Cover attachment unit for blister pack and blister packing apparatus for drugs, comprising same

Abstract

Disclosed are a cover attachment unit for a blister pack for closing a plurality of drug pockets by attaching a cover coated with an adhesive on a lower side to a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed thereon, and a blister packing apparatus for drugs, the apparatus comprising same. The disclosed cover attachment unit for a blister pack includes a cover release plate. After the cover release plate is positioned at a second position and the cover attached to a release film is aligned under a cover adsorption plate, the cover adsorption plate adsorbs the cover on an adsorption surface, a release film recovery roller winds and recovers the release film at same time as the cover release plate moves to a first position, to separate the cover from the release film, the blister sheet moves below the cover adsorption plate, and the cover adsorption plate having the cover adsorbed thereon is lowered so that the lower side of the cover is attached to the blister sheet.

Description

Cover attachment unit for blister pack and blister packing device for medicine having the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover attachment unit for a blister pack that attaches a cover to a blister sheet for pharmaceutical packaging filled with a pharmaceutical according to a prescription, and a blister packing device for pharmaceuticals having the same.

[0002] At hospitals or pharmacies, medications prescribed according to a prescription are individually packaged in plastic bags or sealed in blister packs. The blister packs include a blister sheet having a plurality of medication pockets arranged in a row, and a cover attached to the upper side of the blister sheet so that the plurality of medication pockets are sealed. The method of sealing and packaging medications using blister packs is increasing in use because it prevents theft, loss, and misuse of medications, and also helps to ensure correct medication administration even in complex cases, such as when the medications to be taken after lunch and dinner are different.

[0003] In order to improve the efficiency of the work of packaging a drug into a blister pack according to a prescription, a blister packing device for a drug is required that automatically dispenses the drug into a single dose and packages it into a blister pack, and the blister packing device must be equipped with a cover attachment unit for a blister pack that automatically performs a cover attachment work of attaching a cover to a blister sheet filled with a drug in a plurality of drug pockets and closing the drug pockets.

[0004] Prior art document: Domestic Patent Publication No. 10-0343788

[0005] The present invention provides a cover attachment unit for a blister pack that automatically attaches a cover to a blister sheet filled with a drug to complete a blister pack, and a blister packing device for a drug having the same.

[0006] The present invention provides a cover attachment unit for a blister pack. The cover attachment unit for the blister pack attaches a cover having an adhesive applied to a lower surface thereof to a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed therein, thereby closing the plurality of drug pockets. The cover attachment unit for the blister pack comprises a cover supply roller, a release film recovery roller, a cover suction plate, and a cover peeling plate. The cover supply roller supplies a release film to which the cover is detachably attached so that the lower surface of the cover is not exposed. The release film recovery roller winds and recovers the release film from which the cover has been removed. The cover suction plate has a suction surface for absorbing the cover. The cover peeling plate is movable between a first position that does not overlap the cover suction plate and a second position that overlaps the cover suction plate, and has a wedge that bends the release film at an acute angle in the direction of travel so that the cover is separated from the release film. In this case, the cover release plate is positioned at the second position, and the cover attached to the release film is aligned under the cover suction plate, and then the cover suction plate adsorbs the cover to the suction surface. In addition, as the cover release plate moves to the first position and the release film recovery roller winds and recovers the release film, the cover is separated from the release film, the blister sheet moves under the cover suction plate, and the cover suction plate on which the cover is adsorbed is lowered so that the lower surface of the cover is attached to the blister sheet, a cover attachment unit for a blister pack is provided.

[0007] When the cover peeling plate moves from the first position to the second position, the release film recovery roller may rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the release film is wound and recovered, so that the tension of the release film does not become excessive, and the cover supply roller may not rotate.

[0008] After the cover release plate is positioned at the second position, the release film recovery roller rotates in a direction for winding and recovering the release film, and the cover supply roller rotates in a direction for supplying the release film, so that the cover attached to the release film can move to a position aligned under the cover suction plate.

[0009] The cover attachment unit for the blister pack of the present invention further comprises a printer for printing characters or pictures on the upper surface of the cover, and the printer can perform printing on the cover while the cover supply roller rotates in the direction of supplying the release film and the cover attached to the release film moves to a position aligned under the cover suction plate.

[0010] The cover attachment unit for a blister pack of the present invention may further include a cover release plate locker. The cover release plate locker blocks the cover release plate located at the second position so that the cover release plate does not move toward the first position due to the tension of the release film. The cover release plate locker may be movable between a locking position in which the cover release plate is blocked to fix the position, and an unlocking position in which the cover release plate is not blocked.

