阅读说明：本技术 Ptp片的制造方法和ptp片 (Method for producing PTP sheet, and PTP sheet ) 是由 野田尚彦 细田一也 于 2019-06-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的课题在于提供可谋求打印部中的外观质量的降低的抑制的PTP片的制造方法等。PTP片(1)的制造工序包括于容器膜(3)的袋部(2)中填充片剂(5)的填充步骤。填充步骤包括一边吸接运送片剂(5),一边通过喷墨打印装置(61、62),在该片剂(5)上进行打印的步骤。在片剂(5)中预先形成凹部,在填充步骤中,于片剂(5)的上述凹部的内部进行打印,并且将该片剂(5)填充于袋部(2)中。借此,在片剂(5)中的形成凹部的面上形成打印部(5J),打印部(5J)处于位于凹部的内部的状态。由此,在袋部(2)中填充片剂(5)后,打印部(5J)难以与容器膜(3)或罩面膜(4)蹭擦,可更加确实地防止打印内容不清楚的情况。(The invention provides a method for manufacturing a PTP sheet, which can restrain the reduction of the appearance quality of a printing part. The manufacturing process of the PTP sheet (1) comprises a filling step of filling the tablet (5) in the bag part (2) of the container film (3). The filling step includes a step of printing on the tablet (5) by an ink jet printing apparatus (61, 62) while sucking and conveying the tablet (5). A recess is formed in advance in the tablet (5), and in the filling step, printing is performed inside the recess of the tablet (5), and the tablet (5) is filled in the bag portion (2). Thereby, a printing part (5J) is formed on the surface of the tablet (5) on which the recess is formed, and the printing part (5J) is positioned inside the recess. Thus, after the bag part (2) is filled with the tablet (5), the printing part (5J) is difficult to rub against the container film (3) or the cover film (4), and the situation that the printed content is unclear can be prevented more reliably.)

1. A method for manufacturing a PTP sheet, in which a tablet is received in a bag portion formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the bag portion, the method comprising:

a bag forming step of forming the bag on the conveyed belt-shaped container film;

a filling step of filling the bag with a tablet;

a mounting step of mounting the band-shaped cover film on the container film having the bag portion filled with the tablet, so as to close the bag portion;

a cutting step of cutting a PTP piece from a band-shaped PTP film having the cover film attached to the container film;

the filling step includes a step of printing on the tablet by an inkjet printing apparatus while sucking and conveying the tablet;

in the filling step, a recess is formed in advance in the tablet, and the pocket is filled with the tablet while printing is performed inside the recess of the tablet.

2. A method of producing a PTP tablet according to claim 1, characterized in that the tablet is a tablet having the above-described concave portions on both inner and outer faces;

the filling step includes:

a1 st printing step of performing printing inside the concave portion provided on one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the tablet while sucking and conveying the tablet;

and a2 nd printing step of printing inside the concave portion provided on the other of the outer surface and the inner surface of the tablet while sucking and conveying the tablet subjected to the 1 st printing step in a state where the inner surface and the outer surface are reversed in the 2 nd printing step.

3. The method of manufacturing a PTP sheet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filling step includes a step of obtaining image data by imaging a surface of the tablet on which at least the concave portion is formed;

in the filling step, the inkjet printing apparatus is controlled based on the image data so that printing is performed inside the concave portion.

4. A method of manufacturing a PTP tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recess is in a state of non-communication with a side surface of the tablet.

5. A PTP sheet in which a tablet is received in a pocket portion formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pocket portion, characterized in that:

the tablet includes a recess, and a printing portion for performing ink jet printing is provided at a portion where the recess is formed;

the tablet is configured such that the printing section is in a non-contact state with the container film and/or the cover film facing the printing section.

6. A PTP tablet according to claim 5, wherein the recess is in a state of non-communication with the side surface of the tablet.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a PTP tablet containing a printed tablet and a method for producing the same.

Background

In general, PTP (press through pack) sheets are known as blister pack sheets used in the field of pharmaceuticals and the like. The PTP sheet includes a container film having a bag portion for receiving the tablet, and a cover film attached to the container film so as to seal an opening side of the bag portion.

The PTP sheet is manufactured through steps including a step of forming a bag portion on a belt-like container film to be conveyed; filling the bag with a tablet; a step of attaching a band-shaped cover film to the container film so as to seal the opening side of the bag portion; and a step of pressing a band-shaped PTP film composed of a container film and a cover film in a PTP sheet unit.

In recent years, a tablet or the like in which a printing portion is formed by printing identification information such as characters or symbols by using a printing apparatus of an ink jet system has been known (for example, see patent document 1).

However, in the case where a large number of tablets printed in advance by the tablet printing apparatus as disclosed in patent document 1 are loaded into a hopper (tablet storage section) of a PTP packaging machine and the tablets are sequentially filled into a bag section from this point on, in order to manufacture PTP sheets, there is a risk that the printed portion of the tablets scratches or is missing during the period until the tablets are filled into the bag section in the hopper, the supply dispenser, or the like, for example, and the printed content is unclear. In particular, in the case of a brittle tablet such as an intraoral destruction tablet, such inconvenience is more significant.

In contrast, PTP packaging machines and the like having a function of printing on tablets have been known (see, for example, patent document 2).

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the process of sequentially conveying and filling the tablets into the bag portion by the supply cylinder as in patent document 2, when printing is performed on the tablets, the printing portion that has just printed is not directly brought into contact with the bag portion or the overcoat film while the ink is dried, and thus there is a risk that the printing portion of the tablets rubs against the bag portion or the like and the print content is unclear.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a PTP sheet, etc., which can suppress a decrease in the appearance quality of a printing portion.

Means for solving the problems

In the following, the respective technical solutions suitable for solving the above-described object will be described in sections. In addition, according to the needs, the special function and effect are added behind the corresponding technical scheme.

The present invention according to claim 1 relates to a method for manufacturing a PTP sheet in which a tablet is received in a bag portion formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the bag portion, the method comprising:

a bag forming step of forming the bag on the conveyed belt-shaped container film;

a filling step of filling the bag with a tablet;

a mounting step of mounting the band-shaped cover film on the container film having the bag portion filled with the tablet, so as to close the bag portion;

a cutting step of cutting a PTP piece from a band-shaped PTP film having the cover film attached to the container film;

the filling step includes a step of printing on the tablet by an inkjet printing apparatus while sucking and conveying the tablet;

in the filling step, a recess is formed in advance in the tablet, and the pocket is filled with the tablet while printing is performed inside the recess of the tablet.

