U.S. patent application number 15/740089 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-05 for medicine packaging apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Takazono Technology Incorporated. Invention is credited to Hideyuki Kikuchi, Teruaki Satoh, Takanori Yamabayashi.
Application Number | 20180186484 15/740089 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57608269 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180186484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kikuchi; Hideyuki ; et
al. |
July 5, 2018 |
Medicine Packaging Apparatus
Abstract
Provided is a medicine packaging apparatus including: a
packaging material unwinding unit configured to unwind a packaging
material; a packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer
the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding
unit; a tension applying unit configured to apply tension to the
packaging material; and a conveyance control unit configured to
control at least the packaging material unwinding unit. The
conveyance control unit controls the packaging material transfer
unit to intermittently transfer the packaging material, and
controls at least the packaging material unwinding unit, so that
when the packaging material is being intermittently transferred, an
amount of the packaging material unwound by the packaging material
unwinding unit is made smaller than an amount of the packaging
material transferred by the packaging material transfer unit.
Inventors: |
Kikuchi; Hideyuki;
(Hirakata-shi, JP) ; Satoh; Teruaki;
(Hirakata-shi, JP) ; Yamabayashi; Takanori;
(Hirakata-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Takazono Technology Incorporated |
Hirakata-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
57608269 |
Appl. No.: |
15/740089 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
June 30, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/069434 |
371 Date: |
December 27, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 5/103 20130101;
B65D 75/36 20130101; A61J 1/035 20130101; B65B 41/12 20130101; B65B
35/46 20130101; B65B 57/10 20130101; A61J 7/0069 20130101; B65B
9/045 20130101; B65B 47/02 20130101; B65B 57/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 5/10 20060101
B65B005/10; B65B 35/46 20060101 B65B035/46; B65D 75/36 20060101
B65D075/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 2, 2015 |
JP |
2015-133720 |
Claims
1. A medicine packaging apparatus comprising: a packaging material
conveying unit configured to convey an elongated sheet-like
packaging material, the medicine packaging apparatus being
configured to package medicine with the packaging material that is
being conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit, wherein
the packaging material conveying unit comprises: a packaging
material unwinding unit configured to unwind the packaging
material; a packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer
the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding
unit to a downstream side of a conveyance direction; a tension
applying unit located on an upstream side of the packaging material
transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the packaging material
and configured to apply tension to the packaging material; and a
conveyance control unit configured to control at least the
packaging material unwinding unit, and wherein the conveyance
control unit controls the packaging material transfer unit to
intermittently transfer the packaging material, and controls at
least the packaging material unwinding unit, so that when the
packaging material is being intermittently transferred by the
packaging material transfer unit, an amount of the packaging
material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit is made
smaller than an amount of the packaging material transferred by the
packaging material transfer unit by limiting the unwinding of the
packaging material by the packaging material unwinding unit, and
when the intermittent transfer of the packaging material by the
packaging material transfer unit is stopped, the unwinding is
performed in an amount of a difference between the amount of the
packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit
and the amount of the packaging material transferred by the
packaging material transfer unit.
2. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the tension applying unit includes a pressing member provided
movably between a limit position on a loose side and a limit
position on a tension side and configured to press the packaging
material, and the conveyance control unit controls the packaging
material unwinding unit so that the pressing member moves
corresponding to the amount of the difference within a range
between the limit position on the loose side and the limit position
on the tension side, excluding both ends.
3. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: an origin detector configured to detect whether or not
the pressing member is located at an original position, wherein the
original position is set within the range between the limit
position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension
side, excluding both ends, and the conveyance control unit controls
the unwinding of the packaging material by the packaging material
unwinding unit, based on detection results by the origin
detector.
4. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the pressing member is vertically movable and presses the packaging
material from above by its self-weight.
5. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the packaging material unwinding unit comprises a device configured
to forcibly unwind the packaging material.
6. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the packaging material unwinding unit comprises: a holding shaft
provided rotatably about a predetermined axis and configured to
hold a rolled body formed by winding the packaging material, with
the predetermined axis and an axis of the rolled body being in
coincidence with each other; and a rotary drive unit configured to
drive the holding shaft to rotate about the predetermined axis, as
the device configured to forcibly unwind the packaging
material.
7. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
the rotary drive unit is capable of limiting the rotation of the
holding shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2015-133720, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a medicine packaging
apparatus configured to package medicine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As one of medicine packaging media, blister packages may be
used. Patent Literature 1 discloses producing a blister package
using a tray having a plurality of housing recesses. In each of the
housing recesses of the tray, medicine is distributed according to
the prescription. Onto the open face of the tray, a cover sheet is
attached. In such a technique as disclosed in Patent Literature 1,
manual operations such as installing the tray and attaching the
cover sheet are needed.
[0004] Then, it is conceivable to use an elongated sheet-like
packaging material instead of the tray. In this case, the medicine
packaging apparatus includes a packaging material conveying unit
configured to convey the elongated sheet-like packaging material
and packages the medicine with the packaging material that is being
conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit. In such a
medicine packaging apparatus, it is possible to reduce the
aforementioned manual operations and automate operations for
packaging the medicine.
[0005] In the aforementioned medicine packaging apparatus, the
tension applied to the packaging material needs to be maintained
constant, when conveying the packaging material. If the tension
applied to the packaging material cannot be maintained constant,
the packaging material fails to be smoothly conveyed, and wrinkles
or the like occur in the packaging material.
[0006] However, for example, the configuration in which a roll
formed by winding the elongated sheet-like packaging material is
rotatably held, the packaging material is drawn from the roll in
the rotatable state, and a roller is abutted against the drawn
packaging material while being biased thereto with a constant
spring force has a problem in that the tension varies depending on
the amount of the packaging material wound around the roll.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0007] Patent Literature 1: WO 2012/070643
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a medicine packaging apparatus capable of maintaining the
tension applied to the packaging material at a constant level.
