 104 is rotatably supported by a pair of side walls 101b of the main body 101 along the axial direction so as to be parallel to the first shaft 103. The second shaft 104 is supported diagonally above and behind the first shaft 103.

[0024] The first feed roller 105 consists of three rollers: two outer rollers spaced apart in the axial direction and one central roller, as shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9(a). Each roller of the first feed roller 105 has a first outer diameter, is fixed to the first shaft 103, and rotates with the first shaft 103. The two outer rollers are movably positioned along the first shaft 103, and the central roller is fixed to the center of the first shaft 103. Similarly, the second feed roller 106 consists of three rollers: two outer rollers spaced apart in the axial direction and one central roller, as shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9(a). Each roller of the second feed roller 106 has a second outer diameter, is fixed to the second shaft 104, and rotates with the second shaft 104. The two outer rollers are movably positioned along the second shaft 104, and the central roller is fixed to the center of the second shaft 104. The first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106 are arranged so that their respective rollers face each other and mesh. When the first feed roller 105 is driven to rotate, the second feed roller 106 is driven to rotate in accordance with the first feed roller 105. The position where the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106 mesh (or are in closest contact) with each other is defined as the gripping position for gripping the PTP sheet S. In other words, the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106 work together to grip the sheet portion S1 of the PTP sheet S and are configured to feed the PTP sheet S in the feeding direction by rotating in the forward direction. In short, the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106 work together to function as PTP sheet feeding rollers.

[0025] The pressing roller 111 is fixed to the first shaft 103 and is rotated in the forward direction when the PTP sheet S is fed, and is positioned to press the tablet holding section S2 so that the tablet T can be removed. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 9(a), two pressing rollers 111 are arranged coaxially with the first feed roller 105 and are located approximately midway between adjacent first feed rollers 105 (that is, between the outer roller and the central roller). The pressing rollers 111 are connected to the first feed roller 105 by a plurality of connecting pins 103a arranged around the first shaft 103 so that they can rotate synchronously with the first feed roller 105. The pressing rollers 111 are biased from both sides by springs 103b attached to the connecting pins 103a. In other words, each of the pressing rollers 111 is maintained in an intermediate position between the outer roller and the central roller of the first feed roller 105.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), the pressing roller 111 has an outer diameter larger than that of the first feed roller 105, and has a pressing surface 111a with an uneven shape that facilitates pressing the tablet holding portion S2 of the PTP sheet S. In addition, an outer peripheral groove 111b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 111, extending along the entire circumference at the axial center of the pressing surface 111a. The outer peripheral groove 111b forms a recess between the pressing surfaces 111a on the outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 111, and functions to suppress damage to the tablet T when pressing the tablet holding portion S2 (see Patent Document 1).

[0027] Furthermore, the pressing roller 111 has a pressing center position 111c in its outer circumference direction, which is the point that protrudes the most from the PTP sheet S being fed along the passage (see Figure 9(b)). In other words, the pressing center position 111c is the point in the outer circumference direction where the pressing force on the tablet holding portion S2 by the pressing surface 111a is maximum. In this embodiment, the gripping position where the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106 grip the sheet portion S1 and the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111 are at the same position in the feeding direction of the PTP sheet S. This positional relationship makes it possible for the pressing roller 111 to effectively press the tablet holding portion S2 of the PTP sheet S.

[0028] The shaft 113 is supported axially by a pair of side walls 101b of the main body 101 so as to be parallel to the first axis 102, and is positioned at a distance from the pressure roller 111. The shaft 113 extends so as to face the first feed roller 105 and the pressure roller 111. A pair of rotatable rotating rollers 114 are provided approximately in the center of the shaft 113. The pair of rotating rollers 114 are positioned so as to maintain the same position as the pair of pressure rollers 111 in the axial direction. The rotating rollers 114 may rotate relative to the shaft 113, or they may rotate together with the shaft 113. Each rotating roller 114 has a recess in the axial center that can accommodate and engage with the pressure ring 115.

