Tablet dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a centrifugal feeder unit capable of rapidly supplying tablets at constant intervals and / or with a constant posture without damage to the tablets during a supply process, and a tablet inspection device including the same.SOLUTION: The centrifugal feeder unit comprises: an inner disk having tablets supplied thereto and rotating with a rotation axis thereof inclined relative to a vertical direction; an outer disk rotating while surrounding the inner disk and including a tablet-moving area in which the tablets received from the inner disk are moved; and a pocket guide connected to the outer disk, covering a part of the tablet-moving surface and including a plurality of pockets into which the tablets are received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a centrifugal supply unit for aligning and supplying an object by centrifugal force and tablet inspection equipment including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, tablets taken for purposes such as treatment in the medical field are mass-produced through an automated process, and a process for inspecting defective products generated in such a production process is required.

[0003] For example, during the process of producing tablets in an automated process, tablets with appearance defects such as adhesion or contamination of foreign matter, cracks or partial damage due to contact or impact between tablets, deformation or printing defects, etc. are removed through a defective product inspection process.

[0004] The process of inspecting the appearance of capsules or tablets having a cross-section of an ellipse or a circle has changed from visual inspection by an operator to automatic inspection using a tablet inspection device. Various types of tablet inspection devices for such automatic inspection have been proposed.

[0005] When automatically inspecting tablets using a tablet inspection device, when transporting the tablets, an image of one side of the tablet is obtained by taking a picture of the tablet using a camera, and after taking a picture of the other side of the tablet with the camera when the posture of the tablet is reversed and transported, the presence or absence of defects is inspected by processing the images of the front surface of one side and the back surface of the other side of the tablet. This method is generally adopted.

[0006] As an example of such technology, Patent Document 1 discloses that tablets are input from a tablet input unit to a supply unit and a rotating plate, and the tablets supplied to the supply unit and the rotating plate are moved in a row to the upper part of the side surface of the supply unit by the rotating plate in a state of being in close contact with the side surface of the supply unit by centrifugal force and supplied to an appearance inspection device.

[0007] Incidentally, conventional centrifugal feeders are provided with guide covers to guide the tablets. However, because the inherent surface friction force differs depending on the manufacturing characteristics of the product, there are no feeding problems when the friction force is small, but when the friction force is large, problems arise such as poor alignment due to the friction between the guide and the product, or a significant decrease in feeding speed. In addition, because the tablets are transported at high speed, they may get stuck in the guide cover and break. When a tablet breaks, not only the broken tablet but also the shattered fragments adhere to surrounding tablets, resulting in the destruction of many tablets. In severe cases, the supply of tablets may be interrupted, and the user has to remove the tablets stuck in the guide cover, which reduces work efficiency.

[0008] On the other hand, with centrifugal feeding devices, tablets are supplied rapidly and at uneven intervals, placing a load on subsequent inspection equipment, thus requiring a high-level processor. Therefore, a technology has been developed, for example, in Patent Document 2, where grooves are formed in the conveying device and tablets move within these grooves, without using a centrifugal feeding device. However, this requires changing the drum of the feeding device for each type of tablet, resulting in enormous drum replacement time and cost, and making it unsuitable for inspecting various types of tablets. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] KR 10-1689281 B [Patent Document 2] KR 10-2167067 B [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and to provide a centrifugal feeding unit and a tablet inspection device including the same that can rapidly supply tablets at regular intervals and / or in a regular position without damaging the tablets during the supply process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides the following centrifugal feeding unit and tablet inspection device.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a centrifugal feeding unit is provided, comprising: an inner disk on which tablets are supplied and which is rotated with its axis of rotation inclined with respect to the vertical; an outer disk that rotates surrounding the inner disk and includes a tablet moving area on which tablets transferred from the inner disk move; and a pocket guide connected to the outer disk, which covers a portion of the tablet moving surface and includes a plurality of pockets into which tablets enter.

[0013] In one embodiment, the pocket guide may include a pocket cover portion that covers the outer surface of the outer disc, and a projection portion connected to the pocket cover portion and extending to the tablet moving surface to form the plurality of pockets.

[0014] In one embodiment, the pocket guide may be configured to be replaceable from the outer disk.

[0015] In one embodiment, the pocket guide includes a projection that extends from one side connected to the cover portion toward the rotation center of the outer disk and demarcates adjacent pockets, wherein the width of the projection can decrease in the circumferential direction as it approaches the rotation center.

[0016] In one embodiment, the pitch from the vertex of one protrusion to the vertex of an adjacent protrusion may be less than or equal to twice the maximum width of the tablet supplied to the centrifugal feeding unit.

[0017] In one embodiment, the protrusions may be connected to adjacent protrusions and may include a first curved surface having a first radius of curvature.

[0018] In one embodiment, the protruding portion may include a plane that extends obliquely from the first curved surface.

[0019] In one embodiment, the vertex of the protruding portion is formed by a second curved surface having a second radius of curvature, and the first radius of curvature may be larger than the second radius of curvature.

[0020] In one embodiment, the plane is inclined so as to have a first angle θ with respect to the radial direction of the pocket guide, the first angle exceeds 0° and is not more than 60°, and preferably, the first angle can be between 20° and 40°.

[0021] In one embodiment, the protruding height of the protruding portion is smaller than or equal to twice the first radius of curvature, and can be larger than or equal to the first radius of curvature. Preferably, the protruding height can be between 4 / 3 times and 1.5 times the first radius of curvature.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cover portion may be bent and formed so as to cover a part of the lower surface in addition to the outer surface of the outer disk.

[0023] In one embodiment, the centrifugal supply unit is connected to a fixed frame surrounding the outer disk and the fixed frame. When viewed from above, it is a position shifted by a second angle in the opposite direction of the rotation direction of the outer disk from the top dead center of the inner disk, and in the radial direction, it is a portion where the inner disk and the outer disk are in contact, and in the vertical direction, it can further include a guide including a guide surface that protrudes into the region of the inner disk along the rotation direction at the starting position of the height of the outer disk.

[0024] In one embodiment, at the starting position of the guide surface, the outer disk is at a position higher than the inner disk by a first distance, and the first distance can be between 1 / 2 and 9 / 10 of the width of the target tablet.

[0025] In one embodiment, the guide surface may have an angle with the horizontal plane that gradually decreases along the rotation direction.

[0026] In one embodiment, the guide includes a first portion where the protruding height in the radial inner direction increases along the rotation direction, and a second portion where the protruding height in the radial inner direction decreases along the rotation direction, and the second portion can be located behind the first portion in the rotation direction.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first portion can include a first vertical surface connected to the guide surface and extending in the vertical direction.

[0028] In one embodiment, the end position of the guide surface in the rotation direction can be at the top dead center position of the inner disk, or can be located at a position separated from the top dead center position of the inner disk in the opposite direction of the rotation direction.