According to claim 1, in the filling step, the printing is performed inside the concave portion of the tablet by the inkjet printing apparatus, so that the printing portion is formed on the surface of the tablet on which the concave portion is formed, and the printing portion is positioned inside the concave portion. Thus, after the tablet is filled in the bag portion, the printing portion is less likely to rub against the bag portion (container film) or the mask film, and even when the tablet is filled in the bag portion before the ink is dried, it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed matter from becoming unclear. As a result, the reduction in the appearance quality of the printing section can be effectively suppressed.

Further, according to claim 1, since the bag portion can be filled with the tablets before the ink is dried, it is possible to sufficiently meet the demand for higher tablet conveying speed (filling speed) (for example, 100 or more tablets per second packed), and further, it is possible to increase the production speed.

In addition, in the inkjet printing apparatus, there is a fear that the ejected ink flows due to the influence of wind (air flow) and the printing quality is deteriorated, but in this respect, according to the above-described embodiment 1, the tablet (particularly, the portion where the recess is formed) serves as a windshield due to the printing performed inside the recess. This effectively suppresses the occurrence of the above-described inconvenience due to the influence of wind, and ensures good print quality.

The PTP tablet of claim 1, wherein the tablet is a tablet having the above-described concave portions on both the inner and outer faces;

the filling step includes:

a1 st printing step of performing printing inside the concave portion provided on one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the tablet while sucking and conveying the tablet;

and a2 nd printing step of printing inside the concave portion provided on the other of the outer surface and the inner surface of the tablet while sucking and conveying the tablet subjected to the 1 st printing step in a state where the inner surface and the outer surface are reversed in the 2 nd printing step.

According to claim 2, when printing is performed in the 2 nd printing step, that is, when the face on the side of the suction-receiving tablet on which printing is performed in the 2 nd printing step is formed, the printed portion (ink) can be more reliably prevented from coming into contact with the suction-receiving portion of the suction-receiving tablet. Therefore, the bad situation that the printing content is unclear due to rubbing between the printing part and the suction part can be inhibited.

Further, by preventing the contact between the printing section and the suction section, it is possible to more reliably prevent the print from being transferred to the suction section and then transferred again to another tablet conveyed by the next suction, and thus it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of defective tablets having been improperly printed, and to improve productivity.

The method according to claim 3 is a method for manufacturing a PTP sheet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filling step includes a step of obtaining image data by imaging a surface of the tablet on which at least the concave portion is formed;

in the filling step, the inkjet printing apparatus is controlled based on the image data so that printing is performed inside the concave portion.

According to claim 3, the position, orientation, and the like of the recessed portion in the tablet constituting the printing object before printing can be grasped from the image data obtained in the imaging step, and appropriate printing in accordance with the position, orientation, and the like of the recessed portion can be performed by the ink jet printing apparatus.

Claim 4 relates to the method of manufacturing a PTP sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concave portion is in a state of not communicating with a side surface of the tablet.

According to claim 4, the tablet portion (surrounding the entire circumference of the bottom wall surface of the recess) is present around the entire circumference of the recess. This makes it difficult for the printing section to rub against the bag section (container film) and the cover film, and thus the reduction in the appearance quality of the printing section can be more effectively suppressed. Further, the function of the damper as the tablet portion around the recess portion can be more effectively exhibited, and occurrence of defective printing due to the influence of wind can be more reliably prevented.

The PTP sheet according to claim 5 is a PTP sheet in which a tablet is received in a bag portion formed in a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the bag portion, characterized in that:

the tablet includes a recess, and a printing portion for performing ink jet printing is provided at a position where the recess is formed;

the tablet is configured such that the printing section is in a non-contact state with the container film and/or the cover film facing the printing section.

According to claim 5, the same operational effects as those of claim 1 are obtained.

The PTP tablet according to claim 6 is the PTP tablet according to claim 5, wherein the concave portion is not in communication with the side surface of the tablet.

According to claim 6, the same operational effects as those of claim 4 are achieved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a PTP sheet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a PTP tablet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tablet as viewed from the outside;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tablet as viewed from the inside;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the general structure of the PTP packaging machine;

fig. 6 is a schematic view, partially in section, showing the general structure of a tablet filler;

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a rotary cylinder and a stationary valve;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a rotary cylinder and a stationary valve;

fig. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the rotary cylinder showing the suction portion;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a PTP membrane;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the production process of a PTP sheet.

Detailed Description

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of the PTP sheet will be specifically explained.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 includes: a container film 3, the container film 3 having a plurality of bag portions 2; and a cover film 4, wherein the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 so as to seal the bag portion 2.

The container film 3 of the present embodiment is formed of a transparent thermoplastic resin material such as PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or the like, and has light transmittance. On the other hand, the cover film 4 is formed of an opaque material (e.g., aluminum foil or the like) provided on the outside face by, for example, a sealant composed of polypropylene resin or the like. Obviously, the material of each film 3, 4 is not limited to this, and other materials may be used.

The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured by the following method: a band-shaped PTP film 6 (see fig. 10) formed by the band-shaped container film 3 and the band-shaped cover film 4 is punched in a sheet shape, and the PTP sheet 1 is substantially rectangular in a plan view. In the PTP sheet 1, 2 rows of pockets are formed in the sheet width direction, and each row of pockets is constituted by 5 pocket portions 2 arranged in the sheet length direction. That is, a total of 10 bag portions 2 are formed. In each pocket 2, tablets 5 are received one at a time.

The tablet 5 of the present embodiment is a disc-shaped die agent having a circular shape in plan view, and has a structure including a side surface 5A, and an outer surface 5B and an inner surface 5C sandwiching the side surface 5A. The side surface 5A includes a tapered portion 5D formed by chamfering a boundary portion with the outer surface 5B and a tapered portion 5E formed by chamfering a boundary portion with the inner surface 5C.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, concave portions 5F and 5G are formed on both the inner and outer surfaces of tablet 5. More specifically, 2 recessed portions 5F having a rectangular shape in plan view are provided on the outer surface 5B of the tablet 5, and these recessed portions 5F are arranged in parallel at positions sandwiching the center of the outer surface 5B. Further, the inner surface 5C is provided with 1 recessed portion 5G having a rectangular shape in plan view, and the recessed portion 5G is located at the center of the inner surface 5C. In the present embodiment, recesses 5F and 5G are not in communication with side surface 5A of tablet 5, and the structural portion of tablet 5 (the entire circumference of the bottom wall surfaces of recesses 5F and 5G is surrounded by the side walls) is present around recesses 5F and 5G. The depth of the concave portions 5F and 5G is, for example, 0.5mm or more, and the bottom wall surfaces of the concave portions 5F and 5G are flat surfaces.