[0029] As shown in Figure 9(b), the pressing ring 115 is supported in a predetermined position by the main body 101 by being wound around the pressing roller 111 and the shaft 113. The pressing ring 115 is also positioned so as to be partially housed in the outer circumferential groove 111b of the pressing roller 111. As shown in Figure 7, the pressing ring 115 is a rigid ring-shaped body with an inner and outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pressing roller 111. In this embodiment, the pressing ring 115 is made of a rigid metal wire. The inner diameter of the pressing ring 115 is determined so as to be in contact with the bottom surface of the recess of the rotating roller 116 on the shaft 113 and the bottom surface of the outer circumferential groove 111b of the pressing ring 115. By being in contact with at least the bottom surface of the outer circumferential groove 111b, the pressing ring 115 can rotate in the forward direction in accordance with the rotation of the pressing roller 111.

[0030] Furthermore, the pressing ring 115 is housed in the outer circumferential groove 111b so as to retract radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the pressing roller 111 at the pressing center position 111c, where the pressing force on the tablet holding portion S2 is maximum. For this reason, a recess is formed in the center of the width direction of the outer circumferential surface of the pressing ring 115 at the pressing center position 111c. The pressing ring 115 protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential groove 111b at a position shifted forward from the pressing center position 111c. More specifically, the pressing ring 115 is in contact with the bottom surface of the outer circumferential groove 111b at a position shifted in the opposite direction from the pressing center position 111c. Also, at the pressing center position 111c, the pressing ring 115 is positioned away from the bottom surface of the outer circumferential groove 111b and radially retracted from the pressing surface 111a. The pressing ring 115 protrudes significantly radially outward from the outer groove 111b at a position close to or adjacent to the pressing center position 111c in the forward direction, so that it can continuously press the tablet holding portion S2 following the pressing roller 111. As will be described later, the pressing ring 115 acts to continuously press the tablet holding portion S2 in the ejection direction after it has passed the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111 in the feeding direction. In other words, the pressing ring 115 functions to continuously apply the maximum pressing force at the pressing center position 111c to the PTP sheet S.

[0031] The guide device 121 is configurable to introduce multiple PTP sheets S and is configured to feed the PTP sheets S one by one to a gripping position between the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106. Figure 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the guide device 121. As shown in Figure 10, the guide device 121 comprises a guide portion 122 extending linearly from the base end to the tip edge for positioning multiple PTP sheets S thereon, a pair of side plates 123, 123 extending perpendicularly to the guide portion 122 on both sides of the guide portion 122, and a support plate 124 extending perpendicularly to both the guide portion 122 and the side plates 123 on the tip side of the guide portion 122.

[0032] The guide section 122 has a front surface inclined at an angle of 90 degrees or less from the vertical, on which the back surface of the PTP sheet S is placed. The inclination angle of the front surface of the guide section 122 is preferably about 15 to 45 degrees so that the placed PTP sheet S can slide toward the tip of the guide section 122 by its own weight. The guide section 122 is composed of a pair of long plates that extend in the feeding direction of the PTP sheet S and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction (axial direction). A slit is formed between the pair of long plates that make up the guide section 122 for the sliding member 125, which will be described later, to pass through. The guide section 122 also extends toward the gripping position between the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106. A passage is defined on the front surface of the guide section 122 for feeding the PTP sheets S one by one to the gripping position. This passage extends linearly along the feeding direction of the PTP sheet S and is the space through which one PTP sheet S (out of multiple PTP sheets S) passes before reaching the gripping position. In other words, the passage is defined as the space from the rear end (in the feeding direction) of the first PTP sheet S initially placed on the guide section 122 to the gripping position. As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the leading edge of the guide section 122 on (or) the passage and the gripping position are separated by a predetermined distance, and a gap R is formed between them. The pressing roller 111 and the shaft 113 are spaced apart in the same direction relative to this gap R.

[0033] The pair of side plates 123, 123 are spaced apart from the guide portion 122 in the width direction (axial direction) and extend to sandwich the PTP sheet S placed on the guide portion 122 from the width direction. The pair of side plates 123, 123 are also supported on the upper surface of the support plate 124. The distance between the pair of side plates 123, 123 can be adjusted to match the width of the PTP sheet S by a width adjustment mechanism 131, which will be described later. The pair of side plates 123, 123 function to prevent the orientation of one or more PTP sheets S placed on the guide portion 122 from tilting or shifting in the width direction.