Solution to Problem
[0009] A medicine packaging apparatus according to an example of
the configuration of the present invention includes: a packaging
material conveying unit configured to convey an elongated
sheet-like packaging material, the medicine packaging apparatus
being configured to package medicine with the packaging material
that is being conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit, in
which the packaging material conveying unit includes: a packaging
material unwinding unit configured to unwind the packaging
material; a packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer
the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding
unit to a downstream side of a conveyance direction; a tension
applying unit located on an upstream side of the packaging material
transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the packaging material
and configured to apply tension to the packaging material; and a
conveyance control unit configured to control at least the
packaging material unwinding unit, and the conveyance control unit
controls the packaging material transfer unit to intermittently
transfer the packaging material, and controls at least the
packaging material unwinding unit, so that when the packaging
material is being intermittently transferred by the packaging
material transfer unit, an amount of the packaging material unwound
by the packaging material unwinding unit is made smaller than an
amount of the packaging material transferred by the packaging
material transfer unit by limiting the unwinding of the packaging
material by the packaging material unwinding unit, and when the
intermittent transfer of the packaging material by the packaging
material transfer unit is stopped, the unwinding is performed in an
amount of a difference between the amount of the packaging material
unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit and the amount of
the packaging material transferred by the packaging material
transfer unit.
[0010] Further, the configuration can be such that the tension
applying unit includes a pressing member provided movably between a
limit position on a loose side and a limit position on a tension
side and configured to press the packaging material, and the
conveyance control unit controls the packaging material unwinding
unit so that the pressing member moves corresponding to the amount
of the difference within a range between the limit position on the
loose side and the limit position on the tension side, excluding
both ends.
[0011] Further, the configuration can further include an origin
detector configured to detect whether or not the pressing member is
located at an original position, in which the original position is
set within the range between the limit position on the loose side
and the limit position on the tension side, excluding both ends,
and the conveyance control unit controls the unwinding of the
packaging material by the packaging material unwinding unit, based
on the detection results by the origin detector.
[0012] Further, the configuration can be such that the pressing
member is vertically movable and presses the packaging material
from above by its self-weight.
[0013] Further, the configuration can be such that the packaging
material unwinding unit includes a device configured to forcibly
unwind the packaging material.
[0014] Further, the configuration can be such that the packaging
material unwinding unit includes: a holding shaft provided
rotatably about a predetermined axis and configured to hold a
rolled body formed by winding the packaging material, with the
predetermined axis and an axis of the rolled body being in
coincidence with each other; and a rotary drive unit configured to
drive the holding shaft to rotate about the predetermined axis, as
the device configured to forcibly unwind the packaging
material.
[0015] Further, the configuration can be such that the rotary drive
unit is capable of limiting the rotation of the holding shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of
a medicine packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a packaging sheet
holder (tension applying unit) in the medicine packaging
apparatus.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the packaging
sheet holder (tension applying unit) in the medicine packaging
apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the packaging sheet holder
(tension applying unit) in the medicine packaging apparatus.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the packaging sheet holder
in the medicine packaging apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations for conveying a
packaging sheet in the medicine packaging apparatus.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the initial operation in the flow
in FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the unwinding operation in the flow
in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Next, the present invention will be described with reference
to an embodiment. A medicine packaging apparatus 1 of this
embodiment is an apparatus configured to form medicine packages P
by automatically packaging medicine M using a packaging sheet 3 and
a cover sheet 4 that are elongated sheet-like packaging materials
conveyed by a packaging material conveying unit 10.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the medicine packaging apparatus 1
includes a packaging sheet holder 11, a packaging sheet feeder 12,
a recess former 13, a medicine feeder 14, a medicine introduction
unit 15, a cover sheet holder 16, a cover sheet feeder 17, a cover
sheet bonding unit 18, a cutter 19, and a printer 20. The
respective parts are controlled by a control unit, which is not
shown.
[0026] The packaging material conveying unit 10 includes a
packaging material unwinding unit (the packaging sheet holder 11
and the cover sheet holder 16 in this embodiment) configured to
unwind the packaging materials 3 and 4, a packaging material
transfer unit (the packaging sheet feeder 12 and the cover sheet
feeder 17 in this embodiment) configured to transfer the packaging
materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit
to the downstream side of the conveyance direction, tension
applying units 11X and 16X located on the upstream side of the
packaging material transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the
packaging materials 3 and 4 and configured to apply tension to the
packaging materials 3 and 4, and a conveyance control unit 10X
configured to control at least the packaging material unwinding
unit, while controlling the packaging material transfer unit so as
to intermittently transfer the packaging materials 3 and 4, so that
the tension of the packaging materials 3 and 4 is maintained
constant for each intermittent transfer. The conveyance control
unit 10X is configured as a part of the control unit in this
embodiment.
[0027] The packaging sheet holder 11 constitutes a part of the
packaging material unwinding unit and holds the packaging sheet 3
that is flat. The packaging sheet 3 is a resin sheet. As the
packaging sheet 3 of this embodiment, a thermoplastic resin sheet
is used, for example. The packaging sheet 3 has an elongated strip
shape and is held in the state of being wound into a rolled body 3a
by the packaging sheet holder 11 so as to be unwound. The width
dimension of the packaging sheet 3 is a dimension that allows one
recess 31 to be formed therein. Further, the packaging sheet 3 of
this embodiment is transparent. Therefore, it is easy to visually
recognize from the outside the medicine M contained in the recess
31 after being packaged. In this embodiment, the transparent
packaging sheet 3 is used, but the packaging sheet 3 is not
necessarily transparent. The packaging sheet 3, for example, may be
semi-transparent or may be opaque.
[0028] Since the flat packaging sheet 3 can be used in this
embodiment, the packaging sheet 3 wound into a roll can be
configured to be held by the packaging sheet holder 11. That is,
the medicine packaging apparatus 1 can hold the packaging sheet 3
in the packaging sheet holder 11, in an amount that allows a large
number of medicine packages P to be formed at a time. Therefore,
there is no need to set trays having housing recesses one by one by
hand as in conventional techniques. The operator of the medicine
packaging apparatus is thus relieved of the troublesome work. The
word "flat" includes an embodiment in which projections and
recesses or patterns are formed without hindering the formation of
the recess 31 by the recess former 13, which will be described
below.
[0029] The packaging sheet feeder 12 constitutes a part of the
packaging material transfer unit and feeds the packaging sheet 3
from the packaging sheet holder 11 in the longitudinal direction.