Further, a printing section 5J is formed on the bottom wall surface of the outer surface 5B and the inner surface 5C, and characters, symbols, numerals, figures, and the like indicating product information relating to the tablet 5 are ink-jet printed on the printing section 5J. The printing portion 5J is a portion of the tablet 5 where characters, numerals, and the like are printed, and is provided only inside the concave portions 5F, 5G. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 5J on the outer surface 5B side prints predetermined characters and predetermined numbers in the example shown in fig. 3, and the printing unit 5J on the inner surface 5C side prints predetermined characters in the example shown in fig. 4. The product information relating to the tablet 5 includes "product name", "content", "dosage form", "production source", and "lot number".

In the PTP sheet 1, the printing portion 5J and the container film 3 facing the printing portion 5J are not in contact with the cover film 4. More specifically, the present invention is configured in such a manner that: in a state where one of the outer face 5B and the inner face 5C is in contact with the container film 3, the printing portion 5J provided on the one face side is in a non-contact state with the container film 3, and in a state where the other of the outer face 5B and the inner face 5C is in contact with the container film 3, the printing portion 5J provided on the other face side is in a non-contact state with the overcoat film 4.

Next, the general structure of the PTP packaging machine 10 for producing the PTP sheet 1 will be described with reference to fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 5, a raw material roll of the band-like container film 3 is wound in a roll shape on the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 10. The projecting end side of the container film 3 wound in a roll shape is guided to the guide roller 13. The container film 3 is wound around the intermittent transfer roller 14 on the downstream side of the guide roller 13. The intermittent conveyance roller 14 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, and conveys the container film 3 intermittently.

Between the guide roller 13 and the intermittent conveyance roller 14, a heater 15 and a bag former 16 are provided in this order along the conveyance path of the container film 3. Further, the container film 3 is heated by the heater 15, the container film 3 is in a relatively soft state, and the bag portion forming device 16 forms a plurality of bag portions 2 at predetermined positions of the container film 3. The bag portion 2 is formed at the time of the interval between the conveying operations of the container film 3 by the intermittent conveying roller 14.

The container film 3 fed out from the intermittent feed roller 14 is wound around a tension roller 18, a guide roller 19, and a film receiving roller 20 in this order. Since the film receiving roller 20 is connected to a motor that rotates to some extent, the container film 3 is conveyed continuously and at a certain speed. The tension roller 18 is in a state of being stretched to the side where the container film 3 is tensioned by the elastic force, and prevents the container film 3 from being slackened due to the difference in the conveyance operation between the intermittent conveyance roller 14 and the film receiving roller 20, and the container film 3 is constantly maintained in a tensioned state.

Between the guide roller 19 and the film receiving roller 20, a tablet filler 21 and an inspector 22 are provided in this order along the conveying path of the container film 3.

The tablet filling device 21 functions as a filling mechanism for filling the bag 2 with the tablets 5. The tablet filling device 21 sucks and conveys the tablet 5 in synchronization with the conveying operation of the container film 3 by the film receiving roller 20, and automatically fills the bag portion 2 with the tablet 5. The details of the tablet filler 21 will be described later.

The checker 22 checks whether or not the bag 2 is filled with the tablet 5 with certainty, whether or not there is an abnormality in the tablet 5, whether or not foreign matter is mixed into the bag 2, and the like, and mainly relates to a tablet failure.

On the other hand, the raw material roll of the cover film 4 formed in a band shape is wound in a roll shape on the most upstream side. The protruding end of the cover film 4 wound in a roll shape is guided to the heating roller 25 by the guide roller 24.

The heating roller 25 is brought into pressure contact with the film receiving roller 20, and the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are fed between the rollers 2, 20 and 25. Next, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are passed between the 2 rollers 20 and 25 in a heat-pressure bonded state, whereby the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3, and the bag portion 2 is closed by the cover film 4. Thereby, the PTP film 6 in a belt shape in which the tablet 5 is received in the bag portion 2 is manufactured.

The PTP films 6 fed out from the film receiving roller 20 are sequentially wound between the tension roller 27 and the intermittent conveyance roller 28. Since the intermittent conveyance roller 28 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the intermittent conveyance roller 28 conveys the PTP film 6 in an intermittent manner. The tension roller 27 is in a state of being stretched to the side where the PTP film 6 is tensioned by the elastic force, prevents the PTP film 6 from being loosened due to the difference in the conveying operation between the film supporting roller 20 and the intermittent conveying roller 28, and constantly holds the PTP film 6 in a tensioned state.

The PTP film 6 fed out from the intermittent conveyance roller 28 is wound around the tension roller 31 and the intermittent conveyance roller 32 in this order. Since the intermittent conveyance roller 32 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the intermittent conveyance roller 32 conveys the PTP film 6 in an intermittent manner. The tension roller 31 is in a state of being stretched to the side where the PTP film 6 is tensioned by the elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 between the above-described intermittent conveying rollers 28, 32 from being loosened.

Between the intermittent conveyance roller 28 and the tension roller 31, a slit former 33 and an imprinter 34 are provided in this order along the conveyance path of the PTP film 6. The slit former 33 has a function of forming slits for slitting at predetermined positions of the PTP film 6. The imprinter 34 has a function of providing an imprint at a predetermined position (for example, a label portion) of the PTP film 6.

The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent transport roller 32 is wound around the tension roller 35 and the continuous transport roller 36 in this order on the downstream side. Between the intermittent conveyance roller 32 and the tension roller 35, a sheet punch 37 is provided along the conveyance path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punch 37 has a function of punching the outer edge of the PTP film 6 in units of PTP sheets 1.

The PTP sheet 1 punched by the sheet punch 37 is transported by the conveyor 39 and temporarily stored in the finished product hopper 40. However, the PTP sheet 1 determined as defective by the inspection device 22 is not fed to the product hopper 40, but is individually discharged by a defective sheet discharging mechanism not shown in the drawings.

A cutter 41 is provided downstream of the continuous feed roller 36. The unnecessary film portion 42 constituting the remaining material portion (scrap portion) remaining in a band shape after the punching by the sheet punch 37 is guided to the stretching roller 35 and the continuous feed roller 36 and then guided to the cutter 41. Further, the driven roller is pressed against the continuous transport roller 36, and the continuous transport roller 36 performs a transport operation while holding the unnecessary film portion 42 therebetween. The cutter 41 cuts the unnecessary film portion 42 to a predetermined size. The cut unnecessary film portion 4 (scrap portion) is stored in the scrap hopper 43 and then is individually discarded.