[0011] The cover attachment unit for a blister pack of the present invention further comprises a peeling plate driver for moving the cover peeling plate, and the peeling plate driver can move on its own in a direction parallel to the direction in which the cover peeling plate is moved so that the distance between the first position and the second position is expanded.

[0012] After the lower side of the cover is attached to the blister sheet, the cover suction plate stops sucking the cover and rises, and the cover attachment unit for the blister pack of the present invention may further include a cover pressing roller that presses the cover attached to the blister sheet toward the blister sheet to adhesively fix it.

[0013] In addition, a blister packing device for a drug in another aspect of the present invention comprises a drug dispensing unit, a drug supply unit, a blister sheet supply unit, and a blister sheet transport unit, together with the cover attachment unit for the blister pack described above.

[0014] The above-mentioned drug dispensing unit dispenses a single dose of drug according to a prescription into each drug pocket of a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed therein. The drug supply unit is arranged above the drug dispensing unit and dispenses the drug into the drug dispensing unit. The blister sheet supply unit supplies blister sheets, not filled with a drug, by dropping them one by one into the plurality of drug pockets.

[0015] The cover attachment unit for the above blister pack attaches a cover to a blister sheet filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets to form a blister pack in which the plurality of drug pockets are closed. The blister sheet transport unit transports the blister sheet dropped from the blister sheet supply unit to the drug dispensing unit, and transports the blister sheet filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets from the drug dispensing unit to the cover attachment unit.

[0016] Before the cover suction plate is lowered while sucking the cover, the blister sheet can be moved below the cover suction plate in the drug dispensing unit.

[0017] The blister packing device of the pharmaceutical of the present invention may further include a blister pack discharge conveyor for discharging the blister pack to the outside of the blister packing device of the pharmaceutical.

[0018] The above blister sheet transport unit may include a blister sheet tray, a tray driver, and a pair of guide rails. The blister sheet is placed on the blister sheet tray. The tray driver moves the blister sheet tray between the blister sheet supply unit, the drug dispensing unit, and the cover attachment unit for the blister pack. The pair of guide rails extend in parallel to guide the movement of the blister sheet tray. In this case, the blister pack discharge conveyor is located between the pair of guide rails under the cover suction plate, the cover suction plate lifts the blister pack to adsorb and rise to separate it from the blister sheet tray, the blister sheet tray from which the blister pack has been separated moves to the blister sheet supply unit, the cover suction plate descends again to place the blister pack on the blister pack discharge conveyor, the cover suction plate stops the adsorption and rises again, and the blister pack discharge conveyor can move the blister pack.

[0019] The above-mentioned drug dispensing unit is disposed on one of the left and right sides of the cover suction plate, the cover supply roller and the release film recovery roller are disposed at the rear of the cover suction plate, and the cover peeling plate can be positioned at the rear of the cover suction plate when in the first position and can be positioned below the cover suction plate when in the second position.

[0020] The cover attachment unit for a blister pack according to the present invention automatically attaches a cover to a blister sheet containing medication according to a prescription, thereby completing a blister pack containing the medication. Accordingly, the productivity and reliability of automatic medication packaging operations using blister sheets are improved.

[0021] In addition, the cover attachment unit for a blister pack according to the present invention comprises a cover peeling plate that can move to a position overlapping the cover suction plate, so that the cover is accurately unfolded and aligned and is attached to the cover suction plate. Therefore, errors or quality defects in the cover attachment work do not occur.

[0022] A cover attachment unit for a blister pack according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having a printer can print information that can identify the drug and the recipient of the drug, and information on how to take the drug on the cover using a printer, thereby preventing delivery errors of the blister pack and inducing correct taking of the drug.

[0023] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a blister pack for pharmaceutical packaging.

[0024] Figure 2 is a front view of a blister packing device for a drug according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cover supplied through a cover supply roller of a cover attachment unit for a blister pack provided in the blister packing device of the drug of FIG. 2.

[0026] Figures 4 to 9 are drawings sequentially showing the operation of a cover attachment unit for a blister pack provided in the blister packing device of the drug of Figure 2.