The packaging sheet 3 is fed by the packaging sheet feeder 12
intermittently transferring the packaging sheet 3 to the downstream
side (the specific configuration is not shown). In this embodiment,
a roller 121 shown in FIG. 1 is not driven and only supports the
packaging sheet 3. The tension applying unit 11X is provided
between the packaging sheet holder 11 and the packaging sheet
feeder 12 for adjusting the tension of the packaging sheet 3
transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12. The detailed
configuration of the tension applying unit 11X will be described
below. The feeding of the packaging sheet 3 is stopped when
recesses 31 are formed in the packaging sheet 3 using a forming
mold 133, which will be described below. Therefore, the feeding is
intermittently performed so that the transfer operation of
transferring the packaging sheet 3 and the stop operation of
stopping the feeding of the packaging sheet 3 are alternately
carried out. The packaging sheet feeder 12 enables easy packaging
by allowing the medicine M to be introduced after the packaging
sheet 3 that has been automatically fed is molded. As a device for
feeding the packaging sheet 3, a device configured to sandwich and
draw the packaging sheet 3, for example, can be employed, and
various devices such as arms and rubber plates can be employed. The
packaging sheet 3 can also be fed by a driven roller.
[0030] The recess former 13 forms the plurality of recesses 31 in
the packaging sheet 3 fed by the packaging sheet feeder 12 at
specific intervals in the longitudinal direction. The recess former
13 includes a hot plate 131, a receiving part 132, and the forming
mold 133.
[0031] The hot plate 131 and the receiving part 132 are opposed to
each other with the conveyed packaging sheet 3 being interposed
therebetween, and their opposed surfaces are flat. The hot plate
131 is located below the packaging sheet 3, and the receiving part
132 is located thereabove. The hot plate 131 and the receiving part
132 may be inversely arranged with respect to the packaging sheet
3. A heater is incorporated in the hot plate 131. The receiving
part 132 is made of resin and is made of rubber in this embodiment.
The receiving part 132 may serve as another hot plate in which a
heater is incorporated. The hot plate 131 and the receiving part
132 are configured to be capable of moving close to and away from
the packaging sheet 3 by being driven by an electric motor. The
driving source to drive the hot plate 131 and the receiving part
132 is not limited to the electric motor. The driving source of the
hot plate 131 and the receiving part 132 may be any device that can
cause the hot plate 131 and the receiving part 132 to move close to
and away from the packaging sheet 3. The driving source of the hot
plate 131 and the receiving part 132 may be, for example, an air
cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. The hot plate 131 and the
receiving part 132 move close to the packaging sheet 3 so as to
sandwich the packaging sheet 3, while the hot plate 131 is heated
by energizing the heater, thereby softening the packaging sheet
3.
[0032] The hot plate 131 and the receiving part 132 are formed to
have a dimension of two packages (equivalent to two recesses 31) in
the longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, the packaging sheet 3
intermittently moves so that the recess 31 is formed for each
package (equivalent to one recess 31) by the forming mold 133. With
such intermittent movement, the packaging sheet 3 is fed to the
forming mold 133 after being heated twice. Therefore, the first
heating serves as so-called "preheating", and the second heating
serves as so-called "main heating", thereby sufficiently softening
the packaging sheet 3 for forming the recess 31. The hot plate 131
and the receiving part 132 are not necessarily formed to have the
dimension of two packages (equivalent to two recesses 31) in the
longitudinal direction. If the packaging sheet 3 is sufficiently
softened by heating once, the hot plate 131 and the receiving part
132 may be formed to have a dimension of one package (equivalent to
one recess 31) in the longitudinal direction. If the packaging
sheet 3 is not sufficiently softened by heating twice, the hot
plate 131 and the receiving part 132 may be formed to have a
dimension of three packages (equivalent to three recesses 31) or
more in the longitudinal direction.
[0033] The forming mold 133 is located on the downstream side of
the hot plate 131 and the receiving part 132 in the sheet conveying
direction. The forming mold 133 includes a female mold 133a located
below the conveyed packaging sheet 3, and a male mold 133b and a
holding plate 133c located thereabove. The female mold 133a and the
male mold 133b are formed to have a shape corresponding to the
recess 31 so as to be capable of forming the recess 31 having
desired diameter and dimension. The recess 31 formed in this
embodiment has a circular cross-sectional shape with a diameter
dimension decreasing as it advances downward, as shown in the
figure. A plurality of suction holes (not shown) are formed on the
recessed molding surface of the female mold 133a.
[0034] The female mold 133a, the male mold 133b, and the holding
plate 133c are configured to be capable of moving close to and away
from the packaging sheet 3 by being driven by an electric motor.
The driving source to drive the female mold 133a, the male mold
133b, and the holding plate 133c is not limited to the electric
motor. The driving source of the female mold 133a, the male mold
133b, and the holding plate 133c may be any device that can cause
the female mold 133a, the male mold 133b, and the holding plate
133c to move close to and away from the packaging sheet 3. The
driving source of the female mold 133a, the male mold 133b, and the
holding plate 133c may be, for example, an air cylinder or a
hydraulic cylinder.
[0035] The male mold 133b and the holding plate 133c move close to
the female mold 133a so as to hold the packaging sheet 3 softened
by the hot plate 131 therebetween. While the packaging sheet 3 is
interposed between the female mold 133a and the holding plate 133c,
air is suctioned through the plurality of suction holes, thereby
forming the recess 31 recessed downward in the packaging sheet 3.
In such a state, the male mold 133b is further fitted into the
female mold 133a, thereby reliably forming the recess 31 having a
desired shape. The male mold 133b is not necessarily provided. If
the recess 31 having a desired shape can be formed by suctioning
air through the plurality of suction holes of the female mold 133a,
the male mold 133b may be omitted.
[0036] The forming mold 133 of this embodiment is provided as one
set, so that one recess 31 is formed at a time (with one cycle of
vertical movement of the female mold 133a and the male mold 133b),
but a plurality of recesses 31 can be formed at a time by arranging
plural sets of forming molds 133 in parallel along the longitudinal
direction of the packaging sheet 3 or the width direction of the
packaging sheet 3 (the front-back direction in FIG. 1).
[0037] The medicine feeder 14 temporarily stores the medicine M and
feeds the medicine M to the medicine introduction unit 15 according
to the prescription data (for example, for each dose). The medicine
feeder 14 has a storage 141 configured to temporarily store the
medicine M, and can selectively feed the medicine M from the
storage 141 according to the control by the control unit (not
shown). Examples of the storage 141 for tablets include a storage
cassette and a distribution cell in which a plurality of recesses
are arranged in the form of a matrix. Further, examples of the
storage 141 for powder include a cell unit including recesses
having a V-shaped vertical cross section and a disk-shaped powder
dispensing apparatus configured to scrape the powder according to
the prescription data. However, the medicine feeder 14 is not
limited to the aforementioned embodiments and can be implemented by
various embodiments. The storage 141 can be constituted, for
example, by a plurality of per-type storages configured to store
the medicine M for each type or a plurality of per-dose storages
configured to store the medicine M for each dose. In this case, the
medicine feeder 14 can store the medicine M for each type or for
each dose in a state that is suitable for feeding the medicine M.