The rollers 14, 20, 28, 31, and 32 are disposed so that the surfaces thereof face the bag 2, and the bag 2 is not crushed because the surfaces of the intermittent conveyance rollers 14 are formed with recesses for receiving the bag 2. Further, the bag portion 2 is received in each concave portion of the intermittent conveying roller 14 and the like, and the conveying operation is performed, whereby the intermittent conveying operation and the continuous conveying operation are reliably performed.

The structure of the tablet filler 21 will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings. Fig. 6 is a partially broken schematic diagram showing the general structure of the tablet filler 21.

As shown in fig. 6, the tablet filler 21 includes, in order from the upstream side, a storage section 45, a supply dispenser 46, a1 st rotary cylinder 47, a2 nd rotary cylinder 48, and a 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 along the supply path of the tablets 5. In addition, the tablet filler 21 is provided with a1 st image pickup device 51 corresponding to the 1 st rotary drum 47, a2 nd image pickup device 52 and a1 st printing device 61 corresponding to the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and a2 nd printing device 62 corresponding to the 3 rd rotary drum 49. The mechanism units (the stock unit 45, the supply dispenser 46, the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49, the image pickup devices 51, 52, and the printing devices 61, 62) of the tablet filler 21 are driven and controlled by the control device 71.

The following specifically describes each mechanism of the tablet filler 21 and the control device 71.

The storage section 45 is configured to store a plurality of tablets 5, and is configured to sequentially supply the tablets 5 from there to the supply dispenser 46. The tablet 5 stored in the stock portion 45 is a tablet in which the above-described concave portions 5F, 5G are formed, but the print portion 5J is not formed.

The supply dispenser 46 is provided corresponding to the position of each bag portion 2 in the width direction (depth direction of the paper surface in fig. 6) of the container film 3 that is horizontally conveyed. That is, in the present embodiment, 5 supply dispensers 46 are provided in parallel in the width direction of the container film 3. Each of the supply dispensers 46 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is configured to stack the tablets 5 in a row in a vertical direction in a horizontal posture.

Each supply dispenser 46 is provided with a lower opening portion close to the 1 st rotary cylinder 47. More specifically, the lower opening of each supply dispenser 46 is provided at a predetermined position slightly shifted downstream from a position immediately above a rotary shaft 54 described later in the 1 st rotary cylinder 47, in the vicinity of the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 in the rotation direction thereof.

A shutter 46A that opens and closes the lower opening of each supply dispenser 46 is provided in the vicinity of the lower opening. Further, by opening and closing the shutter 46A, the tablets 5 can be naturally dropped from the supply dispenser 46 one at a time and can be supplied to the 1 st rotary cylinder 47. The orientation of the concave portions 5F and 5G and the inner and outer surfaces of the tablet 5 supplied to the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 is not necessarily constant, but may be varied.

Next, the 1 st rotary drum 47, the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and the 3 rd rotary drum 49 will be described. Since the 1 st rotary drum 47, the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and the 3 rd rotary drum 49 have the same configuration, they will be collectively referred to as "rotary drums 47, 48, and 49" herein.

The rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 are cylindrical and rotatably supported by shafts. The rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 are provided so that the rotary shafts 54 thereof are parallel to the axial direction of the container film 3. The rotary shaft 54 is directly or indirectly connected to a drive mechanism such as a motor not shown in the drawings, and is driven to rotate by the motor. Further, the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 rotate integrally with the rotary shaft 54.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, a plurality of suction portions 55A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of rotary cylinders 47, 48, and 49, and the suction portions 55A are used for suction-holding tablet 5. The suction portions 55A are regularly arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49. In the present embodiment, 5 suction portions 55A are provided at equal intervals in the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 at positions corresponding to the respective bag portions 2 in the width direction of the container film 3. Further, 7 rows of 5 suction portions 55A arranged in parallel in the axial direction (hereinafter referred to as "rows of suction portions 55A") are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49. The formation interval (pitch) of the suction portions 55A in the circumferential direction of the relative rotation cylinders 47, 48, 49 is the same as the formation interval of the bag portions 2 in the conveying direction (the right direction in fig. 6) of the container film 3.

Each suction portion 55A has a substantially circular shape, as viewed from a plane viewed in the radial direction of rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49, and has a size capable of receiving tablet 5. Each suction portion 55A is substantially arc-shaped when viewed in a cross section along the radial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 (see fig. 9). That is, each suction portion 55A is a concave portion that is recessed in a substantially spherical shape on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49.

In the present embodiment, the following configuration is adopted: in a state where tablet 5 is sucked and held by suction-contact portion 55A, tapered portion 5D or tapered portion 5E of tablet 5 comes into contact with suction-contact portion 55A, and the portions of tablet 5 where recesses 5F and 5G are formed are in a state of not coming into contact with suction-contact portion 55A (see fig. 9). In a state where tablet 5 is sucked and held by suction-contact portion 55A, a part (about half in the present embodiment) of tablet 5 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49.

Suction holes 55B formed in the radial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, and 49 are opened at the bottom center of each suction portion 55A. Further, a plurality of ventilation passages 55C extending in the axial direction are provided in the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 so as to correspond to the rows of the suction portions 55A. That is, in the present embodiment, 7 air passages 55C are provided at equal intervals in the rotation direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49.

Each air passage 55C communicates with 5 suction holes 55B arranged in parallel in the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49. Each air passage 55C is open to a side surface on one end side in the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49. Further, a disk-shaped fixed valve 56 is provided on a side surface (a side surface on which the air passage 55C opens) on one end side in the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 so as to cover the side surface.

A negative pressure space a1 and an atmosphere open space a2 are formed inside the fixed valve 56. The two space portions a1, a2 are curved in an arc shape in the rotation direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49, respectively, and open to a facing surface side facing the side surface on one end side in the axial direction of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 (see fig. 9).

The negative pressure space portion a1 is formed in a continuous communicable range while the air passages 55C (and the suction holes 55B and the suction portions 55A communicating therewith) whose positions change as the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 rotate in a predetermined direction (the direction of arrows in fig. 6) move from the substantially upper position of the rotary shaft 54 to the substantially lower position. The negative pressure space a1 is connected to a predetermined vacuum valve (not shown) through a through hole 56A formed in the fixed valve 56.