[0029] In one embodiment, the guide may be arranged 5 to 10° before the top dead center of the inner disk.

[0030] In one embodiment, it further includes a gate connected to the fixed frame, starting from before the top dead center of the inner disk in the rotation direction of the outer disk, and arranged passing through the top dead center. The gate can include a first gate portion that extends along the circumferential direction outside the inner surface of the outer disk in the radial direction, and a second gate portion connected to the first portion and protruding inside the inner surface of the outer disk in the radial direction along the rotation direction.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first gate portion is arranged above the tablet moving surface, and the separation distance from the lower end of the first gate portion to the upper surface of the outer disk may be shorter than the shortest distance among the height, width, and length of the tablet.

Advantages of the Invention

[0032] The present invention provides a centrifugal feeding unit and a tablet inspection apparatus including the same, which, with the above configuration, can quickly supply various tablets in a fixed posture and / or position without damaging the tablets. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front view of a tablet inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan view of a tablet inspection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit included in a tablet inspection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is another schematic perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a partially enlarged view of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a partially enlarged view of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a partially enlarged view of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a modified example of a pocket guide for a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] This is a plan view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] This is a partial perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This is a schematic diagram of the tablet used in the present invention. [Figure 19] This is a schematic diagram of the tablet used in the present invention. [Figure 20] This is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in Figure 17. [Figure 21] This is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' in Figure 17. [Figure 22] This is a partial perspective view of a modified example of the centrifugal feeding unit of the present invention. [Figure 23] This is a partial perspective view of a modified example of the centrifugal feeding unit of the present invention. [Figure 24] This is a partial perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] Figure 24 is a front view of the inner plate of the gate. [Figure 26] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the line C-C' in Figure 13. [Figure 27] This is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line D-D' in Figure 13. [Figure 28] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the line E-E' in Figure 13. [Figure 29] This is a schematic perspective view of a vibrating screw supply unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] This is an exploded perspective view of a vibrating screw supply unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] This is a cross-sectional view of F-F' in Figure 30. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention can be modified into various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0035] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the invention to a person with average skill in the art.

[0036] The shape and size of elements in drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clearer explanation.

[0037] In describing embodiments of the present invention, if a detailed explanation of prior art related to the present invention is deemed likely to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the invention, such detailed explanation will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms described later are defined in consideration of the function of the present invention, and these may change depending on the intent or convention of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification. Terms used in the detailed explanation are solely for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present invention and should not be restrictive. Unless used with a clearly different meaning, singular expressions include the meaning of plural forms.

[0038] In this disclosure, expressions such as “includes” or “comprising” are intended to refer to certain characteristics, numbers, stages, actions, elements, parts thereof, or combinations thereof, and should not be construed to exclude the existence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, stages, actions, elements, parts thereof, or combinations thereof other than those described.

[0039] In the specification of this invention, unless otherwise specified, the unit % means weight percent.

[0040] In this specification, terms such as "top," "upper part," "top surface," "bottom," "lower part," "bottom surface," and "side" are based on the drawings and may actually change depending on the direction in which the elements and components are arranged.

[0041] Furthermore, when we say that one part of the specification is "linked" to another part, this includes not only cases where they are "directly linked," but also cases where they are "indirectly linked" through other elements in between.

[0042] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to various embodiments or examples. It should be noted that each embodiment or example described herein is merely an example of one embodiment or example, and that combinations with other embodiments or examples are possible. Therefore, the references to claims in the claims are examples of embodiments, and the technical idea of ​​the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to combinations with the cited claims, but rather that combinations with various claims are also included within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0043] Figures 1 and 2 show a schematic front view and a plan view of a tablet inspection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tablet inspection device 1 is connected to a hopper located inside or outside the device, and tablets are supplied from a hopper connecting pipe 20 that supplies tablets to the inside of the device. It includes a vibrating screw supply unit 100 that supplies tablets at a predetermined speed, a centrifugal supply unit 200 that aligns the tablets transmitted from the vibrating screw supply unit 100 via a rotating inner disk 220 and an outer disk 230 and supplies them to a moving unit 300, and a first moving unit 310 that attracts and moves the tablets that are aligned and supplied by the centrifugal supply unit 200, and a first moving unit 310 that reverses the tablets from the first moving unit 310. The device includes a moving section 300 which includes a second moving section 320 for receiving and handing over tablets, an inspection section 400 which includes a first inspection section 410 for inspecting tablets moving in the first moving section 310 and a second inspection section 420 for inspecting tablets moving in the second moving section, and a control unit 600 connected to the vibrating screw supply unit 100, centrifugal supply unit 200, moving section 300 and inspection section 400 which determines whether there are defects or whether the printing is of good or bad according to the results of the inspection section 400, and a sorting section 500 which sorts and discharges tablets according to the results determined by the control unit 600. Although not shown in the figures, the tablet inspection device 1 may include a tablet printing section which prints on tablets via a laser while they are moving in the moving section 300, and a pre-inspection section which determines the position / orientation of tablets before printing in the tablet printing section.

[0045] In the tablet inspection device 1, tablets move at the top of the device frame 10, and various equipment, such as a vacuum forming unit, drive motor, and control unit, can be arranged at the bottom of the device frame 10.

[0046] Tablets can be crushed by impact, and if they are crushed in this way, the crushed powder may adhere to other tablets, potentially altering the drug volume or leading to printing or inspection defects. Furthermore, when tablets are supplied via the centrifugal feeding unit 200, their orientation and position may change due to centrifugal force, which could cause difficulties in the subsequent inspection unit 400, printing unit, and control unit 600 for inspecting, printing, and judging the tablets. While it is possible to capture an image and analyze it to print or inspect at the correct position, this can lead to accuracy problems due to the complexity of the process, potentially resulting in longer decision-making times and higher system requirements.

[0047] Therefore, in addition to software-based complementary methods, there is a need for a device that mechanically controls the orientation and position of the tablets being supplied to prevent them from being damaged, and the present invention can satisfy such a need.

[0048] The vibrating screw feeding unit 100 supplies tablets from the hopper to the centrifugal feeding unit 200 by vibration, and also includes a screw along with the vibrating structure. In addition to transporting the tablets, it also plays a role in removing fragments and dust generated by tablet breakage without supplying them to the centrifugal feeding unit 200.

[0049] Tablets are made by solidifying powder and are susceptible to impact, regardless of whether they are coated or not. During the process of pouring the tablets into the hopper, or during the process of transmitting them to the vibrating screw supply unit 100 via the hopper connecting pipe 20, there is a possibility of breakage due to collisions with the equipment or with other tablets. The vibrating screw supply unit 100 plays a role in supplying a predetermined amount of tablets to the centrifugal supply unit 200 while removing any such broken tablets and dust before supplying them to the centrifugal supply unit 200. The vibrating screw supply unit 100 will be described again later with reference to the drawings.