In the case of storing the medicine M for each type using the
per-type storages, refilling with the medicine M can be
facilitated. Further, in the case of storing the medicine M for
each dose using the per-dose storages, the medicine M can be fed to
the medicine introduction unit 15 as it is stored.
[0038] The medicine feeder 14 of this embodiment can handle
medicine in various dosage forms. For example, tablets, capsules,
and powders can be mentioned. Further, this embodiment is
configured to handle only solid medicine, but it is also possible
to handle medicine in liquid or gel form depending on the
circumstances.
[0039] The medicine introduction unit 15 introduces the medicine M
into each recess 31 that is formed in the packaging sheet 3 by the
recess former 13. The medicine introduction unit 15 of this
embodiment is configured as a hopper having an upwardly expanding
shape as shown in the figure and is located below the medicine
feeder 14. In the case of handling liquid medicine, the medicine
introduction unit 15 is formed into a shape suitable for pouring.
such as a nozzle shape.
[0040] The cover sheet holder 16 constitutes a part of the
packaging material unwinding unit and holds the flat cover sheet 4.
A resin sheet is used as the cover sheet 4 of this embodiment. The
cover sheet 4 has an elongated strip shape and is held by the cover
sheet holder 16 in the state of being wound into a rolled body 4a,
so as to be unwound. The cover sheet 4 has a width so as to be
capable of covering the openings of the recesses 31 formed in the
packaging sheet 3. The width of the cover sheet 4 of this
embodiment is the same as the width of the packaging sheet 3. As
the cover sheet 4, paper also can be used. The paper may be coated
with resin.
[0041] The cover sheet feeder 17 constitutes a part of the
packaging material transfer unit, and feeds the cover sheet 4
configured to close the openings of the recesses 31 to the
packaging sheet 3 in which the recesses 31 have been formed and the
medicine M has been put into the respective recesses 31. The cover
sheet feeder 17 feeds the cover sheet 4 onto the upper surface of
the packaging sheet 3. In this embodiment, the cover sheet feeder
17 feeds the cover sheet 4 from above the packaging sheet 3. The
cover sheet feeder 17 may feed the cover sheet 4 from a lateral
side of the packaging sheet 3 or may feed the cover sheet 4 from
therebelow. The cover sheet feeder 17 feeds the cover sheet 4
unwound from the cover sheet holder 16 in the longitudinal
direction. The feeding of the cover sheet 4 is performed by
intermittently transferring the cover sheet 4 to the downstream
side (the specific configuration is not shown) in the cover sheet
feeder 17 (the same part as the packaging sheet feeder 12 in this
embodiment). In this embodiment, a plurality of rollers 171 shown
in FIG. 1 are not driven and only support the cover sheet 4. The
tension applying unit 16X is provided in the cover sheet holder 16
in order to adjust the tension of the cover sheet 4 transferred by
the cover sheet feeder 17. In this embodiment, the packaging sheet
3 and the cover sheet 4 are drawn by a common roller. The feeding
is stopped when the cover sheet 4 is bonded to the packaging sheet
3 by the cover sheet bonding unit 18, which will be described
below. Therefore, the feeding is intermittently performed so that
the transfer operation of transferring the cover sheet 4 and the
stop operation of stopping the feeding of the cover sheet 4 are
alternately carried out. This intermittent feeding of the cover
sheet 4 is synchronized with the feeding of the packaging sheet 3.
As a device for feeding the cover sheet 4, a device configured to
sandwich and draw the cover sheet 4, for example, can be employed,
and various devices such as arms and rubber plates can be
employed.
[0042] The cover sheet bonding unit 18 bonds the cover sheet 4 fed
by the cover sheet feeder 17 to the packaging sheet 3 in the state
where the openings of the recesses 31 are covered to be closed by
the cover sheet 4. The cover sheet bonding unit 18 includes a hot
plate 181 and a receiving part 182. The hot plate 181 and the
receiving part 182 are opposed to each other while the conveyed
cover sheet 4 and the portion of the packaging sheet 3 where the
recesses 31 are not formed are interposed therebetween, and their
opposed surfaces are flat. The hot plate 181 is located above the
cover sheet 4, and the receiving part 182 is located therebelow. A
heater is incorporated in the hot plate 181. The receiving part 182
is made of resin and is made of rubber in this embodiment. The
receiving part 182 may serve as another hot plate in which a heater
is incorporated. The hot plate 181 and the receiving part 182 are
configured to be capable of moving close to and away from the cover
sheet 4 and the packaging sheet 3 by being driven by an electric
motor. The driving source to drive the hot plate 181 and the
receiving part 182 is not limited to the electric motor. The
driving source of the hot plate 181 and the receiving part 182 may
be any device that can cause the hot plate 181 and the receiving
part 182 to move close to and away from the cover sheet 4 and the
packaging sheet 3. The driving source of the hot plate 181 and the
receiving part 182 may be, for example, an air cylinder or a
hydraulic cylinder. Though not shown, a recessed portion into which
the recess 31 is fitted is formed in the receiving part 182, so as
to prevent the receiving part 182 and the recesses 31 from
interfering with each other. In this embodiment, a circular hole
passes through the center of the receiving part 182 as the recessed
portion, so that the receiving part 182 does not interfere with the
recess 31 when the receiving part 182 moves upward. The hot plate
181 and the receiving part 182 sandwich the cover sheet 4 and the
packaging sheet 3 while the hot plate 181 is heated, thereby
bonding (heat sealing) the cover sheet 4 to the packaging sheet 3,
so that the medicine packages P are formed. This bonding prevents
the medicine M put into the recesses 31 from leaking from the
recesses 31. The cover sheet bonding unit 18 can perform the
bonding between the cover sheet 4 and the packaging sheet 3 while
an adhesive is interposed between the cover sheet 4 and the
packaging sheet 3.