[0034] The support plate 124 has a proximal end close to the guide portion 122 and a distal end spaced away from the guide portion 122, and extends in a rectangular shape. The support plate 124 is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the passage of the guide portion 122. The proximal end of the support plate 124 is spaced away from the front surface of the guide portion 122 at a distance that does not overlap with the passage, allowing one PTP sheet S to pass through. That is, the support plate 124 is adjacent to the passage at its proximal end and is configured to support the leading edge in the feeding direction of the second and subsequent PTP sheets S stacked on the front surface of the guide portion 122. On the other hand, the first PTP sheet S is not supported by the support plate 124, but is supported in place when the shutter member 127, described later, closes the passage.

[0035] The guide device 121 has a PTP sheet feeding function that operates mechanically to reliably feed out one by one the multiple PTP sheets S stacked on top of the guide section 122. More specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the guide device 121 includes a slide member 125 held on the front side of the guide section 122 so as to be slidable on the front surface of the guide section 122 in both the feeding and returning directions, and a shutter member 127 that is movable in directions of entering and leaving the passage on a path that intersects the passage.

[0036] The slide member 125 enters the passage of the guide portion 122 from an initial position on the base end side of the passage (which does not contact the PTP sheet S), and is configured to push the PTP sheets S placed on the guide portion 122 one by one along the passage to the gripping position. The slide member 125 is a plate thinner than the height of the PTP sheet S and has a tapered shape that becomes thinner towards the tip. The slide member 125 is supported by the guide portion 122 through a slit in the guide portion 122 and is capable of sliding linearly on the front surface of the guide portion 122. The slide member 125 is configured to reciprocate between a retracted position on the base end side of the passage (see Figure 11) and an extrusion position where it has entered the passage (see Figure 10), in conjunction with the forward rotational movement of the first shaft 103.

[0037] The shutter member 127 is configured to displace between a closed position that closes the passage and an open position that opens the passage. The shutter member 127 is supported on the lower side of the support plate 124 and slides in a direction parallel to the plane of the support plate 124. In particular, in the open position, the shutter member 127 is retracted into a groove cut out in the proximal end of the support plate 124 (see Figure 10), while in the open position, it is positioned to protrude into the passage from the proximal end of the support plate 124 (see Figure 11). The shutter member 127 is configured to reciprocate between the closed position and the open position at a predetermined timing in conjunction with the forward rotational movement of the first shaft 103.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the guide device 121 further includes a first link mechanism 126 connected to the slide member 125, which converts the forward rotational motion of the first shaft 103 into the sliding motion of the slide member 125, and a second link mechanism 128 connected to the shutter member 127, which converts the forward rotational motion of the first shaft 103 into the displacement motion of the shutter member 127 between the closed and open positions. The first link mechanism 126 and the second link mechanism 128 are connected to a third shaft 117 that rotates driven by the first shaft 103 via a belt pulley 118. The third shaft 117 is rotatably supported on the main body 101 and connected to the first shaft 103 by the belt pulley 118. This belt pulley 118 is configured to transmit the rotation of the first shaft 103 to the third shaft 117 by converting it to a different rotational speed (i.e., reducing its speed). In other words, the diameter of the pulley on the third shaft 117 side of the belt pulley 118 is larger than the diameter of the pulley on the first shaft 103. That is, the first link mechanism 126 and the second link mechanism 128 indirectly connect the first shaft 103 (or the second shaft 104) to the slide member 125 and the shutter member 127, respectively, enabling the transmission of rotational driving force.