[0027] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a blister pack cover attachment unit and a blister packing device for pharmaceuticals having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The terminology used in this specification is a terminology used to appropriately express a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention of the user or operator or the customary practices in the field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be determined based on the contents throughout this specification.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a blister pack for packaging pharmaceuticals. Referring to Fig. 1, a blister sheet (2) for packaging pharmaceuticals used for packaging pharmaceuticals according to a prescription has a flat portion (3) and a plurality of pocket portions (5) that protrude downwardly convexly from the flat portion (3). The plurality of pocket portions (5) are formed to be spaced apart from each other. A plurality of upwardly open pharmaceutical pockets (6) are formed to accommodate a single dose of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed by the plurality of pocket portions (5). The plurality of pharmaceutical pockets (6) are arranged in a matrix, and the illustrated blister sheet (2) has the pharmaceutical pockets (6) arranged in 7 rows and 4 columns so that a maximum of one week's worth of pharmaceuticals can be filled.

[0029] When the plurality of medicine pockets (6) are filled with medicine, a sheet-shaped cover (7) that seals the plurality of medicine pockets (6) is attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2). A blister pack (1) that seals and stores medicine in individual doses is composed of a blister sheet (2) containing the medicine, and a cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2). The lower surface of the cover (7) attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2) is an adhesive surface coated with an adhesive. When the cover (7) is pressed and torn using a finger or a tool, the medicine filled in the medicine pockets (6) can be taken out and taken.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a front view of a blister packing device for a drug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 together, the blister packing device (20) for a drug is a device that automatically divides a compounded drug into single doses, fills a plurality of drug pockets (6) (see Fig. 1) of a blister sheet (2), seals the blister sheet (2) with a cover (7), and forms a blister pack (1), and is mainly equipped in large hospitals or pharmacies.

[0031] The blister packing device (20) of the above-mentioned drug comprises a cabinet-shaped housing (21), and a drug supply unit (22), a drug distribution unit (120), a blister sheet supply unit (110), a blister pack cover attachment unit (30), a blister sheet transport unit (100), and a blister pack discharge conveyor (130) inside the housing (21).

[0032] Inside the housing (21), the drug supply unit (22) is located at the upper side. In addition, the drug dispensing unit (120), the blister sheet supply unit (110), the blister pack cover attachment unit (30), the blister sheet transport unit (100), and the blister pack discharge conveyor (130) are located at the lower side of the drug supply unit (22). In addition, the blister packing device (20) for the drug further includes a controller (29) that controls the operation of the drug supply unit (22), the drug dispensing unit (120), the blister sheet supply unit (110), the blister pack cover attachment unit (30), the blister sheet transport unit (100), and the blister pack discharge conveyor (130).

[0033] The drug supply unit (22) has a plurality of drug cassettes (23) and hoppers (26, 27). Different types of drugs are stored in the plurality of drug cassettes (23). The hoppers (26, 27) guide the drugs discharged from the drug cassettes (23) to be sequentially discharged downward. Specifically, drugs are discharged from a drug cassette (23) filled with a specific drug according to a prescription input through a server or a user interface, and fall downward through a drug drop channel (not shown). The drugs are collected in a plurality of intermediate hoppers (26) arranged below the plurality of drug cassettes (23), fall in an adjusted dropping order, and sequentially fall in single doses based on the prescription through the final hopper (27).

[0034] The drug dispensing unit (120) receives the drug discharged from the final hopper (27) of the drug supply unit (22), checks whether the drug is a single dose based on the prescription, and distributes and dispenses the drug for the single dose into a plurality of drug pockets (6) of the blister sheet (2). The blister sheet supply unit (110) is arranged on the left side of the drug dispensing unit (120) and supplies blister sheets (2) that are not filled with the drug by dropping them one by one into the plurality of drug pockets (6). The cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack is arranged on the right side of the drug dispensing unit (120) and attaches a cover (7) to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2) in which the plurality of drug pockets (6) are filled with the drug to form a blister pack (1) in which the plurality of drug pockets (6) are closed. However, unlike that shown in FIG. 2, the blister sheet supply unit (110) may be placed on the right side of the drug dispensing unit (120), and the blister pack cover attachment unit (30) may be placed on the left side of the drug dispensing unit (120).

[0035] The blister sheet transport unit (100) transports the blister sheet (2) dropped from the blister sheet supply unit (110) to the drug dispensing unit (120). In addition, the blister sheet transport unit (100) transports the blister sheet (2) filled with a drug in a plurality of drug pockets (6) by the drug dispensing unit (120) from the drug dispensing unit (120) to the blister pack cover attachment unit (30).

[0036] Specifically, the blister sheet transport unit (100) includes a blister sheet tray (101), a tray driver (108), and a pair of guide rails (107) (see FIG. 4). One blister sheet (2) is placed on the blister sheet tray (101). The tray driver (108) moves the blister sheet tray (101) between the blister sheet supply unit (110), the drug dispensing unit (120), and the blister pack cover attachment unit (30). The pair of guide rails (107) extend in a direction parallel to the X-axis to guide the movement of the blister sheet tray (101).