[0043] While the cover sheet 4 is bonded to the packaging sheet 3,
the cutter 19 cuts the two sheets 3 and 4 together for each dose or
multiple doses. The cutter 19 of this embodiment includes cutting
blades 191 that are located above and below the packaging sheet 3
and are movable so that their blade tips overlap each other. The
medicine packages P are thus cut into a separate unit that is easy
for patients to take. Therefore, the medicine packages P in the
unit of each dose or multiple doses can be obtained.
[0044] It is also possible to form perforations through the
packaging sheet 3 and the cover sheet 4 by changing the shape of
the cutting blades 191. Such formation of perforations enables
patients to appropriately cut the medicine packages P according to
the convenience of patients, and therefore the patient usability is
improved when taking a medicine or storing the medicine packages P.
Other than such perforations, it is also possible to form a fragile
portion with reduced rigidity or reduced sheet thickness as
compared to other portions, so as to help patients cut the medicine
packages P.
[0045] The printer 20 prints information corresponding to the
prescription data on the cover sheet 4. The printer 20 can perform
printing as a series of steps and thus can facilitate forming the
medicine packages P into a state ready to be delivered to patients.
Examples of print contents include the patient name, the date
and/or the day of the week for dosing, and the timing of dosing
(such as after meals, before meals, and between meals). In this
embodiment, the printing is performed on the cover sheet 4 before
being bonded to the packaging sheet 3. Therefore, the printer 20 is
located above the conveyance line of the packaging sheet 3. It is
also possible to perform the printing on the cover sheet 4 after
being bonded to the packaging sheet 3. As a printing method, a
thermal transfer method using an ink ribbon can be mentioned, but
various methods such as an ink jet method can be employed.
[0046] Next, the packaging sheet holder 11 and the tension applying
unit 11X will be described. Since the cover sheet holder 16 and the
tension applying unit 16X have the same configurations, the
packaging sheet holder 11 and the tension applying unit 11X will be
described as representatives.
[0047] The packaging sheet holder 11 and the tension applying unit
11X are configured as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The packaging
sheet holder 11 and the tension applying unit 11X are provided in a
base part 111. The packaging sheet holder 11 includes a holding
shaft 112 and a rotary drive unit 115. The tension applying unit
11X includes a dancer roller 114 as a pressing member, and an arm
116, whereas the tension applying unit 16X that applies tension to
the cover sheet 4 includes a dancer roller 161, as shown in FIG. 1
(other components are not shown).
[0048] The holding shaft 112 is provided rotatably about a
predetermined axis relative to the base part 111. The holding shaft
112 holds the rolled body 3a. The predetermined axis coincides with
the axis of the rolled body 3a. The holding shaft 112 holds the
rolled body 3a so that the holding shaft 112 and the rolled body 3a
do not rotate relatively to each other and the rolled body 3a does
not fall off from the holding shaft 112. In this embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, a holding plate 1121 is detachably
attached to the front side of the holding shaft 112, and the rolled
body 3a is held around the holding shaft 112 by being pressed by
the holding plate 1121. As shown in FIG. 3, a driven gear 1122 is
connected to the rear side of the holding shaft 112.
[0049] The arm 116 is pivotably provided. In this embodiment, the
arm 116 is attached to the holding shaft 112. Therefore, the arm
116 is pivotable about the same axis as the axis of the holding
shaft 112. The pivotable range of the arm 116 corresponds to the
movable range of the dancer roller 114 within a curved elongated
hole 117 passing through the base part 111. However, the arm 116
does not operate in conjunction with the rotation of the holding
shaft 112 but is in a free condition, and is biased downwardly by
the self-weight of the arm 116 and the dancer roller 114.
[0050] A fixed roll 113 is provided on the base part 111. The fixed
roll 113 is rotatable relative to the base part 111. The rotation
axis of the fixed roll 113 is parallel to the rotation axis of the
holding shaft 112. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed roll 113 supports
the packaging sheet 3 unwound from the rolled body 3a at a position
before the dancer roller 114. With the fixed roll 113 provided, the
dancer roller 114 can stably support the packaging sheet 3
regardless of the amount of the packaging sheet 3 wound around the
rolled body 3a.
[0051] The dancer roller 114 is provided movably between the limit
position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension
side, and presses the packaging sheet 3. In this embodiment, the
dancer roller 114 is supported by the arm 116 from the rear side of
the base 111 and is provided movably in an upper direction 114u and
a lower direction 114d that are shown in FIG. 4, within the range
of the curved elongated hole 117 passing through the base part 111.
The limit position on the loose side is the lower end position of
the curved elongated hole 117, and the limit position on the
tension side is the upper end position of the curved elongated hole
117. The dancer roller 114 is rotatable, and the rotation axis is
parallel to the rotation axis of the holding shaft 112. The dancer
roller 114 is vertically movable and therefore presses the
packaging sheet 3 from above by the self-weight of the dancer
roller 114 and the arm 116. Accordingly, tension can be applied to
the packaging sheet 3 with a simple configuration. The dancer
roller 114 may be configured to press the packaging sheet 3 by a
spring bias.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, a lower end sensor 118a, an origin
sensor 118b as an origin detector, and an upper end sensor 118c are
provided along the curved elongated hole 117 on the rear side of
the base part 111. The lower end sensor 118a, the origin sensor
118b, and the upper end sensor 118c are fixed to a mounting base,
which is not shown. The lower end sensor 118a is provided
corresponding to the limit position on the loose side of the dancer
roller 114. The upper end sensor 118c is provided corresponding to
the limit position on the tension side of the dancer roller 114.
The origin sensor 118b is provided at the original position. The
original position is set within the range between the limit
position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension
side, excluding both ends. In this embodiment, the initial position
of the dancer roller 114 is set to the original position, and the
original position is a reference position for unwinding the
packaging sheet 3, which will be described below. The origin sensor
118b detects whether or not the dancer roller 114 is located at the
original position. The respective sensors 118a to 118c detect a dog
116a provided on the rear surface of the arm 116.
[0053] It is determined from the detection by the lower end sensor
118a that the packaging sheet 3 has been fully unwound from the
rolled body 3a and has been run out, or that the packaging sheet 3
has been cut (in such a case, the dancer roller 114 falls to the
lower end (the limit position on the loose side) of the curved
elongated hole 117 due to the self-weight). Further, it is
determined from the detection by the upper end sensor 118c that the
packaging sheet 3 is abnormally drawn (the dancer roller 114 is
pulled up to the upper end (the limit position on the tension side)
of the curved elongated hole 117 due to the packaging sheet 3 being
drawn).