[0050] The centrifugal feeding unit 200 rotates the inner disk 220 to transfer tablets supplied from the vibrating screw feeding unit 100 to the outer disk 230 by centrifugal force, and then supplies the tablets to the moving unit 300 while the outer disk 230 rotates. In this invention, the centrifugal feeding unit 200 includes, in addition to the inner disk 220 and outer disk 230, at least one of the pocket guide 240, guide 260, and gate 270, thereby supplying tablets supplied from the centrifugal feeding unit 200 in a predetermined position and / or orientation, preventing tablet breakage that may occur during the rotation or alignment process in the centrifugal feeding unit 200, and providing a centrifugal feeding unit 200 that is not only easy to manage but also improves work efficiency. The centrifugal feeding unit 200 will also be described later with reference to the drawings.

[0051] The movable part 300 has a rotating disc-shaped structure, and its interior is connected to the vacuum forming part. The disc rotates with grooves formed on the adhesion surface corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the disc communicating with the vacuum forming part. The movable part 300 has a structure that rotates the disc while adsorbing a tablet that is close to the adhesion surface.

[0052] In the tablet inspection apparatus 1 of the present invention, the centrifugal supply unit 200 is arranged on a plane and is configured to transmit tablets to the moving unit 300 at an inclination angle α outward from the centrifugal supply unit 200 in order to facilitate the alignment of tablets. Therefore, the first moving unit 310 of the moving unit 300 is configured in the shape of a disc, and the tablets are arranged at an inclination angle α with respect to the vertical direction so that they receive the transmission with an attachment surface parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0053] The second moving part 320 is configured in a disc shape and has a vertical axis of rotation, and its attachment surface is configured to be inclined by the inclination angle α with respect to the vertical, and it receives the tablet moving from the first moving part 310 in an inclined state with respect to the vertical. The tablet is inverted as it moves from the first moving part 310 to the second moving part 320.

[0054] In this invention, the first movable part 310 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and the second movable part 320 is positioned horizontally, so that the height of the tablet inspection device 1 does not increase, and space can be secured for the inspection unit 400 and the printing unit. In the case of the tablet inspection device 1, continuous management by the user is necessary, but if the height of the tablet inspection device 1 is high, management becomes difficult and the time required for management increases. However, the arrangement of the first and second movable parts 310 and 320 makes management convenient while also securing space.

[0055] The inspection unit 400 includes multiple cameras and includes a first inspection unit 410 that inspects tablets moving in the first moving unit 310, and a second inspection unit 420 that inspects tablets moving in the second moving unit 320. If the tablet inspection device 1 includes a printing unit, the inspection unit 400 may further include a first pre-inspection unit that inspects tablets upstream of the printing unit in the first moving unit 310, and the first pre-inspection unit photographs the tablets before printing and provides the control unit 600, thereby enabling correction of printing in the printing unit. Similarly, the inspection unit 400 may further include a second pre-inspection unit that inspects tablets upstream of the printing unit in the second moving unit 320. The inspection unit 400 can typically be configured with a combination of 3D cameras and 2D cameras.

[0056] The classification unit 500 includes first to third classification units 510, 520, and 530 that determine whether the tablets are good or bad based on images captured by the inspection unit 400, and collect good, bad, and unclassified tablets. The classification unit 500 may include air nozzles corresponding to the first to third classification units 510, 520, and 530, which blow air onto the tablets attached to the adhesion surface of the second moving unit 320, causing the tablets to fall into one of the first to third classification units 510, 520, and 530.

[0057] Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit included in a tablet inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 shows another schematic perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the centrifugal feeding unit 200 is installed on the apparatus frame 10 and includes a fixed frame 210 that surrounds the inner and outer disks 220 and 230 and is connected to the apparatus frame 10; an inner disk 220 positioned inside the fixed frame 210 and rotating around a rotation axis inclined with respect to the vertical; an outer disk 230 surrounding the inner disk 220 and rotating around a rotation axis parallel to the vertical with respect to the CoD; a pocket guide 240 attached to the outer circumference of the outer disk 230; a cover portion 250 connected to the fixed frame 210 and covering the upper surface of the rotating outer disk 230; a guide 260 including a guide surface 262 protruding from the outer disk 230 toward the inner disk 220 and connected to the cover portion 250 or the fixed frame 210; and a gate 270 positioned downstream of the guide 260 in the rotational direction of the outer disk and dropping tablets on the outer disk 230 back onto the inner disk 220 if they are not in a predetermined position. The centrifugal feeding unit 200 may also include an air nozzle downstream of the gate 270 that injects air onto the tablets protruding from the outer disk 230.

[0059] The fixed frame 210 is connected to the apparatus frame 10 and forms the outer shape of the centrifugal feed unit 200. The fixed frame 210 has a cylindrical shape, and the rotating inner frame 220 and outer frame 230 are rotatably supported, and other non-rotating components can be fixedly mounted to it.

[0060] The inner disk 220 has a rotation axis inclined with respect to the vertical direction, is connected to the inner disk drive unit 225, and is coupled to the inner disk drive unit 225 via a coupling unit 224. The inner disk 220 may be configured to have one upper surface, or it may be configured to have multiple surfaces, and in this embodiment it has first to third surfaces 221, 222, and 223. The third surface 223 can be inclined to correspond to the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disk 230 at the top dead center (TDP) of the inner disk 220. Preferably, the first to third surfaces 221 to 223 are configured such that the inclination angle with respect to the rotation axis of the inner disk 220 becomes progressively gentler.

[0061] The outer disk 230 has a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction and is connected to the outer disk drive unit 235. As shown in Figure 4, the outer disk drive unit 235 has a structure that rotates the outer disk 230 via a gear at the bottom of the outer disk 230, but is not limited to this. The outer disk 230 has a ring-shaped upper surface surrounding the inner disk 220, and the upper surface includes a tablet moving surface 231 that is inclined such that the height increases towards the inside around the rotation axis, that is, the height decreases from the radial direction outwards. The tablet moving surface 231 is configured to be inclined by an inclination angle α with respect to the horizontal plane. Inside the tablet moving surface 231 is a vertical surface 232 that extends vertically. The vertical surface 232 and the inner disk 220 work together to provide a space for tablets supplied to the centrifugal supply unit 200 to remain.

[0062] The pocket guide 240 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 15. Figures 5 to 6 show a plan view and a perspective view of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figures 7 to 9 show a partially enlarged view of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 10 to 15 show modified examples of the pocket guide of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pocket guide 240 includes a portion of the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disc 230 and a pocket cover portion 241 that covers the outer peripheral surface of the outer disc 230, and the pocket guide 240 is configured to be coupled to the outer disc 230 and rotate together with it. The pocket guide 240 includes protrusions 242 that protrude from the pocket cover portion 241 so as to form a plurality of pockets 243 that house the tablet in a predetermined position when the tablet moves from the inner disc 220 to the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disc 230. The pocket guide 240 is configured to have a predetermined thickness, preferably having a thickness of 1 / 2 or more the thickness of the tablet so as not to allow the tablet to slip out beyond the pocket guide 240.

