Tablet Printing Apparatus Contact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tablet printing apparatuses face challenges in distinguishing and processing tablets that are in contact with each other, leading to incorrect detection and mixed productivity, resulting in defective products being mixed with non-defective ones.
Innovation Solution
A tablet printing apparatus with a detecting unit, printing unit, and collecting unit that detects the presence of tablets, prints only on detected tablets, and distinguishes between preceding and following tablets when multiple tablets are in contact, using a sensor to determine the status change and a camera to image the tablets for posture and defect analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sensor detects tablet arrival to enable printing, then printing can be performed on tablets, but when two or more tablets are in contact, the sensor cannot detect the boundary between tablets, causing following tablets to be unrecognized and mixed with non-defective products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an imaging unit that captures images of tablets on the carrying belt. The control unit processes these images to identify individual tablet boundaries and positions, segmenting the detection task from the sensor's presence/absence signal. This allows differentiation between multiple tablets in contact, enabling precise identification of each tablet for printing and inspection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit serves as an intermediary between the sensor and the control system. While the sensor provides basic presence detection, the imaging unit captures detailed visual information about tablet positions and boundaries. The control unit integrates both data sources to achieve accurate tablet identification and boundary detection, resolving the limitation of the sensor alone.
2Measurement precision
If continuously imaging by a camera a large amount of tablets moving in sequence, then posture of tablets can be checked, but such processes have a large process load and are difficult for fast-speed processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging only when the sensor detects a tablet arrival, rather than continuously imaging all tablets. The control unit triggers the imaging unit to capture images at specific moments when tablets are present on the carrying belt, reducing the total number of images processed while still maintaining accurate posture detection for each tablet.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of imaging every tablet in sequence, the system uses partial action by imaging only when triggered by sensor detection. This selective imaging approach reduces processing load while maintaining sufficient detection capability for tablets that require printing and inspection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient distinction and collection of preceding and following tablets when in contact, preventing mixing of defective and non-defective products, thereby improving productivity and reducing the need for additional sorting processes.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor detects an arrival of tablet carried by the carrying belt
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle head that has a plurality of nozzles which ejects ink droplets
Implementation Method 3
air is sucked via such small holes to suck and hold the tablets
Data Source
AI summary
A tablet printing apparatus and a tablet manufacturing method are provided which are capable of distinguishing and collecting a preceding tablet and a following tablet from each other when two or more tablets in contact with each other are carried. A tablet printing apparatus includes a carrying device 20 carrying tablets Tb, a sensor 30 detecting the tablet Tb being carried by the carrying device 20, a printing unit 50 performing, when the status changes from the status in which the sensor 30 the tablet Tb is not detected to the status in which the tablet Tb is detected, printing on the tablet Tb that has changed the status, and a collecting unit R distinguishing and collecting, when the time length at which the sensor 30 is detecting the tablet Tb is longer than the predetermined setting value because two or more tablets Tb in contact with each other are carried, the preceding tablet Tb and the following tablet Tb following thereto among two or more tablets Tb.