[0054] The rotary drive unit 115 is a device that forcibly unwinds
the packaging sheet 3 and drives the holding shaft 112 to rotate
about the predetermined axis. The rotary drive unit 115 includes a
motor 1151 and a driving force transmitting unit configured to
transmit the driving force of the motor 1151 to the holding shaft
112. In this embodiment, the driving force transmitting unit is a
transmission gear 1152 that transmits the driving force between the
gear of the motor 1151 and the driven gear 1122 of the holding
shaft 112. The driving force transmitting unit may be a belt. In
this case, a drive pulley is fixed to the output shaft of the motor
1151, a driven pulley is fixed to the holding shaft 112, and the
belt is hung over the drive pulley and the driven pulley. Providing
such a device that forcibly unwinds the packaging sheet 3 allows
the packaging sheet 3 to be reliably unwound to the downstream side
without depending on the tension applied to the packaging sheet 3
by the tension applying unit 11X. Further, combining the holding
shaft 112 and the rotary drive unit 115 allows the packaging sheet
3 to be forcibly unwound by a simple configuration.
[0055] The motor 1151 of this embodiment is excited during
operation of the packaging material conveying unit 10, and acts as
a brake (braking device) on the holding shaft 112 and the rolled
body 3a when the packaging sheet 3 is transferred by the packaging
sheet feeder 12. That is, the rotary drive unit 115 can limit the
rotation of the holding shaft 112. Therefore, there is no need to
separately provide a configuration for limiting the unwinding of
the packaging sheet 3. Accordingly, the configuration can be
simplified.
[0056] When the packaging sheet 3 is unwound from the rolled body
3a in order to return the dancer roller 114 to the original
position, the motor 1151 rotates the holding shaft 112. With the
rotation of the holding shaft 112, the packaging sheet 3 hung over
the dancer roller 114 is loosened in the unwound amount due to the
self-weight of the dancer roller 114 and the arm 116 applied to the
dancer roller 114, and therefore the arm 116 pivots.
[0057] The conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging
material transfer unit to intermittently transfer the packaging
sheet 3. Further, the conveyance control unit 10X controls the
packaging sheet holder 11 serving as the packaging material
unwinding unit, as follows.
[0058] When the packaging sheet 3 is being intermittently
transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12, the amount of the
packaging sheet 3 unwound by the packaging sheet holder 11 is made
smaller than the amount of the packaging sheet 3 transferred by the
packaging sheet feeder 12, by limiting the unwinding of the
packaging sheet 3 by the rotary drive unit 115. Such limitation is
made by the motor 1151 being excited to act as a brake. That is,
the conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging sheet holder
11 so that the amount of the packaging sheet 3 unwound by the
rotary drive unit 115 is smaller than the amount of the packaging
sheet 3 transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12. Accordingly,
a difference occurs between the amount of the packaging sheet 3
transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12 (relatively large) and
the amount of the packaging sheet 3 unwound by the packaging sheet
holder 11 (relatively small).
[0059] The difference causes the packaging sheet 3 to be drawn to
the downstream side of the conveyance direction corresponding to
the amount of the difference, and therefore the dancer roller 114
rises in the upper direction 114u (toward the limit position on the
tension side) shown in FIG. 4 within the curved elongated hole 117.
Thereby, the dancer roller 114 is displaced from the original
position that is the initial position. The origin sensor 118b turns
into a non-detection state.
[0060] When the intermittent transfer of the packaging sheet 3 by
the packaging sheet feeder 12 is stopped, the motor 1151 of the
rotary drive unit 115 is driven to unwind the packaging sheet 3 in
the amount of the difference between the amount of the packaging
sheet 3 unwound by the packaging sheet holder 11 and the amount of
the packaging sheet 3 transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12.
Thereby, the amount of the difference is adjusted to 0. As a
result, the amount of the packaging sheet 3 transferred by the
packaging sheet feeder 12 and the amount of the packaging sheet 3
unwound by the packaging sheet holder 11 are made completely equal
to each other at each time of the intermittent transfer, and
therefore the tension applied to the packaging sheet 3 can be
maintained constant. In this way, the dancer roller 114 moves to
the limit position on the tension side relative to the original
position, due to the difference occurring between the amount of the
packaging sheet 3 transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12
(relatively large) and the amount of the packaging sheet 3 unwound
by the packaging sheet holder 11 (relatively small). The dancer
roller 114 located at the limit position on the tension side moves
toward the limit position on the loose side, thereby eliminating
the difference.
[0061] During the unwinding in the amount of the difference, the
conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging sheet holder 11
so that the dancer roller 114 moves corresponding to the amount of
the difference within the range between the limit position on the
loose side and the limit position on the tension side, excluding
both ends, of the curved elongated hole 117. Specifically, the
conveyance control unit 10X controls the unwinding of the packaging
sheet 3 by the packaging sheet holder 11 based on the detection
results by the origin sensor 118b. The unwinding of the packaging
sheet 3 is controlled so that the dancer roller 114 is returned to
the original position based on the detection by the origin sensor
118b.
[0062] When the packaging sheet 3 is being intermittently
transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12, it is preferable that
the amount of the packaging sheet 3 unwound by the packaging sheet
holder 11 be adjusted to 0, that is, the unwinding of the packaging
sheet 3 be stopped. The tension applied to the packaging sheet 3
can be maintained constant by performing the transfer of the
packaging sheet 3 by the packaging sheet feeder 12 and the
unwinding of the packaging sheet 3 by the packaging sheet holder 11
at separate times. In particular, when the packaging sheet 3 is
being transferred by the packaging sheet feeder 12, the tension
applied to the packaging sheet 3 can be maintained constant.
[0063] Next, the conveying operation of the packaging sheet 3 will
be described based on FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, which are flowcharts. The
flow shown in FIG. 6 concerns the overall operation of conveying
the packaging sheet 3. First, the initial operation is started
(step S1). Next, whether or not the number of packages that have
been actually packaged has reached the number of packages
designated in advance is determined (step S2). If the designated
number is reached, the conveying operation is finished. If the
number is not reached, whether or not all specific operations
before packaging the medicine M have been finished is determined
(step S3). Specifically, the specific operations are the operations
of the respective parts including the recess former 13, the cover
sheet bonding unit 18, and the cutter 19. The specific operations
include the return operation of the packaging sheet feeder 12 and
the unwinding operation of the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the
packaging sheet holder 11 and the cover sheet holder 16. If the
specific operations have not been finished, step S3 is repeated. If
the specific operations have been finished, the transfer operation
of the packaging sheet 3 by the packaging sheet feeder 12 serving
as the packaging material transfer unit is started (step S4). At
this time, the unwinding of the packaging sheet 3 by the rotary
drive unit 115 is limited. Next, whether or not the transfer
operation has been completely finished is determined (step S5). If
the transfer operation has not been finished, step S5 is repeated.