[0064] Multiple pockets 243 are formed at regular intervals along the circumferential direction. That is, the protrusions 242 that form the pockets 243 protrude from the pocket cover portion 241 at regular intervals. In the present invention, by forming such pockets 243, tablets can be accommodated only inside the pockets 243, thereby limiting the position in which tablets are placed on the tablet moving surface 231 and also limiting the orientation of the tablets. Therefore, even in the moving portion 300 that transfers tablets from the outer disk 230, tablets are supplied at a predetermined position and orientation, reducing the burden on the inspection portion 400.

[0065] Such pocket guides 240 rotate together with the outer disk 230, but are configured to be replaceable from the outer disk 230. For example, after the inner surface of the pocket guide 240 is fitted to the outer disk 230 and they rotate together, if a change is necessary, the pocket guide 240 can be separated from the outer disk 230 and then fitted with another pocket guide 240 for use.

[0066] The pocket cover portion 241 includes a first portion 241a that covers the outer surface of the outer disc 230 and allows the pocket guide 240 to be fitted onto the outer disc 230, and a second portion 241b that is bent and extended from the first portion 241a, positioned on the tablet moving surface 231, and connected to the protrusion 242. The pocket guide 240 may also include a third portion 241c (see Figure 6) that is bent from the lower part of the first portion 241a and bent towards the lower surface of the outer disc 230.

[0067] As shown in Figure 7, the protrusions 242 together with adjacent protrusions 242 form a pocket 243. The protrusions 242 are configured such that their width decreases circumferentially toward the center of rotation, facilitating the flow of tablets T into the pocket 243. The surfaces of the protrusions 242 that connect to the pocket cover portion 241 between the protrusions 242 include a first curved surface 242a having a first radius of curvature R1, and a plane 242b that extends linearly from the first curved surface 242a toward the apex of the protrusion, inclined at a first angle θ with respect to the radial direction RD of the outer disk 230. Preferably, the first radius of curvature R1 corresponds to the radius of the tablet T, but the pocket guide 240 can be used for tablets T with radii within a certain range, and the first radius of curvature R1 can have a radius that is approximately an intermediate value within the radius range of the tablets T used.

[0068] By forming the protrusion 242 in such a way that it has a first curved surface 242a and a flat surface 242b, the center TC of the tablet T can be positioned at a distance from the inner surface of the pocket cover portion 241 that corresponds to the radius of the tablet T. That is, since the pocket guide 240 rotates together with the outer disk 230, and the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disk 230 is configured to be inclined outward, the tablet that has risen onto the tablet moving surface 231 is pushed outward within the pocket 243 by the flat surface 242b and the first curved surface 242a, thereby ensuring that the position of the tablet T is always fixed.

[0069] However, both the first curved surface 242a and the flat surface 242b are not essential; the projection 242 may be formed by the first curved surface 242a alone, or by the flat surface 242b alone without the first curved surface 242a. In other words, the projection 242 can have various structures as long as it can form a pocket 243.

[0070] To form a pocket 243 for accommodating a polygonal tablet, the projection 242 may project along a first curved surface 242a corresponding to a circle or ellipse passing through the vertices of the polygon, or it may project to have a plane 242b corresponding to the sides of the polygon rather than a curved surface.

[0071] The protrusions 242 have a pitch P between their vertices, and the pitch P may be constant, but is preferably four times the radius of the tablet T, i.e., twice the diameter (maximum width) of the tablet T. At least twice the radius of the tablet T, i.e., the diameter of the tablet T, is necessary so that the tablet T can fit inside. As mentioned above, when the pocket guide 240 is used for a certain radius range of tablets T, the pitch P can be determined based on the maximum radius.

[0072] Furthermore, the protrusion height L of the protrusion portion 242 is preferably greater than or equal to the first radius of curvature R1 of the first curved surface 242a corresponding to the radius of the tablet T, and less than or equal to twice the first radius of curvature R1, and more preferably greater than or equal to 4 / 3 of the first radius of curvature R1 and less than or equal to 1.5 times the first radius of curvature R1. The protrusion height L of the protrusion portion 242 is related to the first angle θ and pitch P. If the protrusion height L is low, the tablet T may move to an adjacent pocket 243 during the rotation of the outer disk 230, and if it is attracted to the moving part 300 during the movement, the tablet T may not be supplied to a predetermined position despite the presence of a pocket 243. Conversely, if it exceeds twice the first radius of curvature R1, the pitch P increases, and the number of tablets T supplied by the pocket guide 240 decreases at the same rotational speed. However, the higher the protrusion height L, the more difficult it becomes for the tablets to enter the pockets 243, which can reduce the number of tablets T supplied and lower the overall supply efficiency.

[0073] As shown in Figure 7, when a circular tablet is placed in the pocket 243 formed by the protrusion 242, the position of the center TC of the tablet T is always at a constant distance from the rotation center of the outer disk 230, and therefore the position from which it is handed over from the moving part 300 can also be constant.

[0074] Figure 8 shows the center position of the triangular tablet TT when it is located in the pocket 243, and Figure 9 shows the center position of the triangular tablet TT when there is no pocket 243 formed by the protrusion 242.

[0075] In the case of a round tablet, even without the protrusion 242, the position of the center of the transport line can remain constant due to the pocket cover portion 241. However, as shown in Figure 9, when there is no protrusion 242, when the triangular tablets TT are aligned by the pocket cover portion 241, a large difference CG2 is formed between the centers TTC1 and TTC2 when the edges of the tablet are in contact with the pocket cover portion 241 (TT1) and when the vertex is in contact with the pocket cover portion 241 (TT2). This difference CG2 is about 1 / 4 of the radius of the circle passing through the vertex of the triangular tablet. However, as shown in Figure 8, when a pocket 243 is formed by the protrusion 242, the vertex of the triangular tablet TT can be located further outward than the edges. Therefore, the difference CG1 between the centers TTC1 and TTC2 when the corner is in contact with the pocket cover portion 241 (TT2) may decrease compared to the difference CG2 in Figure 9, and the difference CG1 is about 1 / 60 of the radius of the circle passing through the vertex of the triangular tablet. Therefore, by forming the pocket 243 via the protrusion 242, the tablets TT can be supplied to the moving unit 300 in the centrifugal supply unit 200 with a small central deviation.

[0076] On the other hand, the apex of the projection 242 can be formed sharply by the junction of the planes 242b, but it can also be formed as a second curved surface 242c having a second radius of curvature, or as a top surface 242d (see Figure 10) parallel to the circumferential direction. In this case, it is preferable that the second radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature R1.