[0037] On the front and back surfaces of the blister sheet tray (101), guide rollers (105) (see Fig. 7) are installed to guide the blister sheet tray (101) to move in a direction parallel to the X-axis by being fitted into the guide rail (107).

[0038] A blister sheet tray (101) has a flat portion support surface (102) (see FIG. 7) and a plurality of pocket portion-corresponding apertures (103) (see FIG. 7). The flat portion support surface (102) supports the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2). The plurality of pocket portion-corresponding apertures are fitted into a plurality of downwardly protruding pocket portions (5) provided on the blister sheet (2) in a one-to-one correspondence manner. The inner surface (104) (see FIG. 7) of the pocket portion-corresponding apertures (103) is formed to be tapered so that the downwardly protruding pocket portions (5) are supported by making surface contact. Therefore, even if the blister sheet tray (101) on which the blister sheet (2) is placed moves at a high speed, the blister sheet (2) does not come off from the blister sheet tray (101).

[0039] When a blister sheet (2) dropped from a blister sheet supply unit (110) is settled on a blister sheet tray (101) located below the blister sheet supply unit (110), the blister sheet tray (101) moves below the drug dispensing unit (120) and stops. In the drug dispensing unit (120), drugs corresponding to a prescription are dropped down at the same time, and the drugs are filled at the same time in a plurality of drug pockets (6).

[0040] When the blister sheet tray (101) on which the blister sheet (2) filled with the drug in the plurality of drug pockets (6) is placed moves under the cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack and stops (see Fig. 7), the cover (7) is attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2), thereby completing the blister pack (1) (see Fig. 8). The blister pack (1) is lifted upwards to be separated from the blister sheet tray (101) (see Fig. 9), and the blister sheet tray (101) separated from the blister pack (1) moves back to a position where a new blister sheet (2) in which the plurality of drug pockets (6) are not filled falls and is placed, that is, under the blister sheet supply unit (110).

[0041] The blister pack discharge conveyor (130) discharges a completed blister pack (1) with a cover (7) attached to a blister sheet (2) to a loading position outside the housing (21) of the blister packing device (20) of the drug, and is located between the pair of guide rails (107) below the cover suction plate (35) of the cover attachment unit (30).

[0042] Specifically, the blister pack discharge conveyor (130) has a plurality of belt support rollers (132), a drive motor (131), and a conveyor belt (134). The plurality of belt support rollers (132) are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the X-axis. The drive motor (131) provides power to rotate at least one of the plurality of belt support rollers (132). The conveyor belt (134) surrounds and winds the plurality of belt support rollers (132), and when the motor shaft of the drive motor (131) rotates, the conveyor belt (134) circulates and runs between the plurality of belt support rollers (132).

[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cover supplied through a cover supply roller of a cover attachment unit for a blister pack equipped in the blister packing device of the drug of FIG. 2. FIGS. 4 to 9 are drawings sequentially showing the operation of the cover attachment unit for a blister pack equipped in the blister packing device of the drug of FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 together, the cover attachment unit (30) for a blister pack includes a cover supply roller (31), a release film recovery roller (33), a cover suction plate (35), a cover peeling plate (57), a peeling plate driver (50), a cover peeling plate locker (48), a printer (45), and a cover pressing roller (40).

[0044] The cover supply roller (31) is a roller that continuously supplies a release film (10) to which the cover (7) is detachably attached so that the lower side of the cover (7) to which the adhesive is applied is not exposed, and is disposed at the rear of the cover suction plate (35). A plurality of covers (7) are arranged in a row with a constant gap (GP) between the rear end (9) of the preceding cover (7) and the front end (8) of the succeeding cover (7) and are attached to the release film (10). The release film recovery roller (33) is a roller that winds and recovers the release film (10) from which the cover (7) is detached, and is disposed at the rear of the cover suction plate (35). The drug dispensing unit (120) and the blister sheet supply unit (110) are arranged on the left side of the cover suction plate (35) of the cover supply unit (30), but the cover supply roller (31) and the release film recovery roller (33) are arranged on the rear side of the cover suction plate (35), so that the left-right width of the drug blister packing device (20) can be designed compactly.