When the vacuum pump is in an operating state, air in the negative pressure space a1 is sucked through the through hole 56A, and the inside of the negative pressure space a1 is constantly evacuated (negative pressure is supplied). Further, the ventilation path 55C at the predetermined position communicating with the negative pressure space a1 is also evacuated as the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 rotate. This allows the tablet 5 received in the suction portion 55A communicating with the air passage 55C to be sucked and attached to each suction portion 55A.

The tablet 5 sucked to the suction portion 55A in this manner is held by the suction portion 55A without falling off from the suction portion 55A while moving from substantially the vicinity immediately above the rotation shaft 54 to substantially the vicinity immediately below the rotation shaft 47, 48, 49 in accordance with the rotation of the rotation cylinder 47, 48, 49.

The atmosphere open space a2 is formed in a continuous and communicable range while the air passages 55C (and the suction holes 55B and the suction portions 55A communicating therewith) that change in position as the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 rotate in a predetermined direction (the direction of arrows in fig. 6) move from a substantially normal position to a substantially normal position of the rotary shaft 54. The atmosphere open space a2 is normally open to the atmosphere through a through hole 56B formed in the fixed valve 56.

Under the above-described conditions, the 1 st rotary cylinder 47, the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48, and the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 are disposed in such a manner as to be adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. The 3 rd rotary drum 49 is provided so as to be close to the container film 3 which is horizontally conveyed.

The 1 st rotary cylinder 47, the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48, and the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 are driven and controlled by the control device 71 in such a manner that: the respective films are continuously rotated at the same rotational speed in a predetermined direction (arrow direction in fig. 6) at ordinary times so as to be synchronized with the conveying operation of the container film 3 of the PTP packaging machine 10. In the present embodiment, on the paper surface of fig. 6, the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 and the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 continuously rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 rotates in the clockwise direction.

Encoders, not shown, are provided in the 1 st rotary drum 47, the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and the 3 rd rotary drum 49, respectively, and signals relating to the rotation angle are output from the encoders to the control device 71 at predetermined time intervals. Accordingly, the control device 71 can grasp the rotational positions of the 1 st rotary cylinder 47, the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48, and the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49, and further, the position of the tablet 5 sucked, conveyed, and conveyed.

Further, the 3 rd position P3 located at the position directly below the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 and at the position directly above the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 is set in such a manner that: the timing when the suction portion 55A of the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 passes coincides with the timing when the suction portion 55A of the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 passes.

Similarly, the 6 th position P6 located at the position directly below the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 and located at the position directly above the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 is set in such a manner that: the timing at which suction portion 55A of 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 passes coincides with the timing at which suction portion 55A of 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 passes.

Further, the 8 th position P8 located immediately below the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 is set as follows: the timing when the suction portion 55A of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 passes coincides with the timing when the bag portion 2 of the container film 3 passes.

The following describes the 1 st image pickup device 51 and the 2 nd image pickup device 52. In the present embodiment, CCD cameras are used as the 1 st image pickup device 51 and the 2 nd image pickup device 52. Obviously, the present invention is not limited to this, and a CMOS camera may be used.

The imaging ranges of the 1 st imaging device 51 and the 2 nd imaging device 52 are ranges in which 5 tablets 5 (suction portions 55A) arranged in parallel in the axial direction of each of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 can be imaged at a time. Instead of this, an imaging mechanism (camera) may be provided corresponding to each of the 5 tablets 5 (suction portions 55A) arranged in parallel in the axial direction of each of the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49.

The 1 st imaging device 51 images one of the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side of the tablet 5 sucked and conveyed by the 1 st rotary cylinder 47. The 2 nd imaging device 52 is provided upstream of the 1 st printing device 61, and images the other of the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side of the tablet 5 sucked and conveyed by the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48. The image data obtained by the 1 st image pickup device 51 and the 2 nd image pickup device 52 is input to the control device 71.

Next, the 1 st printing apparatus 61 and the 2 nd printing apparatus 62 will be described. The 1 st printing device 61 and the 2 nd printing device 62 are known tablet printing devices that can print the tablets 5 in a non-contact manner by using print heads of predetermined ink jet systems (for example, piezoelectric systems and thermal systems). According to the printing apparatuses 61 and 62, droplets of edible ink can be ejected from a plurality of nozzles provided in the print head, and identification information such as characters and symbols can be printed on the tablet 5.

The 1 st printing device 61 is provided at a 5 th position P5 located at a lateral position of the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48, and has 5 printing heads corresponding to 5 suction portions 55A (tablets 5) arranged in parallel in the axial direction of the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48. The 1 st printing device 61 performs non-contact printing by sucking and conveying the tablets 5 passing through the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 and passing through the 5 th position P5 by ejecting ink from the respective print heads.

The 2 nd printing device 62 is provided at the 7 th position P7 located at a lateral position of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49, and has 5 printing portions corresponding to 5 suction portions 55A (tablets 5) arranged in parallel in the axial direction of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49. The 2 nd printing device 62 is sucked and conveyed by the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49, ejects ink from each print head through each tablet 5 passing through the 7 th position P7, and performs printing in a non-contact manner.

Since the tablet 5 supplied from the supply dispenser 46 has various inner and outer surfaces as described above, the portion of the tablet 5 sucked by the rotary cylinders 47, 48, 49 may have the inner surface 5C side if the portion is the outer surface 5B side. Thus, if the objects to be printed by the 1 st printing device 61 and the 2 nd printing device 62 are also on the outer surface 5B side of the tablet 5, the objects to be printed by the inner surface 5C side of the tablet 5 may be also on the other hand.

The control device 71 includes a CPU as an arithmetic means, a ROM that stores various programs, a RAM that temporarily stores various data, a storage medium (for example, a hard disk or the like) for storing information for a long period of time, and the like. The control device 71 executes a predetermined program by the CPU to perform control processing relating to each mechanism section of the tablet filler 21 of the 1 st printing device 61, the 2 nd printing device 62, and the like.

In the present embodiment, for example, in the storage medium, 360-degree print data in which the orientation of a print pattern (pattern) such as a character or a number is in the range of 0 to 359 degrees and which rotates once is registered with data corresponding to the concave portion 5F of the outer surface 5B and data corresponding to the concave portion 5G of the inner surface 5C. The control device 71 controls the operations of the 1 st printing device 61 and the 2 nd printing device 62 based on the registered print data and the image data obtained by the 1 st imaging device 51 and the 2 nd imaging device 52.