[0039] The first link mechanism 126 specifically consists of a relatively short, linear first link piece 126a fixed at its base end to the third shaft 117 and rotating with the third shaft 117, a relatively long, linear second link piece 126b rotatably connected to the tip of the first link piece 126a, and a third link piece 126c rotatably connected to the tip of the second link piece 126b. The tip of the third link piece 126c is fixed to the back of the slide member 125 (located on the rear side of the guide portion 122). When the first shaft 103 is rotated in the forward direction, the first link mechanism 126 operates, and the slide member 125 is displaced on the front surface of the guide portion 122 from the base end to the tip end, or vice versa. In particular, when the first link piece 126a is facing vertically upward, the slide member 125 is positioned at its most retracted position towards the base end (see Figure 13). When the first link piece 126a is oriented at approximately 3 o'clock (or approximately 9 o'clock), the slide member 125 is positioned approximately midway through the extrusion position as it enters the passage (see Figure 14). When the first link piece 126a is oriented vertically downward, the slide member 125 is positioned at the extrusion position closest to the front (see Figure 15). When the first link piece 126a is oriented at approximately 10 to 11 o'clock, the slide member 125 moves from the extrusion position to the retracted position (see Figure 16). The amount of rotation of the first link piece 126a (third shaft 117) relative to the amount of rotation of the first shaft 103 can be arbitrarily adjusted by the belt pulley 118. In this embodiment, one stroke of the reciprocating movement of the slide member 125 is completed after the rear end of the PTP sheet S, which is initially positioned in the passage, is sent to a position beyond the shutter member 127 in the feed direction (or almost simultaneously with it being sent). In other words, the amount of rotation of the third shaft 117 is determined so that one stroke of the reciprocating movement of the slide member 125 is completed in accordance with the amount of rotation of the first shaft 103 required to feed the PTP sheet S to the above position. Specifically, the rotation of the first shaft 103 is reduced by the belt pulley 118 so that the first link piece 126a rotates once while the first shaft 103 rotates approximately 1.5 to 2 times. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the amount of slide (movement speed) of the slide member 125 is set to be the same as the amount of feed (movement speed) of the PTP sheet S due to the rotation of the feed rollers 105 and 106.

[0040] The second link mechanism 128 specifically consists of a cam 128a having an arcuate surface and a planar cam surface 128a1, which is fixed to the third shaft 117 and rotates together with the third shaft 117, and a driven link 128b which contacts the outer circumferential surface of the cam 128a (via a bearing 128b1) and reciprocates linearly back and forth in accordance with the rotational motion of the cam 128a. The tip of the driven link 128b is connected to the shutter member 127. When the first shaft 103 is rotated in the forward direction, the second link mechanism 128 operates, and the shutter member 127 is displaced so that it protrudes from the groove of the support plate 124 into the passage, or vice versa. In particular, when the cam surface 128a1 of the cam 128a is facing approximately 9 o'clock and in contact with the driven link 128b, the shutter member 127 is positioned in a closed position where it protrudes towards the passage and closes the passage (see Figure 13). When the cam surface 128a1 of the cam 128a is facing approximately 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock and the arcuate surface is in contact with the driven link 128b, the shutter member 127 is housed in the groove of the support plate 124 and positioned in the open position that opens the passage (see Figures 14 and 15). When the cam surface 128a1 of the cam 128a is facing approximately 7 to 8 o'clock and is in contact with the driven link 128b again, the shutter member 127 is displaced from the open position to the closed position (see Figure 16). The amount of rotation of the cam 128a (third shaft 117) relative to the amount of rotation of the first shaft 103 can be arbitrarily adjusted by the belt pulley 118. In this embodiment, one stroke of the reciprocating movement of the shutter member 127 is completed after the rear end of the PTP sheet S, which is initially positioned in the passage, is sent to a position beyond the shutter member 127 in the feed direction (or almost simultaneously with it being sent). In other words, the amount of rotation of the third shaft 117 was determined so that one stroke of the reciprocating movement of the shutter member 127 is completed in accordance with the amount of rotation of the first shaft 103 required to feed the PTP sheet S to the above position. Specifically, the rotation of the first shaft 103 is reduced by the belt pulley 118 so that the cam 128a rotates once while the first shaft 103 rotates approximately 1.5 to 2 times.