[0045] The cover suction plate (35) is a plate-shaped mechanism that vacuum-absorbs the cover (7), and can be raised and lowered by the driving force of an air cylinder (37). The lower surface of the cover suction plate (37) is a suction surface (36) (see FIG. 6) that vacuum-absorbs the cover (7). The cover peeling plate (57) is a plate-shaped mechanism that separates the cover (7) supplied from the cover supply roller (31) and attached and supported on the release film (10) from the release film (10), and can move between a first position that does not overlap with the cover suction plate (37) and a second position that overlaps with the cover suction plate (37). In FIG. 4, the cover peeling plate (57) drawn in solid lines represents the cover peeling plate (57) located at the first position, and in FIG. 5, the cover peeling plate (57) drawn in solid lines represents the cover peeling plate (57) located at the second position. As shown in Fig. 4, when positioned at the first position, the cover release plate (57) is positioned at the rear of the cover suction plate (37), and as shown in Fig. 5, when positioned at the second position, the cover release plate (57) is positioned below and overlaps the cover suction plate (37).

[0046] Referring to Fig. 6, a wedge (58) is provided at the front end of the cover release plate (57). The wedge (58) bends the release film (10) at an acute angle (AW) in the direction of travel so that the cover (7) is separated from the release film (10). As shown in Fig. 6, the release film (10) to which the cover (7) is attached and supported is turned in the opposite direction to the cover (7) by the edge (58t) protruding at an acute angle (AW) at the end of the wedge (58), so that the cover (7) is separated from the release film (10).

[0047] Referring again to FIGS. 3 to 5, the peeling plate driver (50) is a mechanism for reciprocating the cover peeling plate (57) in a direction parallel to the Y-axis, and includes a pair of belt support rollers (52) spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the Y-axis, a drive motor (not shown) that provides power to rotate at least one of the pair of belt support rollers (52), and a peeling plate fixing belt (53) that surrounds and winds the pair of belt support rollers (52) and fixes and supports the rear end of the cover peeling plate (57). Depending on the rotational direction of the motor shaft of the drive motor, the pair of belt support rollers (52) may rotate counterclockwise, causing the cover peeling plate (57) to advance in a direction parallel to the Y-axis negative (-) direction, or the pair of belt support rollers (52) may rotate clockwise, causing the cover peeling plate (57) to retreat in a direction parallel to the Y-axis positive (+) direction.

[0048] The peeling plate driver (50) is capable of moving on its own in a direction parallel to the direction in which the cover peeling plate (57) moves, i.e., in a direction parallel to the Y-axis, so as to extend the distance between the first position and the second position of the cover peeling plate (57) while reducing the gap between the pair of belt support rollers (52) as much as possible. In other words, the pair of belt support rollers (52) and the driving motor are supported on a bracket (51), and the bracket (51) is movable between a retracted position (see FIG. 4) close to the release film recovery roller (33) and a forward position (see FIG. 5) spaced further from the release film recovery roller (33) than the retracted position. The driving means for moving the bracket (51) in the direction parallel to the Y-axis is omitted in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the cover release plate (57) is in the first position, the bracket (51) of the release plate driver (50) is retracted so as not to overlap vertically with the cover suction plate (35), and the rear end of the cover release plate (57) is positioned closer to the rear belt support roller among the pair of belt support rollers (52). On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the cover release plate (57) is in the second position, the front end of the bracket (51) of the release plate driver (50) and the front belt support roller among the pair of belt support rollers (52) move forward so as to overlap vertically with the cover suction plate (35). First and second position movement guide rollers (55, 56) are provided at the front and rear ends of the bracket (51) to guide the progress path of the release film (10) pulled and recovered by the release film recovery roller (33).

[0050] Meanwhile, reference numbers '62' and '63' are rollers that guide the path of the release film (10) that is pulled and recovered by the release film recovery roller (33), and are first and second position-fixed guide rollers that are supported on the frame of the cover attachment unit (30) and do not move back and forth, and reference number '61' refers to a tension roller that appropriately maintains the tension of the release film (10) that is pulled and recovered by the release film recovery roller (33).

[0051] The cover release plate locker (48) blocks the rear end of the cover release plate (57) so that the cover release plate (57) located at the second position does not move toward the first position due to the tension of the release film (10) being pulled and recovered by the release film recovery roller (33), in other words, so that the cover release plate (57) does not retreat in parallel with the positive (+) direction of the Y-axis. In other words, the cover release plate locker (48) is provided in pairs so as to block the left end and the right end of the rear end of the cover release plate (57) in the direction parallel to the X-axis. The above pair of cover peeling plate rockers (48) are spaced apart at a distance greater than or equal to the width of the release film (10), and the release film (10) with the cover (7) attached thereto supplied from the cover supply roller (31) between the above pair of spaced cover peeling plate rockers (48) can advance toward the wedge (58).