[0077] Figures 10 to 15 show variations of the pocket guide 240 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] As shown in Figure 10, a projection 242 is formed to create a pocket 243 corresponding to a tablet, allowing the tablet T to be inserted. The projection 242 includes a first curved surface 242a having a first radius of curvature R1 corresponding to the radius of the tablet T, a plane 242b extending parallel to the radial direction RD, and a top surface 242d between the planes 242b and parallel to the circumferential direction CD. In this modified example, inserting the tablet T into the pocket 243 is difficult, but the tablet T can always be positioned in the center of the pocket 243.

[0079] As shown in Figure 11, the pocket guide 240 in the present invention may have a protrusion 242 whose plane 242b is inclined with respect to the radial direction RD, the protrusion height L of the protrusion 242 is smaller than the diameter of the tablet T, and the pitch P is 4 times or less the radius of the tablet T. In this case, two tablets T cannot fit into one pocket 243 and will get caught on the top of the protrusion 242. Tablets caught on the protrusion 242 in this way will protrude from the tablet moving surface 231 toward the inner disk 220 and fall. Therefore, by controlling the height of the protrusion 242, multiple tablets can be placed into one pocket 243 and not supplied to the moving part 300.

[0080] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 12, the pocket guide 240 has a projection 242b whose plane 242b is inclined with respect to the radial direction RD, the projection height L of the projection 242 is smaller than the diameter of the tablet T, and the pitch P of the projection 242 can be more than four times the radius of the tablet T. In this case, two tablets T will get caught on the plane 242b of one pocket 243, and the tablets caught on the plane 242b of the projection 242 will either protrude a small amount from the tablet moving surface 231 toward the inner disk 220, or not protrude at all, so they can be supplied to the moving part 300 without falling onto the inner disk 220.

[0081] If the tablet is elliptical, the first curved surface 242a can be formed to correspond to the elliptical tablet T, as shown in Figure 13. In this case, the height L of the projection 242 can be between 1 / 2 or more the length of the minor axis of the elliptical tablet T and the length of the minor axis.

[0082] Figures 14 and 15 show the shape of the projection 242 when the tablet is rectangular, for example, a rhombic tablet T. As shown in Figure 14, in the case of a rhombic tablet T, the projection 242 can be formed with a first curved surface 242a, a flat surface 242b, and a second curved surface 242c to correspond to the shape of the tablet T. However, as shown in Figure 15, it can also be composed of a first curved surface 242a and a second curved surface 242c, or a first curved surface 242a and a top surface 242d (see Figure 10), which correspond to the ellipse surrounding the vertices of the rhombic tablet T. In this case, the height of the projection 242 can be determined in proportion to the length of the minor axis of the ellipse, similar to the elliptical tablet in Figure 13.

[0083] Table 1 records the supply status at the diameter φ of the tablet T to be inspected, the height L of the protrusion 242 of the pocket guide 240, and the pitch P. The pocket cover portion 241 is formed such that the distance from the inside of the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disk 230 to the bottom surface of the protrusion 242 of the pocket guide 240 is greater than the diameter φ of the tablet. Good means that the tablets T were inserted into each pocket and transported to the moving unit 300 with the center of the tablets T in a constant position. Insufficient supply means that the tablets T were not inserted into some of the pockets, and poor positioning means that the tablets T were transported to the moving unit 300 with the center of the tablets T in an inconsistent position.

[0084] [Table 1]

[0085] Reference Example 1 and Examples 1-4 are the results of tests conducted on tablets of the same diameter while varying the height L and pitch P, while Reference Example 2 and Example 5 are the results of tests conducted on tablets T of a different diameter than those in Examples 1-4. In Reference Examples 1 and 2, and Examples 1-3 and 5, the plane 242b is inclined at a first angle θ with respect to the radial direction RD without a top surface 242d, but the pitch P increased as the first angle θ was made larger. In Reference Examples 1 and 2, there were cases where multiple tablets T could be placed in a single pocket 243, and in Example 4, as shown in Figure 10, the plane 242b was configured parallel to the radial direction RD, and a protrusion 242 with a top surface 242d was applied. In this case, tablets T were not inserted into some pockets 243, resulting in a supply shortage, but the positioning was not poor.

[0086] Considering the test results, plane 242b is inclined, the first angle θ is 0° to 60°, and the projection height L is equal to the first radius of curvature R1. 1 double ~ 2 It was considered good in terms of supply conditions when the first angle θ was between 20° and 40°, and the protrusion height L was between 4 / 3 and 1.5 times the first radius of curvature R1.

[0087] Returning to Figure 3, the cover portion 250 is fixed to the fixed frame 210 with bolts 251, and the outer disc 230 covers a portion of the tablet moving surface 231. Specifically, the cover portion 250 covers the outer disc 230 in the portion excluding the open portion 280 through which the guide 260, gate 270, and moving portion 300 attract tablets on the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disc 230.

[0088] Figure 16 shows a plan view of a centrifugal feeding unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 17 shows a partial perspective view of the centrifugal feeding unit 200 centered on the guide 260.

[0089] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, a guide 260 connected to a fixed frame 210 is positioned upstream of the top dead center TDP of the inner disk 220 in the rotational direction RoD, and a gate 270 is positioned on the guide 260 to cover a certain area after passing through the top dead center TDP.

[0090] When the outer disk 230 is centered on the rotation center CoD, the second angle is defined as the sum of the angle θG at which the guide 260 covers the upper surface of the outer disk 230 and the angle θGE between the guide 260 and the top dead center TDP. The guide 260 starts from a position that is the second angle in the opposite direction of rotation from the top dead center TDP. The guide 260 is fixed to the cover portion 250 or the fixed frame 210 with bolts 261, similar to the cover portion 250.

[0091] The guide 260 includes a guide surface 262 that protrudes from a starting position SP that affects the tablet T. The starting position SP is, in the rotational direction, a position two angles opposite to the top dead center TDP; in the vertical direction, the height of the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disk 230; and in the radial direction, the boundary between the inner disk 220 and the outer disk 230. The guide surface 262 is formed as a curved surface that protrudes toward the inner disk 220 along the rotational direction from the starting position SP.

[0092] Since the inner disc 220 and the outer disc 230 are at the same height at the top dead center (TDP), the outer disc 230 is positioned higher than the inner disc by a first distance L1 at the starting position SP of the guide surface 262. The first distance L1 may be smaller than the width W of the tablet T, but it is preferable that it is at least half the width W of the tablet T. If it is less than half, the lower part of the tablet T will come into contact with the guide surface 262, causing the tablet T to move to the opposite side instead of lying inside the inner disc 220. This can lead to the tablet T being impacted and broken by the subsequent guide surface 262 in the opposite direction to the direction in which it was lying. Furthermore, while it is preferable that the first distance L1 is less than or equal to the width W of the tablet T, if it is larger than the width W of the tablet T, the guide surface 262 will act in a manner that presses down on the tablet T as it rotates. However, if many tablets T move together, the tablets T may be broken by the pressing force. In order to stably lay the tablet T on the guide surface 262, it is preferable that the first distance L1 is 9 / 10 or less of the width W of the tablet T.