Specifically, the control device 71 determines which of the outer face 5B side and the inner face 5C side of the tablet 5 the printing device 61, 62 is to print on, based on the image data that has been obtained. For example, when the image data obtained by the 1 st imaging device 51 relates to the outer surface 5B side and the image data obtained by the 2 nd imaging device 52 relates to the outer surface 5C side, the printing object of the 1 st printing device 61 is determined to be the inner surface 5C side and the printing object of the 2 nd printing device 62 is determined to be the outer surface 5B side. In the present embodiment, whether the image data relates to the outer surface 5B side or the inner surface 5C side can be determined by the number, arrangement, shape, and the like of the concave portions 5F, 5G.

Further, the control device 71 obtains information (referred to as "position angle information") concerning the positions and orientations of the recesses 5F, 5G from the obtained image data. The positional angle information includes information such as the amount of displacement in the X direction and the Y direction from the center of the concave portions 5F and 5G at a predetermined reference position, and the inclination angle of the concave portions 5F and 5G with respect to a predetermined reference. In this regard, the control device 71 sets the printing conditions of the 1 st printing device 61 and the 2 nd printing device 62, respectively, based on the obtained position angle information and the determined printing object.

That is, the control device 71 selects data corresponding to the determined printing object, that is, data suitable for the inclination angle in the obtained position angle information, from among the plurality of print data registered in the above-described storage medium. For example, when the printing object is the outer surface 5B side and the inclination angle is 90 degrees, the control device 71 selects data corresponding to the outer surface 5B side from a plurality of print data, that is, data in which the orientation of the print pattern such as characters and numbers is rotated by 90 degrees.

Further, the control device 71 determines the printing position based on the amount of misalignment in the position angle information that has been obtained. For example, the control device 71 determines a position shifted from a predetermined normal printing position by an amount corresponding to the shift amount as the printing position. Next, the control device 71 sets the selected print data and the determined print position as the print conditions.

In this regard, the control device 71 controls the printing devices 61 and 62 to print inside the recesses 5F and 5G based on the set printing conditions. This allows the print portion 5J to be accurately formed at a predetermined position inside the concave portions 5F and 5G in the tablet 5.

Next, the process (method) for producing the PTP sheet 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 11, focusing on the filling step of filling the tablet 5 in the bag portion 2 of the container film 3.

First, in the bag portion forming step of step S1, the bag portion 2 is formed in order by the bag portion forming device 16 with respect to the container film 3 which is relatively flexible by the heater 15.

Next, in the filling step of step S2, the formed pocket 2 is filled with the tablet 5. In the filling step, first, the open/close operation of the over-shutter 46A is performed at a predetermined timing when the empty suction portion 55A moving along with the rotation of the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 reaches the predetermined 1 st position P1 (see fig. 6). The 1 st position P1 is a position corresponding to a position where the tablet 5 falls from the feeding section 46.

By the opening and closing operation of the shutter 46A, 1 tablet 5 falls from the supply and dispensing unit 46 and is received in the suction unit 55A moved to the 1 st position P1. At this time, the vent passage 55C of the suction portion 55A in which the tablet 5 is received communicates with the negative pressure space portion a1, and therefore the tablet 5 is sucked and held. As a result, the 1 st conveying step of step S21, that is, the step of conveying the tablet 5 while sucking the tablet 5 by the 1 st rotary drum 47, is started.

Further, if 1 tablet 5 drops in the supply dispenser 46, the tablet 5 placed thereon falls down to the lower opening, and the shutter 46A prevents the dropping. Further, one surface (for example, the surface on the outer surface 5A side) of the tablet 5 sucked and received by the suction and reception section 55A constitutes a "suction surface", and the other surface (for example, the surface on the inner surface 5C side) of the tablet 5 facing the outside of the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 constitutes a "non-suction surface".

Then, in the 1 st imaging step of step S22, the 1 st imaging device 51 is operated at a predetermined timing when the tablet 5 sucked and conveyed by the 1 st rotary drum 47 reaches the predetermined 2 nd position P2 (see fig. 6). Thus, the 1 st imaging device 51 images the non-suction surface (the surface on the outer surface 5B side or the inner surface 5C side) of the tablet 5 sucked and conveyed by the 1 st rotary cylinder 47 and passed through the 2 nd position P2. Image data obtained by image capturing is input to the control device 71.

Further, when the tablet 5 imaged by the 1 st imaging device 51 is further conveyed with the rotation of the 1 st rotary drum 47 and reaches the 3 rd position P3 which is located directly below the 1 st rotary drum 47 and directly above the 2 nd rotary drum 48, the vent passage 55C of the suction portion 55A which suctions the tablet 5 communicates with the atmosphere opening space portion a 2. As a result, the suction holding of the tablet 5 is released. Thereby, the tablet 5 falls from the suction portion 55A of the 1 st rotary drum 47, and is transferred to the suction portion 55A of the 2 nd rotary drum 48 located at the 3 rd position P3.

At this time, the air passage 55C of the suction portion 55A of the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 receiving the tablet 5 is in a state of communicating with the negative pressure space portion a1, and thus the tablet 5 is in a state of being sucked and held. As a result, the 2 nd conveying step of step S23, i.e., the step of conveying the tablet 5 while sucking the tablet 5 by the 2 nd rotary drum 48, is started.

In the transfer from the 1 st rotary drum 47 to the 2 nd rotary drum 48, the tablets 5 are almost not rotated or tilted, and are transferred in substantially the same posture. Further, by passing the tablet 5 from the 1 st rotary drum 47 to the 2 nd rotary drum 48, the tablet 5 is in a state where the inner and outer surfaces thereof are reversed. For example, when the outer surface 5B side is sucked and held by the 1 st rotary cylinder 47, the inner surface 5C side is sucked and held by the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48.

In the 2 nd imaging step in step S24, the 2 nd imaging device 52 is operated at a predetermined timing when the tablet 5 sucked and conveyed by the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 reaches the predetermined 4 th position P4 (see fig. 6). Thereby, the 2 nd imaging device 52 images the non-suction surface (the surface on the outer surface 5B side or the inner surface 5C side) of the tablet 5 which is sucked and conveyed by the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 and passes through the 4 th position P4. Image data obtained by image capturing is input to the control device 71.