[0052] The above pair of cover peeling plate lockers (48) are raised and lowered between a locking position and an unlocking position by the driving force of a rocker lifting and lowering driver (49). Before the cover peeling plate (57) moves from the first position to the second position, the rocker lifting and lowering driver (49) raises the pair of cover peeling plate lockers (48) from the locking position to the unlocking position, thereby releasing the position lock of the cover peeling plate (57).

[0053] The printer (45) prints characters or pictures on the upper surface of the cover (7) supplied from the cover supply roller (31). The cover (7) may be thermal paper. The printer (45) has a printer head (46) and a print support roller (47). The printer head (46) prints characters or pictures on the cover (7) in a thermal manner. The print support roller (47) supports the cover (7) and brings it into close contact with the printer head (46) when the printer head (46) prints characters or pictures on the cover (7). The printer head (46) may descend in a direction toward the cover (7) supported by the print support roller (47), or may ascend in a direction away from the cover (7). The cover supply roller (31) rotates in the direction of supplying the release film (10) to which the cover (7) is attached, that is, rotates counterclockwise with reference to FIG. 5, and while the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) moves to a position aligned below the cover suction plate (35), the printer (45) performs printing on the cover (7).

[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 7, the cover (7) separated from the release film (10) is attracted to the cover suction plate (35) while the cover suction plate (35) is lowered. Then, the cover (7) is attached to the blister sheet (2) that is placed on the blister sheet tray (101) and waiting under the cover suction plate (35). After the lower side of the cover (7) is attached to the blister sheet (2), the cover suction plate (35) stops vacuum-adsorption of the cover (7) and rises. The cover pressing roller (40) presses the cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2) toward the blister sheet (2) to adhesively fix it.

[0055] In detail, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the cover pressing roller (40) presses downward on the cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2) and reciprocates back and forth to firmly adhere and fix the cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2) to the blister sheet (2). Reference numeral '42' is a cover pressing roller driver that provides power to reciprocate the cover pressing roller (40) back and forth.

[0056] Hereinafter, the operation and structure of the cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack and the blister packing device (20) for the drug (see FIG. 2) will be described in more detail with sequential reference to FIGS. 4 to 9. Referring to FIG. 4, the cover release plate (57) is positioned at the first position. At this time, the cover (7) is not attached to the release film (10) between the wedge (58) of the cover release plate (57) and the release film recovery roller (33), and the cover (7) is attached to the release film (7) between the wedge (58) and the cover supply roller (31).

[0057] Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover release plate (57) moves from the first position to the second position. In order to prevent the tension of the release film (10) from becoming excessive when the cover release plate (57) moves from the first position to the second position, the release film recovery roller (33) rotates in the reverse direction of the direction in which the release film (10) is wound and recovered, and the cover supply roller (31) does not rotate. The rotation direction of the release film recovery roller (33) indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 indicates the reverse rotation of the release film recovery roller (33). If the release film recovery roller (33) rotates in the direction in which the release film (10) is wound and recovered, i.e., in the forward direction, the cover release plate (57) may not move from the first position to the second position due to excessive tension, or the release film (10) may break. As shown in FIG. 4, when the cover peeling plate (57) is in the first position, the release film (10) is not supported by the first position movement guide roller (55), but as shown in FIG. 5, when the cover peeling plate (57) is in the second position, the release film (10) is supported by the first position movement guide roller (55).

[0058] The cover supply roller (31) may be an idling roller that does not rotate by its own power supplied from the motor but rotates by the force that pulls the release film (10). As described above, since the release film recovery roller (33) rotates in the reverse direction and the release film (10) is not pulled, the cover supply roller (31) does not rotate in the direction of supplying the release film (10). Accordingly, while the cover peeling plate (57) advances from the first position to the second position, the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) is not supplied from the cover supply roller (31).

[0059] Referring to Fig. 5, when the cover release plate (57) is positioned at the second position, the cover release plate locker (48) is lowered from the unlocking position to the locking position to fix the position so that the cover release plate (57) does not retreat in the direction toward the first position. Then, the release film recovery roller (33) rotates in the direction in which the release film (10) is wound and recovered, i.e., in the forward direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. As a result, the release film (10) is pulled, and the cover supply roller (33) rotates in the direction in which the release film is supplied, i.e., in the forward direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, so that the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) moves forward to a position aligned below the cover suction plate (35). As the cover (7) attached to the above-described heteromorphic film (10) is released from the cover supply roller (31) and moves forward to below the cover suction plate (35), characters or pictures are printed on the cover (7) by the printer (45) as described above.