[0093] Figures 18 and 19 show a rectangular tablet T and a circular tablet T. The width W of the tablet T refers to the shorter side when viewed from the direction of the printed surface in the case of a rectangular tablet, and the diameter φ in the case of a circular tablet. In the present invention, the centrifugal feeding unit 200 can print on the printed surface while passing through the moving unit 300 only when the printed surface, or the surface opposite the printed surface, is transmitted to the moving unit 300 with the printed surface facing upwards. Therefore, if the tablet T is standing upright and not facing upwards, it is necessary to lay the tablet T on its side, and the guide 260 plays a role in increasing the probability that the standing tablet T will lie down via the guide surface 262.

[0094] Returning to Figure 17, the guide 260 is connected to the guide surface 262 and includes first and second vertical surfaces 265 and 266 that extend vertically, with the first vertical surface 265 guiding the stacked tablets T to be in a single layer. In the space above the inner disk 220, the tablets T can rotate in multiple layers rather than a single layer. As the tablets T move to the outer disk 230 in a multi-layered state and then fall, they may break due to friction between the tablets. Therefore, the first vertical surface 265 of the guide 260 also plays a role in organizing the tablets T as they move in a multi-layered state, leaving only a single layer.

[0095] The guide 260 includes a guide surface 262 that starts from a starting position SP and forms a curved surface in the rotational direction, a first vertical surface 265 that extends vertically from the guide surface 262 in a first portion 263 which is the front part of the guide, a second vertical surface 266 that extends vertically from the guide surface 262 in a second portion 264 which is the rear part of the guide, and bolts 261 for fixing the guide.

[0096] In the first portion 263, the guide 260 protrudes toward the inner disk 220 in the direction of rotation, and in the second portion 264, the protruding length decreases again, and at the end of the guide 260, it no longer protrudes toward the inner disk 220. If necessary, the guide 260 may include a retaining surface 267 that maintains a protruding length between the first vertical surface 265 and the second vertical surface 266.

[0097] Figures 20 and 21 show cross-sectional views of A-A' and B-B' in Figure 17.

[0098] As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the guide surface 262 is a curved surface, but when viewed in cross-section, it is inclined with the horizontal plane at inclination angles θGS1 and θGS2. The inclination angles θGS1 and θGS2 of the curved surface of the guide surface 262 gradually decrease along the rotational direction RoD. That is, the inclination angle θGS1 between the horizontal plane and the guide surface 262 at the starting position SP is greater than the inclination angle θGS2 between the horizontal plane and the guide surface 262 at the intermediate position (θGS1 > θGS2).

[0099] As the inclination angle that the guide surface 262 makes with the horizontal plane along the direction of rotation decreases, the guide surface 262 causes the standing tablet T to lie horizontally along the direction of rotation.

[0100] The guide surface 262 initially guides the upright tablet T from above the middle so that it falls inward onto the inner disc 220, and then gradually lays the tablet T down along the direction of rotation via the inclination angle of the guide surface 262. Therefore, the tablet T will not break no matter what state it is in as it passes through the guide 262, and will stably exit lying down on the guide surface 262.

[0101] The starting position of the guide 260 is important depending on the size of the tablet T, and since the size of the tablet T being inspected may change, the guide 260 is interchangeably mounted on the centrifugal feeding unit 200 so that the starting position SP of the guide 260 can also be changed. The guide 260 is configured so that the circumferential length of the outer disk 230 differs according to the size of the tablet, and Figures 22 and 23 show a perspective view of the guide 260 that has been replaced due to a change in the size of the tablet T.

[0102] As shown in Figure 22, when the size of the tablet T increases, the circumferential length of the gate 270 is increased, and the angle θGE formed by the end position of the guide 260 at top dead center TDP increases. Therefore, the length of the guide 260 does not change, and the starting position SP of the guide 260, which is located upstream of the gate 270 in the rotational direction RoD, can be moved.

[0103] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 23, the starting position SP of the guide 260 can be moved by increasing the length of the guide 260 without changing the gate 270, thereby increasing the angle θG that the guide 260 occupies on the outer disk 230.

[0104] Even if the tablet T changes shape, the first distance L1 at the starting position SP of the guide 260 is maintained to be between 1 / 2 and 9 / 10 of the width W of the tablet T, allowing the tablet T to be guided through the guide 260 in a lying position without being damaged.

[0105] On the other hand, it is preferable that the guide 260 ends 5 to 10° before the top dead center (TDP). This is because, after the tablet T is positioned by the guide 260, it moves from the inner disk 220 to the outer disk 230 while passing through the top dead center (TDP). If the end point is less than 5°, the posture of the tablet T after passing through the guide 260 will not be stable, and there is a high possibility that the tablet's posture will fluctuate during the movement. If it exceeds 10°, the position of the positioned tablet may be disturbed again by other tablets.

[0106] Figure 24 shows a partial perspective view of a centrifugal feeding unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 25 shows a front view of the gate 270. Figure 24 shows a partial perspective view centered on the gate 270. Figures 26 to 28 show cross-sectional views of C-C', D-D', and E-E' in Figure 16.

[0107] The gate 270 is connected to the fixed frame 210 and is positioned downstream of the guide 260 in the rotational direction RoD. The gate 270 includes a first gate portion 271 extending in the circumferential direction CD from outside the inner surface of the outer disk 230 in the radial direction RD of the outer disk 230, a second gate portion 272 connected to the first gate portion 271 and projecting inward from the inner surface of the outer disk 230 in the radial direction RD along the rotational direction RoD, and bolts 278 connecting the gate 270 to the cover portion 250 or the fixed frame 210.

[0108] The first gate portion 271 is positioned above the tablet moving surface 231 of the outer disk 230, in a position following the guide 260 along the rotational direction RoD. The first gate portion 271 includes an inner plate 271a having a vertical surface and a lower surface 271b that is separated from the tablet moving surface 231 by a distance G1 corresponding to the height H of the tablet T and is parallel to the tablet moving surface 231. The inner plate 271a is formed such that the separation distance Lgate from the lower end to the tablet moving surface 231 is shorter than the shortest distance among the height H, width W, and length Lt of the tablet.