[0041] As shown in Figures 13 to 16, the slide member 125 and the shutter member 127 are configured to operate in conjunction with each other at the optimal timing for feeding out the PTP sheet S. That is, as shown in Figure 13, when the slide member 125 is in the retracted position, the shutter member 127 is in the closed position. Next, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, when the slide member 125 is in the ejected position, the shutter member is maintained in the open position. Then, as shown in Figure 16, when the slide member 125 moves from the ejected position to the retracted position, the shutter member 127 is displaced from the open position to the closed position.

[0042] Furthermore, the tablet dispensing device 100 of this embodiment further includes a width adjustment mechanism 131 for adjusting the axial positions of the first feed roller 105, the second feed roller 106, the pressure roller 111, the pressure ring 115, and the side plate 123 according to the width of the PTP sheet S. The width adjustment mechanism 131 comprises a bolt shaft 132 rotatably supported on the main body 101, a pair of movable plates 133, 133 screwed onto the bolt shaft 132, and an adjustment handle 134 for rotating the bolt shaft 132. The pair of movable plates 133, 133 are arranged to engage with the pair of outer rollers of the first feed roller 105, the pair of outer rollers of the second feed roller 106, and the pair of side plates 123. The width adjustment mechanism 131 is also configured to move the pair of movable plates 133, 133 along the bolt shaft 132 in a direction toward or toward each other by rotating the adjustment handle 134 in one direction or the other. Furthermore, by moving the pair of movable plates 133, 133 toward and toward each other, the axial positions of the first feed roller 105, the second feed roller 106, the pressure roller 111, the pressure ring 115, and the side plate 123 can be adjusted to the optimal position according to the width of the PTP sheet S. In this invention, the width adjustment mechanism 131 may be omitted.

[0043] Next, the process of removing and extracting tablets T from the PTP sheet S using the tablet dispensing device 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0044] First, the width adjustment handle 134 is rotated to adjust the width of the PTP sheet S to match the width between the pair of side plates 123, 123 of the guide device 121. Next, the drive handle 108 is rotated to position the slide member 125 and the shutter member 127 in their initial positions. The initial position is when the slide member 125 is retracted as far as the base end of the guide section 122 and the shutter member 127 is closing the passage (see Figure 13). After adjusting the positions of the components of the tablet dispensing device 100, the multiple PTP sheets S are arranged to be stacked on the front of the guide section 122, as shown in Figure 18. At this time, the bottommost PTP sheet S is placed in the passage on the guide section 122 and is blocked by the shutter member 127 that closes the passage. The second and subsequent PTP sheets S are located outside the passage and are supported on the upper surface of the support plate 124.

[0045] Next, when the drive handle 108 is rotated in the forward direction, the slide member 125 begins to move from the retracted position towards the ejection position, and the shutter member 127 begins to move from the closed position towards the open position. When the shutter member 127 moves to the open position, the slide member 125 enters the passage and contacts the rear end of the PTP sheet S in the feed direction. As shown in Figure 19, the first PTP sheet S is pushed out in the feed direction by the slide member 125 and fed towards the gripping position between the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106. At this time, the second and subsequent PTP sheets S are restricted by the support plate 124 from moving toward the front end together with the first PTP sheet S.

[0046] Furthermore, when the drive handle 108 is rotated in the forward direction, the PTP sheet S moves through the passage together with the slide member 125, passing through the gap R and reaching the gripping position. At the gripping position, the sheet portion S1 of the PTP sheet S is gripped by the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106, and the PTP sheet S is fed out by the forward rotation of the first feed roller 105 and the second feed roller 106. As shown in Figure 20, after the PTP sheet S has passed the gripping position, the slide member 125 begins to retract.

[0047] Then, around the time the slide member 125 begins to retract, the tablet holding portion S2 passes the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111. As it passes, as shown in Figure 20, most of the tablets T are removed from the tablet holding portion S2 by being pressed by the pressing roller 111. At this time, the outer circumferential surface of the pressing roller 111 presses against the tablet holding portion S2 via the recess, which prevents the tablets T from being damaged. On the other hand, if the tablet holding portion S2 passes the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111 without the tablets T being removed, as shown in Figure 21, the pressing ring 115 acts to press against the tablet holding portion S2 in place of the pressing roller 111.