The non-suction surface (for example, the surface on the outer surface 5B side) of the tablet 5 imaged by the 2 nd imaging device 52 is the surface opposite to the non-suction surface (for example, the surface on the inner surface 5C side) of the tablet 5 imaged by the 1 st imaging device 51. Then, for example, the surface on the inner surface 5C side is imaged by the 2 nd imaging device 52 with respect to the tablet 5 whose surface on the outer surface 5B side is imaged by the 1 st imaging device 51.

Next, the 1 st printing step of step S25 is performed. That is, the tablet 5 having passed through the 2 nd imaging step S24 is further conveyed with the rotation of the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and when the 5 th position P5 is reached, the 1 st printing device 61 is operated according to the printing conditions set by the control device 71. Thereby, printing is performed inside the concave portion 5F (5G) of the non-suction surface of the tablet 5 passing through the 5 th position P5, and the printing portion 5J is formed.

At this time, the control device 71 sets the print conditions mainly based on the image data obtained by the 2 nd imaging device 52. By performing printing according to the printing conditions set by the control device 71, the printing portion 5J is formed to be suitable for the orientation or position of the recess 5F (5G) and the inner and outer surfaces of the tablet 5.

When the tablet 5 having completed the above-described printing process is further conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the 2 nd rotary drum 48 and reaches the 6 th position P6 located at the position directly below the 2 nd rotary drum 48 and directly above the 3 rd rotary drum 49, the air passage 55C of the suction portion 55A for sucking and holding the tablet 5 communicates with the atmosphere open space portion a2, and the suction and holding of the tablet 5 is released.

Thereby, the tablet 5 falls from the suction portion 55A of the 2 nd rotary drum 48, and is transferred to the suction portion 55A of the 3 rd rotary drum 49 located at the 6 th position P6. Further, since the air passage 55C of the suction portion 55A of the 3 rd rotary drum 49 receiving the tablet 5 at the 6 th position P6 is in a state of communicating with the negative pressure space portion a1, the tablet 5 is sucked and held. As a result, the 3 rd conveying step of step S26, that is, the step of conveying the tablet 5 while sucking the tablet 5 by the 3 rd rotary drum 49, is started.

In the transfer from 2 nd rotary cylinder 48 to 3 rd rotary cylinder 49, tablet 5 hardly rotates or tilts, and tablet 5 is transferred in substantially the same posture. Thus, the orientation or position of the recess 5F (5G) on the non-suction surface side when the 1 st rotary drum 47 conveys the 1 st tablet 5 is substantially the same as the orientation or position of the recess 5F (5G) on the non-suction surface side when the 3 rd rotary drum 49 conveys the non-suction surface side.

Further, similarly to the above, the tablet 5 is transferred from the 2 nd rotary drum 48 to the 3 rd rotary drum 49, so that the inner and outer surfaces of the tablet 5 are reversed. For example, when the inner surface 5C side is held by suction by the 2 nd rotary cylinder 48, the outer surface 5B side is held by suction by the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49.

Next, the 2 nd printing step of step S27 is performed. That is, the tablet 5 is further conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49, and when the predetermined time point at which the 7 th position P7 is reached, the 2 nd printing device 62 is operated in accordance with the printing conditions set by the control device 71. Thereby, printing is performed inside the concave portion 5G (5F) of the non-suction surface of the tablet 5 passing through the 7 th position P7, and the printing portion 5J is formed.

In this case, the control device 71 sets print conditions mainly based on the image data obtained by the 1 st image pickup device 51. As described above, with respect to 1 tablet 5, the orientation or position of the recess 5F (5G) on the non-suction surface side is substantially the same in the conveyance of the 1 st rotary drum 47 as in the conveyance of the 3 rd rotary drum 49. Thus, by using the printing conditions based on the image data obtained by the 1 st imaging device 51, the orientation or position of the positioning 5G (5F) in the tablet 5 conveyed by the 3 rd rotary drum 49 can be printed in accordance with the inside and outside, and an appropriate printing portion 5J can be formed.

Then, the tablet 5 sucked and held by the suction portion 55A moves to the 8 th position P8 located immediately below the 3 rd rotary drum 49 in accordance with the rotation of the 3 rd rotary drum 49.

Next, the tablet loading step of step S28 is performed. That is, if the tablet 5 sucked and held by the suction portion 55A reaches the 8 th position P8, a part of the tablet 5 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 enters the bag portion 2 of the container film 3 located at the 8 th position P8. At the same time, the air passage 55C of the suction portion 55A of the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 sucking and holding the tablet 5 communicates with the atmosphere open space portion a2, and the suction and holding of the tablet 5 is released. Thereby, the tablet 5 falls from the suction portion 55A of the 3 rd rotary drum 49 toward the bag portion 2, and the bag portion 2 is filled with the tablet 5.

Next to the filling step S2, the mounting step of step S3 is performed. In the mounting step S3, the cover film 4 is mounted on the container film 3 by feeding the container film 3 and the cover film 4 between the above 2 rollers 20, 25, to obtain the PTP film 6.

Next, after the processing by the slit former 33 or the imprinter 34 is performed on the PTP film 6, the dicing step of step S4 is performed, and the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet 1 is ended. In the dicing step, the PTP sheet 1 is diced from the PTP film 6 by punching the PTP film 6 by the sheet punch 37, thereby manufacturing the PTP sheet 1.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, in filling step S2, printing is performed inside recesses 5F and 5G of tablet 5 by printing devices 61 and 62, whereby print portion 5J is formed on the surface of tablet 5 on which recesses 5F and 5G are formed, and print portion 5J is in a state of being positioned inside recesses 5F and 5G. Thus, after the tablet 5 is filled in the bag portion 2, the print portion 5J is less likely to rub against the bag portion 2 (container film 3) or the cover film 4, and the tablet 5 is filled in the bag portion 2 before the ink is dried, and even in this case, it is possible to more reliably prevent the print content from becoming unclear. As a result, the reduction in the appearance quality of the printing section 5J can be effectively suppressed.

Further, since the bag portion 2 can be filled with the tablets 5 before the ink is sufficiently dried, it is possible to sufficiently meet the demand for increasing the tablet conveying speed (filling speed) (for example, packaging 100 or more tablets per second), and further increase the production speed.

Further, the printing devices 61 and 62 are ink jet printing devices, and there is a fear that the ejected ink flows due to the influence of wind (air flow) to deteriorate the printing quality, but in the present embodiment, since printing is performed inside the concave portions 5F and 5G, the tablet 5 (particularly, the portions where the concave portions 5F and 5G are formed) serves as a windshield. Thus, occurrence of a trouble due to the influence of wind can be effectively suppressed, and good print quality can be obtained more reliably.