[0109] As shown in Figure 26, as the tablet T moves from the inner disk 220 to the outer disk 230 while passing through the top dead center TDP, the tablet attempting to enter the pocket 243 is blocked by the inner plate 271a with a short separation distance Lgate, preventing the tablet from entering between the lower surface 271b of the outer first gate portion 271 and the tablet movement surface 231. After the inner plate 271a has traveled a certain distance in the rotational direction, its lower end rises to the position of the lower surface 271b, and consequently, the tablet T that was blocked by the inner plate 271a enters between the lower surface 271b of the first gate portion 271 and the tablet movement surface 231.

[0110] The position where the tablet T, which was previously blocked by the inner plate 271a, enters, that is, the position where the lower end of the inner plate 271a rises to the position of the lower surface 271b, may be a position where, if the orientation of the tablet T is undesirable due to the inner plate 271a, the tablet T can protrude from the tablet movement surface 231 of the outer disc 230 and fall. In other words, a height difference occurs between the outer disc 230 and the inner disc 220, and the position exceeds the position that prevents the tablet on the outer disc 230 from falling due to the tablet on the inner disc 220. For example, if the height difference between the inner disc 220 and the outer disc 230 becomes 1 / 2 or more of the height H or width W of the tablet T, the tablet T on the outer disc 230 may not be supported due to the height difference, even if the tablet T is on the outermost edge of the inner disc 220.

[0111] Since multiple tablets T move at once from the top dead center (TDP), even if the guide 260 holds the tablets T horizontally, the orientation of the tablets T may change during the movement process. If the tablets T then immediately try to enter the space between the bottom surface 271b and the tablet movement surface 231 in that state, there is a possibility that the tablets T may break.

[0112] In this invention, the first gate portion 271 includes an inner plate 271a, which prevents the tablet T moving from the top dead center (TDP) to the outer disk 230 from immediately entering below the lower surface 271b of the gate, thereby preventing the tablet T from being caught and damaged between the lower surface 271b and the tablet moving surface 231. After the rapid movement is completed, the lower end of the inner plate 271a rises to a predetermined distance, allowing the horizontally-positioned tablet T to naturally enter the lower surface 271b and the tablet moving surface 231 due to the centrifugal force from the rotation of the outer disk 230 and the inclination of the tablet moving surface 231. Furthermore, if the tablet T is not horizontal, it is blocked by the inner plate 271a and cannot enter the space between the lower surface 271b and the tablet moving surface 231.

[0113] The position at the top dead center (TDP) where the inner plate 271a blocks the tablet T, that is, the distance between the inner plate 271a and the inner surface of the outer disc 230, can be about half the width W of the tablet T when attempting to align the tablet T so that its length L coincides with its circumferential direction. The distance between the inner plate 271a and the inner surface of the outer disc 230 varies depending on the size of the tablet, but if the distance exceeds half the width, the tablet T may not fall from the outer disc 230 due to its own weight, even if its length coincides with its radial direction.

[0114] The second gate portion 272 is also spaced apart from the inner plate 272a and the tablet moving surface 231 by a distance G1 corresponding to the height H of the tablet T, and includes a lower surface 272b parallel to the tablet moving surface 231. The inner plate 272a is an extension of the inner plate 271a of the first gate portion 271, and the lower surface 272b can also be an extension of the lower surface 271b of the first gate portion 271.

[0115] In the second gate portion 272, the inner plate 272a is formed such that, when viewed in a plane, it has a radius of curvature R2 from the radius center C2 (see Figure 16). In this case, since the radius of curvature R2 is smaller than the distance from the rotation center CoD of the outer disk 230 to the first gate portion 271, the second gate portion 272 is configured to protrude from the outer disk 230 in the direction of rotation.

[0116] As shown in Figure 25, the lower end of the inner plate 272a rises in accordance with the inclined tablet moving surface 231. The inner plate 272a plays a role in pushing out tablets T that did not enter the space between the lower surface 271b and the tablet moving surface 231 at the second gate portion 272a from the outer disk 230.

[0117] The gate 270 prevents the incoming tablets T from immediately entering the space between the lower surface 271b of the gate 270 and the tablet movement surface 231, thereby preventing damage due to pinching. Only tablets lying down enter the space between the lower surface 271b of the gate 270 and the tablet movement surface 231, while the rest fall from the outer disk 230 onto the upper part of the inner disk 220. This allows the tablets T to be aligned in a predetermined position without being damaged.

[0118] In this embodiment, the gate 270 was described as having a structure to which inner plates 271a and 272a are attached. However, the inner plates 271a and 272a can also be manufactured as an integrated structure with the gate 270, rather than being separate components.

[0119] Figures 29 to 31 show the vibrating screw supply unit 100. Specifically, Figure 29 shows a schematic perspective view of the vibrating screw supply unit 100, Figure 30 shows an exploded perspective view of the vibrating screw supply unit 100, and Figure 31 shows a cross-sectional view of F-F' in Figure 30.

[0120] The vibrating screw feeding unit 100 includes a vibrating section 170 that vibrates to move tablets supplied by the hopper connecting pipe 20, a screw moving section 120 that receives tablets supplied from the vibrating section 170 and moves them to the centrifugal feeding unit, and a column section 110 connected to the device frame 10.

[0121] The vibrating section 170 is positioned higher than the screw moving section 120 and the column section 110 and includes an inclined surface. The vibrating section 170 is connected to the vibration generating section 180, which is located at the bottom of the device frame 10, by a vibration transmission column 175. The vibration transmitted by the vibration generating section 180 moves the tablet T along the inclined surface to the screw moving section 120.

[0122] The vibration generating unit 180 is connected to the control unit 600 described above, and the amount of vibration is adjusted according to the amount of tablets T stored on the upper part of the inner disk 220 of the centrifugal supply unit 200, thereby adjusting the amount of tablets T transmitted to the screw moving unit 120.

[0123] The screw moving section 120 includes a plurality of screws 141 extending in the direction of tablet movement and having helical projections 142 formed thereon, screw gears 144 formed at the ends of the screws 141, a connecting bar 143 connecting the screw gears 144 and the screws 141, a drive motor 130 that provides power to rotate the screws 141, and gears 131 and 145 that transmit power between the drive motor 130 and the screw gears 144.

[0124] The screw 141 includes first to eighth screws (141a to h), each of which has a helical projection 142. As the screw 141 rotates, the helical projection 142 causes the tablet T placed on top of the screw 141 to move in the direction of the screw's extension, i.e., in the direction of tablet movement.

[0125] The screw gears 144 located at the ends of the screws 141 mesh with each other, so that the first to eighth screws (141a to h) rotate in opposite directions to adjacent screws 141, and consequently, the helical projections 142 are also formed to rotate in opposite directions to adjacent screws 141. Because the screws 141 have projections 142, a gap g is formed between the screws 141 that is at least equivalent to the height of the projections 142.

[0126] Below the screw moving section 120, a collection section 150 is positioned to cover the area where the screw 141 is located and to slope downward toward the column section 110. The collection section 150 is connected to the vacuum forming section 190 toward the column section 110.