If the transfer operation has been finished, the return operation
of the packaging sheet feeder 12 serving as the packaging material
transfer unit (the preparation operation for the next intermittent
transfer) is started (step S6). Next, the unwinding operation by
the packaging sheet holder 11 serving as the packaging material
unwinding unit is started (step S7). Thereafter, the process
returns to step S2.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows the flow on the initial operation (step S1)
shown in FIG. 6. First, whether or not the dancer roller 114 is
located at the limit position on the loose side is determined (step
S11). If the dancer roller 114 is located at the limit position on
the loose side, the motor 1151 of the rotary drive unit 115 is
driven to start pulling back the dancer roller 114 (where the
dancer roller 114 is moved upwardly) (step S12). Next, whether or
not the dancer roller 114 is located at the original position is
determined (step S13). If the dancer roller 114 is not located at
the original position, step S13 is repeated. If the dancer roller
114 is located at the original position, the pulling back is
finished (step S14). This is the end of the initial operation.
[0065] If the dancer roller 114 is not located at the limit
position on the loose side in step S11, the motor 1151 of the
rotary drive unit 115 is driven to unwind the packaging sheet 3
from the rolled body 3a (step S15). Next, whether or not the dancer
roller 114 is located at the limit position on the loose side is
determined (step S16). If the dancer roller 114 is not located at
the limit position on the loose side, step S16 is repeated. If the
dancer roller 114 is located at the limit position on the loose
side, the unwinding is finished (step S17), and the process
transfers to step S12.
[0066] As aforementioned, in the initial operation, the dancer
roller 114 is moved to the original position after being once
located at the limit position on the loose side. Therefore, the
dancer roller 114 can be reliably arranged at the original position
wherever the initial position of the dancer roller 114 is.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows the flow on the unwinding operation (step S7)
shown in FIG. 6. First, the motor 1151 of the rotary drive unit 115
is driven to unwind the packaging sheet 3 from the rolled body 3a
(step S71). Next, whether or not the dancer roller 114 is located
at the original position is determined (step S72). If the dancer
roller 114 is not located at the original position, step S72 is
repeated. If the dancer roller 114 is located at the original
position (that is, if the dancer roller 114 is returned to the
original position), the unwinding is finished (step S73). This is
the end of the unwinding operation.
[0068] According to the medicine packaging apparatus 1 of this
embodiment configured as above, the feeding of the packaging sheet,
the formation of the plurality of recesses, and the introduction of
the medicine M can be automatically performed. Therefore, blister
packaging can be easily performed.
[0069] In particular, according to the medicine packaging apparatus
1 of this embodiment, a difference is once generated between the
amount of the packaging material (the packaging sheet 3 and the
cover sheet 4 in this embodiment) transferred by the packaging
material transfer unit (the packaging sheet feeder 12 and the cover
sheet feeder 17 in this embodiment) and the amount of the packaging
material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit (the
packaging sheet holder 11 and the cover sheet holder 16 in this
embodiment), and the amount of the difference is thereafter
adjusted to 0, thereby allowing the amount of the packaging
material transferred by the packaging material transfer unit and
the amount of the packaging material unwound by the packaging
material unwinding unit to be completely equal to each other at
each time of the intermittent transfer, so that the tension applied
to the packaging material can be maintained constant.
[0070] Finally, the configuration and action of the aforementioned
embodiment (including the modifications) will be summarized. The
medicine packaging apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes
a packaging material conveying unit 10 configured to convey
elongated sheet-like packaging materials 3 and 4, the medicine
packaging apparatus 1 being configured to package medicine M with
the packaging materials 3 and 4 that are being conveyed by the
packaging material conveying unit 10, wherein the packaging
material conveying unit 10 includes: a packaging material unwinding
unit configured to unwind the packaging materials 3 and 4; a
packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer the
packaging materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging material
unwinding unit to the downstream side of the conveyance direction;
a tension applying unit located on the upstream side of the
packaging material transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the
packaging materials 3 and 4 and configured to apply tension to the
packaging materials 3 and 4; and a conveyance control unit 10X
configured to control at least the packaging material unwinding
unit, the conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging
material transfer unit to intermittently transfer the packaging
materials 3 and 4, and controls at least the packaging material
unwinding unit, so that when the packaging materials 3 and 4 are
being intermittently transferred by the packaging material transfer
unit, an amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4 unwound by the
packaging material unwinding unit is made smaller than an amount of
the packaging material transferred by the packaging material
transfer unit by limiting the unwinding of the packaging materials
3 and 4 by the packaging material unwinding unit, and when the
intermittent transfer of the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the
packaging material transfer unit is stopped, the unwinding is
carried out in an amount of a difference between the amount of the
packaging materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging material
unwinding unit and the amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4
transferred by the packaging material transfer unit.
[0071] According to the example of the configuration, the elongated
sheet-like packaging materials 3 and 4 are conveyed by the
packaging material conveying unit 10. Then, the medicine M is
packaged with the packaging materials 3 and 4 that are being
conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit 10. The packaging
materials 3 and 4 are unwound by the packaging material unwinding
unit. The packaging materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging
material unwinding unit are transferred to the downstream side of
the conveyance direction by the packaging material transfer unit.
The tension applying unit is located on the upstream side of the
packaging material transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the
packaging materials 3 and 4. The tension applying unit applies
tension to the packaging materials 3 and 4. At least the packaging
material unwinding unit is controlled by the conveyance control
unit 10X. The conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging
material transfer unit to intermittently transfer the packaging
materials 3 and 4. When the packaging materials 3 and 4 are being
intermittently transferred by the packaging material transfer unit,
the conveyance control unit 10X makes the amount of the packaging
materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit
smaller than the amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4
transferred by the packaging material transfer unit, by limiting
the unwinding of the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the packaging
material unwinding unit. Meanwhile, when the intermittent transfer
of the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the packaging material
transfer unit is stopped, the conveyance control unit 10X performs
the unwinding in the amount of the difference between the amount of
the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding
unit and the amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4 transferred
by the packaging material transfer unit. In this way, a difference
is once generated between the amount of the packaging materials 3
and 4 transferred by the packaging material transfer unit and the
amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4 unwound by the packaging
material unwinding unit, and the amount of the difference is
thereafter adjusted to 0, thereby allowing the amount of the
packaging materials 3 and 4 transferred by the packaging material
transfer unit and the amount of the packaging materials 3 and 4
unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit to be completely
equal to each other at each time of the intermittent transfer, so
that the tension applied to the packaging materials 3 and 4 can be
maintained constant.