[0048] Continue rotating the drive handle 108 in the forward direction until the entire PTP sheet S is fed out. As shown in Figure 22, after the rear end of the PTP sheet S in the feeding direction has passed through the gap R, the slide member 125 returns to the retracted position and the shutter member 127 is displaced to the closed position. Continue rotating the drive handle 108 in the forward direction until all tablet holding parts S2 have passed the pressing roller 111 and pressing ring 115 in the feeding direction and the PTP sheet S has fallen, and the process of unpacking one PTP sheet S is completed.

[0049] As shown in Figure 22, the second PTP sheet S is placed in the passage after the first PTP sheet S has been fed out. Subsequently, by rotating the drive handle 108, the second and subsequent PTP sheets S can be continuously unpacked. Alternatively, by changing the shape of the cam 128a to extend the period during which the shutter member 127 is in the closed position, the slide member 125 and the shutter member 127 may be returned to their initial positions at the timing after the rear end of the PTP sheet S has passed the gripping position in the feeding direction and fallen.

[0050] The following describes the operation and effects of the tablet dispensing device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] According to a tablet dispensing device 100 of one embodiment of the present invention, the guide device 121 is provided with a slide member 125 that can slide in both the feeding and returning directions on the front surface of the guide section 122, and a shutter member 127 that can move in directions of entering and leaving the passage on a path that intersects the passage. The slide member 125 enters the passage from the base end side of the guide section 122 and operates to push the PTP sheets S, which are placed on the front surface of the guide section 122, one by one along the passage to the gripping position between a pair of feed rollers 105 and 106. The shutter member 127, when in the closed position that closes the passage, restricts the PTP sheets S from unintentionally moving to the gripping position between the pair of feed rollers 105 and 106. On the other hand, when unpacking the PTP sheets, the shutter member 127 is displaced to the open position that opens the passage, allowing the PTP sheets to move to the gripping position between the pair of feed rollers. In other words, even when multiple PTP sheets S are arranged in the guide section 122, the tablet dispensing device 100 of this embodiment can more reliably dispense PTP sheets by having the slide member 125 push the first PTP sheet S in the passage to the gripping position between the pair of feed rollers 105 and 106.

[0052] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the tablet dispensing device 100, the pressing ring 115 is housed in the outer circumferential groove 111b at the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111, and the pressing ring 115 protrudes radially outward from the pressing roller 111 from the outer circumferential groove 111b at a position shifted forward from the pressing center position 111c, such that the pressing ring 115 is wound between the pressing roller 111 and the shaft 113. In other words, by housing the pressing ring 115 in the outer circumferential groove 11b at the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111, a recess is formed on the pressing surface 111a of the pressing roller 115. Therefore, when the tablet holding portion S2 of the PTP sheet S passes the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111, the pressing roller 111 presses the tablet holding portion S2 via the outer circumferential groove 111b (recess), thereby preventing damage to the tablet T itself. Furthermore, after the tablet holding portion S2 passes the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111, the pressing ring 115, which protrudes radially outward from the pressing roller 111 from the outer peripheral groove 111b at a position shifted forward from the pressing center position 111c, acts to press the tablet holding portion S2. Even if the tablet holding portion S2 passes the pressing center position 111c of the pressing roller 111 before the tablet T has been completely removed, the pressing ring 115 continuously presses the tablet holding portion S2, making it possible to remove the tablet T from the tablet holding portion S2 more reliably.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various embodiments and modifications can be taken within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0054] (1) The tablet dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the tablet dispensing device employs a manual mechanism driven by rotating a drive handle, but an automatic mechanism in which the first or second axis is driven by a motor may also be employed.

[0055] (2) The tablet dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the tablet dispensing device of the above embodiment, the first shaft is supplied with rotational driving force and the second shaft is configured to follow the first shaft, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the second shaft may be supplied with rotational driving force and the first shaft may be configured to follow the second shaft. Alternatively, rotational driving force may be supplied to both the first shaft and the second shaft.

[0056] (3) The tablet dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the tablet dispensing device of the above embodiment, the slide member and shutter member of the guide device are configured to operate in accordance with the rotation of the first axis via a first link mechanism and a second link mechanism, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the slide member and shutter member may be driven individually by electronic components such as solenoids, and their timing may be electronically controlled.