[0127] The tablets T supplied via the hopper connecting pipe 20 are fed from the vibrating section 170 to the screw moving section 120 by tilting and vibration. In the screw moving section 120, the tablets T supplied from the vibrating section 170 are moved by the rotation of the screw 141 and fall from the end onto the top of the inner disk 220 of the centrifugal supply unit 200.

[0128] During the supply process from the hopper connecting pipe 20, a large quantity of tablets T are supplied at once, which can cause tablets T to break due to collisions with each other. In the case of the vibrating section 170, since vibration is transmitted to move the tablets, it is not easy to remove any broken tablets T. In one embodiment of the present invention, a screw moving section 120 is further arranged on the vibrating section 170, and the gap g formed by the screw moving section 120 causes the fragments of the broken tablets T to fall into the collection section 150, thereby allowing the fragments of the broken tablets T to be removed and transmitted to the centrifugal supply unit 200.

[0129] In particular, the screw-moving section 120 has a spiral projection 142 that rotates, making it easy to move the tablet T, and also easy to discharge any debris mixed with the tablet T to the bottom. Furthermore, the collection section 150 is connected to the vacuum forming section 190, allowing fine powder to be sucked out into the vacuum forming section 190, and debris and fragments can also be removed together.

[0130] Furthermore, in the vibrating screw supply unit 100, the supply amount is adjusted by the vibration amount of the vibrating section 170, and the screw moving section 120 always rotates at a constant speed. The screw moving section 120 plays a role in discharging fragments as it moves, and since movement by the rotation of the screw 141 is more difficult to transport stably than movement by the vibration amount of the vibrating section 170, adjusting the supply amount via the vibrating section 170 and concentrating the screw moving section 120 on constant-speed movement and fragment discharge has the advantage of allowing fragment removal while adjusting the supply amount.

[0131] As described above, the present invention has been primarily explained in terms of embodiments, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and that only a part of the configuration of the embodiments can be applied or modified for use. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0132] 1: Tablet inspection device 10: Device frame 20: Hopper connecting pipe 100: Vibration screw supply unit 200: Centrifugal feeding unit 210: Fixed frame 220: Inner disc 221~3: 1st~3rd page 224:Joining part 225: Inner disk drive unit 230: Outer disc 235: Outer disk drive unit 232: Vertical plane 231: Tablet movement surface 240: Pocket Guide 241: Pocket cover section 242:Protrusion 242a: 1st curved surface 242b: Plane 242c: 2nd curved surface 242d: Top surface P: Pitch L: Projection height T: Tablets TC: Center of the tablet TT1, TT2: Triangular tablets TTC1, 2: Center of the triangular tablet CG1, CG2: Difference in center of gravity RD: Radial direction CD: Circumferential direction 250: Cover part 260: Guide 261: Bolt 262: Guide surface 263, 264: 1st and 2nd parts 265, 266: Vertical plane 267: Maintenance aspect SP:Start position 270: Gate 271: Gate 1 272: Second Gate Section 278: Bolt 300: Mobile Unit 310: First Mobile Unit 320: Second Mobile Unit 400: Inspection Department 410: First Inspection Department 420: Second Inspection Department 500: Classification department 510, 520, 530: 1st to 3rd classification section

Claims

1. A tablet supply device comprising: a centrifugal supply unit; and a moving unit located above the centrifugal supply unit for receiving and moving tablets from the centrifugal supply unit; The centrifugal feeding unit includes an inner disk into which tablets are fed and which rotates with its axis of rotation inclined with respect to the vertical, An outer disk that rotates surrounding the inner disk and includes a tablet moving region in which a tablet transferred from the inner disk moves, and is configured to transmit the tablet to the moving part, The outer disk is connected to a pocket guide that covers a portion of the tablet movement surface and includes a plurality of pockets into which tablets are inserted. The pocket guide includes protrusions that form the plurality of pockets, and a pocket cover portion that is positioned on the tablet moving surface and connected to the protrusions, the protrusions protruding from the pocket cover portion, A tablet dispensing device wherein the protruding portion is connected to an adjacent protruding portion and includes a first curved surface having a first radius of curvature, and the protruding height of the protruding portion is between one and two times the first radius of curvature.

2. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the pocket guide is configured to be replaceable from the outer disk.

3. The aforementioned protrusion extends from one side connected to the pocket cover portion toward the rotation center of the outer disc, and separates adjacent pockets. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the protruding portion decreases in the circumferential direction as it approaches the center of rotation.

4. The tablet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the pitch from the apex of one protrusion to the apex of an adjacent protrusion is no more than twice the maximum width of the tablet supplied to the centrifugal feeding unit.

5. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion includes a plane that extends inclined from the first curved surface.

6. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the apex of the protrusion is formed by a second curved surface having a second radius of curvature, and the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature.

7. The plane is inclined to have a first angle θ with respect to the radial direction of the pocket guide, The tablet dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the first angle is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 60°.

8. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the first angle is between 20 and 40°.

9. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the height of the protruding portion is between 4 / 3 and 1.5 times the first radius of curvature.

10. The tablet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the centrifugal feeding unit further includes a fixed frame surrounding the outer disk and a guide connected to the fixed frame, which, when viewed from above, is located at a position shifted by a second angle from the top dead center of the inner disk in the opposite direction to the rotational direction of the outer disk, is at the point where the inner disk and the outer disk are in contact in the radial direction, and in the vertical direction includes a guide surface that protrudes into the area of ​​the inner disk along the rotational direction at the starting position of the height of the outer disk.

11. At the starting position of the guide surface, the outer disk is positioned higher than the inner disk by a first distance. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the first distance is between 1 / 2 and 9 / 10 of the width of the target tablet.

12. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the angle that the guide surface makes with the horizontal plane along the rotational direction gradually decreases.

13. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the guide includes a first portion whose radially inward projection length is increased along the rotational direction.

14. The tablet dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the end position of the guide surface along the rotational direction is located at the top dead center of the inner disk or at a distance from the top dead center of the inner disk in the opposite direction to the rotational direction.

15. The centrifugal feeding unit further includes a gate connected to the fixed frame, which is positioned in the rotational direction of the outer disk, starting before the top dead center of the inner disk and passing through the top dead center, The tablet dispensing device according to claim 13, wherein the gate includes a first gate portion extending circumferentially outside the inner surface of the outer disk in the radial direction, and a second gate portion connected to the first portion and projecting inward from the inner surface of the outer disk in the radial direction along the rotational direction.

16. The tablet supply device according to claim 15, wherein the first gate portion is located on the upper part of the tablet moving surface, and the distance from the lower end of the first gate portion to the upper surface of the outer disk is shorter than the shortest distance among the height, width, and length of the tablet.

Images