Further, since the printing portion 5J is formed inside the concave portions 5F and 5G, when printing is performed in the 2 nd printing step S27, that is, when the surface of the tablet 5 on which printing is performed in the 1 st printing step S25 is sucked and contacted by the suction portion 55A, the printing portion 5J (ink) can be more reliably prevented from coming into contact with the suction portion 55A. This can prevent the printing portion 5J from rubbing against the suction portion 55A, thereby preventing the print content from becoming unclear.

Further, by preventing the contact of the printing portion 5J with the suction portion 55A, it is possible to more reliably prevent the print from being transferred to the suction portion 55A and transferred again to another tablet 5 which is next sucked and conveyed. This can further reduce the occurrence of defective tablets in which improper printing is performed, and can improve productivity.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the positions, orientations, and the like of the concave portions 5F, 5G in the tablet 5 constituting the printing object before printing can be grasped from the image data obtained in the image pickup steps S22, S24, and appropriate printing can be performed by the printing devices 61, 62 in accordance with the positions, orientations, and the like of the concave portions 5F, 5G.

Since the recesses 5F and 5G are not in communication with the side surface 5A, the tablet portion is present around the recesses 5F and 5G over the entire circumference. This makes it difficult for the printing section 5J to satisfactorily rub against the bag section 2 (container film 3) and the cover film 4, and thus the reduction in the appearance quality of the printing section 5J can be more effectively suppressed. Further, the function of the damper of the tablet portion around the recesses 5F and 5G is more effectively exerted, and the occurrence of a print failure due to the influence of wind can be more reliably prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the above embodiments, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Obviously, other application examples not listed below, and modified examples are of course possible.

(a) In the above embodiment, the tablet 5 is exemplified by a disc-shaped bare chip (disc-shaped flat chip) having a circular plane, but the type, shape, and the like of the tablet are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the tablet is not limited to a medicine, and obviously includes a tablet for diet and the like. The tablet includes not only a bare tablet but also a sugar-coated tablet, a plated film, an intraoral destruction tablet, an enteric-coated tablet, a gelatin-coated tablet, and various capsule tablets such as a hard capsule and a soft capsule. The shape of the tablet may be, for example, not only a circular shape in plan view, but also a polygonal shape in plan view, an elliptical shape in plan view, an oblong shape in plan view, and the like.

(b) The arrangement and number of the pockets 2 in the PTP sheet 1 are not limited to the above-described embodiment (2 rows, 10), and PTP sheets each having various arrangements and numbers, such as a type having 3 rows and 12 pockets, are used.

In the above embodiment, the PTP film 6 has a structure in which the number of the bag portions 2 corresponding to 1 sheet is arranged in the width direction, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, a structure in which the number of the bag portions 2 corresponding to a plurality of sheets is arranged in the width direction may be employed.

(c) The structure of the conveying mechanism of the tablet 5 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the conveying mechanism is a cylindrical rotary drum 47 or the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, an endless conveying belt or the like may be used.

In the above embodiment, the tapered portion 5D or the tapered portion 5E of the tablet 5 is configured to contact the inner peripheral surface of the suction portion 55A in a state where the tablet 5 is sucked and held by the suction portion 55A, but may be configured to contact the inner peripheral surface of the suction portion 55A at a portion other than the formation portion of the concave portions 5F and 5G in the outer surface 5B or the inner surface 5C of the tablet 5.

(d) In the above embodiment, the print portion 5J is provided on both the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side of the tablet 5, but the print portion may be provided on only one of the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side. In the PTP sheet 1, the printing unit 5J and the container film 3 or the cover film 4 facing the printing unit 5J may be configured to be in a non-contact state.

Further, in the above embodiment, the print contents provided on the outer surface 5B side and the print contents provided on the inner surface 5C side are different, but it is also possible to configure the same manner as the print contents provided on the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side.

(e) In the above embodiment, the number of the concave portions 5F provided on the outer surface 5B side is different from the number of the concave portions 5G provided on the inner surface 5C side, but may be the same. Obviously, it is also possible to open a recess in only one of the outer face 5B side and the inner face 5C side.

The shape of the recesses 5F and 5G is not limited to a rectangular shape in plan view, and may be appropriately changed. For example, the recess may have a circular shape in plan view, an elliptical shape in plan view, or a polygonal shape in plan view. Further, the bottom wall surface of the recess of the tablet 5 may be formed in a slanted surface shape or a curved surface shape.

In addition, when the concave portions are provided on the outer surface 5B side and the inner surface 5C side, the positional relationship between the concave portions on the outer surface 5B side and the concave portions on the inner surface 5C side may be appropriately changed. For example, the recess on the outer surface 5B side and the recess on the inner surface 5C side may be configured to be in a positional relationship of not overlapping in a plan view. In this case, excessive thinning of the tablet 5 can be prevented, and breakage of the tablet 5 during filling or the like can be prevented.

(f) In the above embodiment, the 1 st imaging device 51 is provided corresponding to the 1 st rotary cylinder 47, but the 1 st imaging device 51 may be provided corresponding to the 3 rd rotary cylinder 49 (for example, between the 6 th position and the 7 th position), and the 1 st imaging device 51 may image the tablet 5 located upstream of the 2 nd printing device 62.

When the recess 5F formed in the outer surface 5B and the recess 5G formed in the inner surface 5C are formed in a predetermined positional relationship, only one of the outer surface 5B and the inner surface 5C may be imaged, and the print conditions for printing in the recess 5F and the recess 5G may be set based on the obtained image data.

Description of reference numerals:

reference numeral 1 denotes a PTP slice;

reference numeral 2 denotes a bag portion;

reference numeral 3 denotes a container film;

reference numeral 4 denotes a mask film;

reference numeral 5 denotes a tablet;

reference numeral 5A denotes a side face;

reference numeral 5B denotes an outer face;

reference numeral 5C denotes an inner face;

reference numerals 5F, 5G denote concave portions;

reference numeral 5J denotes a printing section;

reference numeral 6 denotes a PTP membrane;

reference numeral 61 denotes a1 st printing apparatus (ink jet printing apparatus);

reference numeral 62 denotes a2 nd printing apparatus (inkjet printing apparatus);

symbol S1 denotes a bag portion forming step;

symbol S2 denotes a padding step;

symbol S3 denotes a mounting step;

symbol S4 denotes a slicing step;

symbol S25 denotes the 1 st printing step;

reference numeral S27 denotes a2 nd printing step.