[0057] (4) The tablet dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the tablet dispensing device of the above embodiment has a function to more reliably remove tablets from the tablet holding part by pressing rings, but this function may be omitted.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments or modifications described above, and can be implemented in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 100 Tablet Dispensing Device 101 Main body (housing) 101a Bottom wall 101b side wall 103 1st axis 103a Connection pin 103b Spring 104 2nd axis 105 First feed roller 106 Second feed roller 108 Drive handle 111 Pressure roller 111a Pressing surface 111b Outer groove 111c Pressing center position 113 Shaft 114 Rotating Rollers 115 Pressing ring (pressing member) 117 3rd axis 118 Belt Pulley 121 Guide device 122 Guide section 123 Side panel 124 Support plate 125 Sliding member 126 First Link Mechanism 127 Shutter component 128 Second Link Mechanism 131 Width adjustment mechanism 132 Bolt shaft 133 Movable plate 134 Adjustment handle S PTP Sheet S1 Seat Section S2 Tablet holding section T Tablets R air gap

Claims

1. A tablet dispensing device for dispensing tablets from a PTP sheet having a sheet portion and a tablet holding portion, The main body and A first shaft is rotatably supported on the main body along the axial direction, A second shaft is rotatably supported on the main body along the aforementioned axial direction, A first feed roller fixed to the first shaft and rotating together with the first shaft, A second feed roller is fixed to the second shaft and rotates with the second shaft in cooperation with the first feed roller to grip the sheet portion of the PTP sheet and to feed out the PTP sheet, A pressing roller is fixed to the first shaft and is rotated in the forward direction when the PTP sheet is fed out, and is positioned to press the tablet holding portion so that the tablet can be removed, The system includes a guide device for arranging one or more PTP sheets and feeding the PTP sheets one by one to a gripping position between the first feed roller and the second feed roller, The guide device is, A guide portion extending from its base end to its tip edge toward the gripping position between the first feed roller and the second feed roller, wherein one or more PTP sheets are positioned on its front surface, a gap is formed between the tip edge of the guide portion and the gripping position, and a passage is defined on the front surface of the guide portion for feeding the PTP sheets one by one to the gripping position; A sliding member is held on the front side of the guide portion so as to be slidable on the front surface of the guide portion in both the feeding direction and the returning direction, A first link mechanism connected to the slide member, which converts the forward rotational motion of the first axis into a sliding motion of the slide member, A shutter member is movable on a path intersecting the aforementioned passage in directions of entering and leaving the passage, and is displaceable between a closed position that closes the passage and an open position that opens the passage. The shutter member is connected to a second link mechanism that converts the forward rotational motion of the first axis into displacement motion of the shutter member between the closed position and the open position, The slide member is configured to reciprocate between a retracted position on the base end side of the passage and an extrusion position where it has entered the passage, in conjunction with the forward rotational movement of the first axis. The shutter member is configured to reciprocate between a closed position that closes the passage and an open position that opens the passage, in conjunction with the forward rotational movement of the first axis. The tablet dispensing device is characterized in that the sliding member enters the passage from the base end side of the guide portion and pushes out the PTP sheets placed on the guide portion one by one along the passage to the gripping position.

2. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shutter member is in the closed position when the slide member is in the retracted position, the shutter member is maintained in the open position when the slide member is in the extrusion position, and the shutter member moves to the closed position when the slide member moves from the extrusion position to the retracted position.

3. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in one step of the reciprocating movement of the slide member and the shutter member, the rear end of the PTP sheet placed in the passage is sent to a position beyond the shutter member in the feeding direction.

4. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 3, further comprising a support plate extending on a plane perpendicular to the passage, wherein the support plate is arranged to support the second and subsequent PTP sheets stacked on the guide portion from the tip side of the guide portion, and the shutter member is slidably supported in a direction parallel to the plane of the support plate.

5. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of side plates extending perpendicularly to the guide portion on both sides of the guide portion, wherein the distance between the pair of side plates is adjustable to match the width of the PTP sheet.

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