[0072] Further, the configuration can be such that the tension
applying unit includes a pressing member provided movably between a
limit position on a loose side and a limit position on a tension
side and configured to press the packaging materials 3 and 4 and
the conveyance control unit 10X controls the packaging material
unwinding unit so that the pressing member moves corresponding to
the amount of the difference within a range between the limit
position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension
side, excluding both ends.
[0073] According to the example of the configuration, the tension
applying unit includes the pressing member. The pressing member is
provided movably between the limit position on the loose side and
the limit position on the tension side, and is configured to press
the packaging materials 3 and 4. The conveyance control unit 10X
controls the packaging material unwinding unit so that the pressing
member moves corresponding to the amount of the difference within
the range between the limit position on the loose side and the
limit position on the tension side, excluding both ends.
Accordingly, the tension applied to the packaging materials 3 and 4
can be maintained constant.
[0074] The medicine packaging apparatus 1 further includes an
origin detector 118b configured to detect whether or not the
pressing member is located at the original position. The
configuration can be also such that the original position is set
within the range between the limit position on the loose side and
the limit position on the tension side, excluding both ends.
Further, the configuration can be such that the conveyance control
unit 10X controls the unwinding of the packaging materials 3 and 4
by the packaging material unwinding unit based on the detection
results by the origin detector 118b.
[0075] According to the example of the configuration, the medicine
packaging apparatus 1 further includes the origin detector 118b
configured to detect whether or not the pressing member is located
at the original position. The original position of the pressing
member is set within the range between the limit position on the
loose side and the limit position on the tension side, excluding
both ends. The conveyance control unit 10X controls the unwinding
of the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the packaging material
unwinding unit based on the detection results by the origin
detector 118b. Therefore, the amount of the difference can be
adjusted to 0 by moving the pressing member to a position with
reference to the original position within the aforementioned range
with a simple configuration.
[0076] Further, the configuration can be such that the pressing
member is vertically movable and presses the packaging materials 3
and 4 from above by its self-weight.
[0077] According to the example of the configuration, the pressing
member is vertically movable and presses the packaging materials 3
and 4 from above by its self-weight. Accordingly, tension can be
applied to the packaging materials 3 and 4 with a simple
configuration.
[0078] Further, the configuration can be such that the packaging
material unwinding unit includes a device configured to forcibly
unwind the packaging materials 3 and 4.
[0079] According to the example of the configuration, the packaging
material unwinding unit includes a device configured to forcibly
unwind the packaging materials 3 and 4. Accordingly, the packaging
material can be reliably unwound without depending on the tension
applied to the packaging materials 3 and 4 by the tension applying
unit.
[0080] Further, the configuration can be such that the packaging
material unwinding unit includes: a holding shaft provided
rotatably about a predetermined axis and configured to hold a
rolled body formed by winding the packaging materials 3 and 4, with
the predetermined axis and an axis of the rolled body being in
coincidence with each other; and a rotary drive unit configured to
drive the holding shaft to rotate about the predetermined axis, as
the device configured to forcibly unwind the packaging materials 3
and 4.
[0081] According to the example of the configuration, the packaging
material unwinding unit includes the holding shaft and the rotary
drive unit. The holding shaft is provided rotatably about the
predetermined axis. The holding shaft holds the rolled body formed
by winding the packaging materials 3 and 4, with the predetermined
axis and the axis of the rolled body being in coincidence with each
other. The rotary drive unit drives the holding shaft to rotate
about the predetermined axis, as the device configured to forcibly
unwind the packaging materials 3 and 4. Accordingly, the packaging
materials can be forcibly unwound with a simple configuration.
[0082] Further, the configuration can be such that the rotary drive
unit is capable of limiting the rotation of the holding shaft.
[0083] According to the example of the configuration, the rotary
drive unit is capable of limiting the rotation of the holding
shaft. Therefore, the unwinding of the packaging materials 3 and 4
can be limited by the rotary drive unit. Therefore, there is no
need to separately provide a configuration for limiting the
unwinding of the packaging materials 3 and 4. Accordingly, the
configuration can be simplified.
[0084] According to the example of the configuration of this
embodiment, the tension applied to the packaging materials 3 and 4
can be maintained constant.
[0085] Hereinbefore, an embodiment of the present invention has
been described. However, the present invention is not limited to
the above described embodiment, and various modifications can be
made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0086] For example, in the embodiment, the tension is maintained
constant by unwinding the packaging sheet 3 (the cover sheet 4)
serving as the packaging material so that the dancer roller 114
(161) serving as the pressing member is located at the original
position, but it is also possible to omit the pressing member by
separately providing another device that serves as the reference
for unwinding the packaging material.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0087] 1: Medicine packaging apparatus [0088] 10: Packaging
material conveying unit [0089] 10X: Conveyance control unit [0090]
11: Packaging material unwinding unit, Packaging sheet holder
[0091] 11X: Tension applying unit [0092] 112: Holding shaft [0093]
114: Pressing member, Dancer roller [0094] 115: Device configured
to forcibly unwind packaging material, Rotary drive unit [0095]
118b: Origin detector [0096] 12: Packaging material transfer unit,
Packaging sheet feeder [0097] 13: Recess former [0098] 14: Medicine
feeder [0099] 15: Medicine introduction unit [0100] 16: Packaging
material unwinding unit, Cover sheet holder [0101] 16X: Tension
applying unit [0102] 161: Pressing member, Dancer roller [0103] 17:
Packaging material transfer unit, Cover sheet feeder [0104] 18:
Cover sheet bonding unit [0105] 19: Cutter [0106] 20: Printer
[0107] 3: Packaging material, Packaging sheet [0108] 3a: Rolled
body [0109] 31: Recess [0110] 4: Packaging material, Cover sheet
[0111] 4a: Rolled body [0112] M: Medicine
* * * * *