[0060] Although not shown in the drawing, the cover suction cup (35) may be provided with a cover detection sensor that detects whether the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) has advanced to a position aligned below the cover suction cup (35). The cover detection sensor may be an optical sensor that detects the front end (8) or the rear end (9) of the cover (7) or a specific mark printed on the cover (7) in a non-contact manner. When the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) is detected by the cover detection sensor, the release film recovery roller (33) stops rotating to wind and recover the release film (10).

[0061] In this way, after the cover release plate (57) is positioned at the second position and the cover (7) attached to the release film (10) is aligned under the cover suction plate (35), the cover suction plate (35) suctions the cover (7) to its suction surface (36) (see FIG. 6) by vacuum suction. Next, the cover release plate locker (48) rises from the locking position to the unlocking position, and as shown in FIG. 6, the cover release plate (57) moves backward from the second position to the first position, and at the same time, the release film recovery roller (33) (see FIG. 4) winds and recovers the release film (10), so that the release film (10) is folded with respect to the edge (58t) of the wedge (58) and moves backward in a direction of retraction, thereby being separated from the cover (7) suctioned to the suction surface (36). In other words, the cover (7) suctioned to the suction surface (36) is separated from the release film (10).

[0062] As shown in Fig. 7, after the cover release plate (57) has completely returned to the first position, the blister sheet (2) is moved downwardly below the cover suction plate (35) so as to be aligned vertically with the cover suction plate (35) while being seated on the blister sheet tray (101). In other words, the blister sheet tray (101) on which the blister sheet (2) filled with the plurality of drug pockets (6) with the drug discharged from the drug dispensing unit (120) is seated and supported moves downwardly below the cover suction plate (35) in the drug dispensing unit (120) before the cover suction plate (35) is lowered while adsorbing the cover (7). Next, as shown in the dashed line in Fig. 7, the cover suction plate (35) on which the cover (7) is adsorbed is lowered so that the lower surface of the cover (7) is attached to the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2).

[0063] Referring to Fig. 8, after the lower side of the cover (7) is attached to the blister sheet (2), the cover suction plate (35) stops vacuum suction of the cover (7) and rises. Next, as described above, the cover pressing roller (40) presses downward on the cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2) and reciprocates back and forth to firmly adhere and fix the cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2) to the blister sheet (2). Next, the cover suction plate (35) descends again, vacuum suctions the cover (7) adhesively fixed to the blister sheet (2) again, and rises again. Accordingly, the blister pack (1) is separated from the blister sheet tray (101) and lifted.

[0064] As illustrated in Fig. 9, the blister sheet tray (101) from which the blister pack (1) has been separated and removed moves parallel to the negative (-) direction of the X-axis to move to the blister sheet supply unit (110). As a result, the blister sheet tray (101) is removed from under the cover suction plate (35) and the conveyor belt (134) of the blister pack discharge conveyor (130) is exposed.

[0065] Next, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 9, the cover suction plate (35) is lowered again while sucking the blister pack (1) and the blister pack (1) is placed on the conveyor belt (134) of the blister pack discharge conveyor (130). Next, the cover suction plate (35) stops vacuum suction again and rises to the original position, and the conveyor belt (134) of the blister pack discharge conveyor (130) runs in a circular motion to move the blister pack (1) to a predetermined loading position outside the housing (21).

[0066] The cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack described above automatically attaches a cover (7) to a blister sheet (2) containing a drug according to a prescription, thereby completing a blister pack (1) containing the drug. Accordingly, the work productivity and reliability of automatic drug packaging work using the blister sheet (2) are improved.

[0067] The cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack is provided with a cover peeling plate (57) that can move to a position overlapping the cover suction plate (35), so that the cover (7) is accurately unfolded and aligned and is absorbed by the cover suction plate (35). Therefore, errors or quality defects in the cover attachment work do not occur. In addition, the cover attachment unit (30) for the blister pack can print information that can identify the medicine and the recipient of the medicine, and information on how to take the medicine, on the cover (7) using a printer (45), thereby preventing errors in delivery of the blister pack (1) and inducing correct use of the medicine.

[0068] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined solely by the appended claims.

[0069] The present invention can be used in fields such as pharmacies, hospitals, silver towns, and pharmaceutical packaging companies that separately package prescribed drugs.

Claims

1. Attaching a cover with an adhesive applied to the lower surface to a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed therein to close the plurality of drug pockets. A cover supply roller for supplying a release film to which the cover is detachably attached so that the lower side of the cover is not exposed; a release film recovery roller for winding and recovering the release film from which the cover is detached; a cover suction plate having an absorption surface for absorbing the cover; and a cover peeling plate having a wedge that is movable between a first position that does not overlap the cover suction plate and a second position that overlaps the cover suction plate and bends the direction of travel of the release film at an acute angle so that the cover is separated from the release film. A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that after the cover release plate is positioned at the second position and the cover attached to the release film is aligned under the cover suction plate, the cover suction plate adsorbs the cover to the suction surface, and at the same time as the cover release plate moves to the first position, the release film recovery roller winds and recovers the release film, thereby separating the cover from the release film, the blister sheet moves below the cover suction plate, and the cover suction plate to which the cover is adsorbed is lowered so that the lower surface of the cover is attached to the blister sheet.

2. In paragraph 1, A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that when the cover peeling plate moves from the first position to the second position, the release film recovery roller rotates in the opposite direction to the direction in which the release film is wound and recovered so that the tension of the release film does not become excessive, and the cover supply roller does not rotate.

3. In paragraph 2, A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that after the cover peeling plate is positioned at the second position, the release film recovery roller rotates in a direction for winding and recovering the release film and the cover supply roller rotates in a direction for supplying the release film, so that the cover attached to the release film moves to a position aligned under the cover suction plate.

4. In paragraph 3, The cover attachment unit for the above blister pack further comprises a printer for printing characters or pictures on the upper surface of the cover; A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the printer performs printing on the cover while the cover supply roller rotates in the direction of supplying the release film and the cover attached to the release film moves to a position aligned under the cover suction plate.

5. In paragraph 3, The cover attachment unit for the above blister pack further comprises a cover release plate locker that blocks the cover release plate located at the second position so that the cover release plate does not move toward the first position due to the tension of the release film; A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the cover peeling plate locker is movable between a locking position in which the cover peeling plate is blocked to fix the position, and an unlocking position in which the cover peeling plate is not blocked.

6. In paragraph 1, The cover attachment unit for the above blister pack further comprises a peeling plate driver for moving the cover peeling plate; A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the peeling plate actuator moves on its own in a direction parallel to the direction in which the cover peeling plate is moved so that the distance between the first position and the second position is expanded.

7. In paragraph 1, After the lower side of the cover is attached to the blister sheet, the cover suction plate stops sucking the cover and rises, A cover attachment unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the cover attachment unit for the above blister pack further comprises a cover pressing roller that presses the cover attached to the blister sheet toward the blister sheet to adhesively fix the cover.

8. A blister packing device for a drug, characterized by comprising: a drug dispensing unit for dispensing and injecting a single dose of a drug into each drug pocket of a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed therein; a drug supply unit disposed above the drug dispensing unit for injecting the drug into the drug dispensing unit; a blister sheet supply unit for dropping and supplying blister sheets, not filled with a drug, one by one into the plurality of drug pockets; a cover attaching unit for a blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which attaches a cover to a blister sheet filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets to form a blister pack in which the plurality of drug pockets are closed; and a blister sheet transfer unit for transferring a blister sheet dropped from the blister sheet supply unit to the drug dispensing unit and transferring a blister sheet filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets from the drug dispensing unit to the cover attaching unit.

9. In paragraph 8, A blister packing device for a drug, characterized in that before the cover suction plate is lowered in a state of suctioning the cover, the blister sheet moves below the cover suction plate in the drug dispensing unit.

10. In paragraph 8, A blister packing device for a pharmaceutical product, characterized in that it further comprises a blister pack discharge conveyor for discharging the blister pack to the outside of the blister packing device for the pharmaceutical product.

11. In paragraph 10, The above blister sheet transport unit comprises a blister sheet tray on which the blister sheet is placed, a tray driver for moving the blister sheet tray between the blister sheet supply unit, the drug dispensing unit, and the blister pack cover attachment unit, and a pair of guide rails extending in parallel to guide the movement of the blister sheet tray. The above blister pack discharge conveyor is located between the pair of guide rails under the cover suction plate, A blister packing device for a pharmaceutical, characterized in that the cover suction plate sucks the blister pack and lifts it to separate it from the blister sheet tray, the blister sheet tray from which the blister pack has been separated moves to the blister sheet supply unit, the cover suction plate descends again to place the blister pack on the blister pack discharge conveyor, the cover suction plate stops the suction and rises again, and the blister pack discharge conveyor moves the blister pack.

12. In paragraph 8, The above drug dispensing unit is placed on one of the left and right sides of the cover suction plate, The above cover supply roller and the release film recovery roller are arranged at the rear of the cover suction plate, A blister packing device for a drug, characterized in that the cover peeling plate is located at the rear of the cover suction plate when in the first position and is located below the cover suction plate when in the second position.

Images