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`PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN
`
`(43)Date of publication of application : 15.05.2001
`1’.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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`(11)Publication number :
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`2001-130504
`
`(51)Int.CI.
`
`865B 1/30
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`MN 3/00
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`
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`(21)Application number : 11-311064
`
`(71)Applicant : YUYAMA MANUFACTURING CO
`LTD
`
`(22)Date of filing :
`
`01.11.1999
`
`
`
`(72)Inventor : YUYAMA SHOJI
`KODAMA TAKESHI
`TAMURA TAKASHI
`
`
`(54) TABLET FILLING EQUIPMENT
`
`(57)Abstractz
`PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a tablet container
`using simple and inexpensive structure.
`SOLUTION: A container support member 76 having a fork
`shape supporting part 78 is provided. The supporting member
`76 is made reciprocally and straightly movable between a
`
`Z/A\
`;
`xx
`’
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`”a
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`container supporting position and a tablet input position. At
`the container support position, a tablet container 11 supplied :3
`from a tablet container supplying part 3 is received and its
`i
`flange part is supported by the supporting part 78. At the
`tablet input position, tablets supplied from a tablet supplying
`part 2 are filled in the container 11.
`
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`, x
`7“»
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`JP,2001'130504,A [CLAIM]
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`* NOTICES *
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`1 / 1
`
`JPO and lNPIT are not responsible for any
`damages caused by the use of this translation.
`
`l.This document has been translated by computer. So the translation may not reflect the original
`precisely.
`2.**** shows the word which can not be translated.
`
`3.In the drawings, any words are not translated.
`
`
`
`CLAIMS
`
`[Claim(s)]
`[Claim llln a tablet filling apparatus which fills up a tablet container supplied from a tablet container
`feed zone with a tablet supplied from a tablet feed zone,
`A tablet filling apparatus characterized by what a flange of a tablet container which provides a
`container support component characterized by comprising the following, and is supplied from the
`aforementioned tablet container feed zone was supported for by the aforementioned supporting part.
`A container supporting position which receives and supports a tablet container supplied from the
`aforementioned tablet container feed zone.
`
`Reciprocation moving is linearly possible to a tablet feeding position where a tablet supplied from the
`aforementioned tablet feed zone is thrown in, and it is a supporting part of a letter of a fork.
`
`[Claim 2]The tablet filling apparatus according to claim 1 provided with a label stuck part which sticks
`a label on an outer peripheral surface by guiding and rotating a tablet container supported with the
`aforementioned supporting part.
`[Claim 3]The tablet filling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 forming the aforementioned supporting
`part at a different interval according to a difference in size of a tablet container supplied from the
`aforementioned tablet container feed zone.
`
`[Claim 4]A tablet filling apparatus of a description in any 1
`comprising the following.
`A hoisting member which makes it go up and down a tablet container supported to the
`aforementioned supporting part.
`A tablet filling portion with which a tablet container which stored temporarily a tablet supplied from
`the aforementioned tablet feed zone, and upper-**(ed) by the aforementioned hoisting member is
`filled up.
`
`item of Claims 1-3 characterized by
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`[Translation done]
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`JP,2001-130504,A [DETAILED DESCRIPTION]
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`1 / 10
`
`* NOTICES *
`
`JPO and lNPlT are not responsible for any
`damages caused by the use of this translation.
`
`i.This document has been translated by computer. So the translation may not reflect the original
`precisely.
`2.**** shows the word which can not be translated.
`
`3.In the drawings, any words are not translated.
`
`
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Field of the lnvention]The present invention relates to a tablet filling apparatus and the tablet filling
`apparatus which has the characteristics in the supplying form of a tablet container especially.
`[0002]
`[Description of the Prior Art]After detecting a direction for the tablet container supplied from a tablet
`container feed zone as a tablet filling apparatus and making an opening go up conventionally, it holds
`to the holding part of the disk periphery provided pivotable, and there are some which are filled up
`with a tablet (refer to JP,H1 1—7090l ,A).
`[0003]
`[Problem to be solved by the invention]However, in the aforementioned tablet filling apparatus, in
`order to detect the direction of the opening of a tablet container, to change a direction and to hold by
`a disk further, the respectively separate independent mechanism is required. For this reason,
`structure is complicated and there is a problem that cost starts.
`[0004]Then, the present invention makes it problem to provide the tablet filling apparatus which can
`supply a tablet container with easy and inexpensive composition.
`[0005]
`[Means for solving problem]ln the tablet filling apparatus which fills up with the present invention the
`tablet container to which the tablet supplied from a tablet feed zone is supplied from a tablet
`container feed zone as above—mentioned The means for solving a technical problem, Reciprocation
`moving is linearly possible to the container supporting position which receives and supports the tablet
`container supplied from the aforementioned tablet container feed zone, and the tablet feeding
`position where the tablet supplied from the aforementioned tablet feed zone is thrown in, The
`container support component which has a supporting part of the letter of a fork is provided, and the
`flange of the tablet container supplied from the aforementioned tablet container feed zone is
`supported by the aforementioned supporting part.
`[0006]Even if that supply is performed from which direction of an opening side or the bottom side, by
`a supporting part, a flange is supported and, as for the tablet container supplied from the tablet
`container feed zone by this composition, an opening is certainly positioned up.
`[0007]When it has a label stuck part which sticks Ravel on an outer peripheral surface by guiding and
`rotating the tablet container supported with the aforementioned supporting part, it is preferable at
`the point that the dead space generated with arrangement of a supporting part can be used
`effectively.
`[0008]When the aforementioned supporting part is formed at a different interval according to the
`difference in the size of a tablet container supplied from the aforementioned tablet container feed
`zone, it is preferable at the point that it can respond to various tablet containers by slight
`improvement.
`[0009]The hoisting member which makes it go up and down the tablet container supported to the
`aforementioned supporting part, and the tablet supplied from the aforementioned tablet feed zone
`may be stored temporarily, and it may have further a tablet filling portion with which the tablet
`container which upper“**(ed) by the aforementioned hoisting member is filled up.
`[0010]
`[Mode for carrying out the inventionJHereafter, the embodiment concerning the present invention is
`described according to an accompanying drawing.
`[001l]The present invention is characterized by a tablet filling apparatus comprising the following.
`The storage rack i erevided at the orefiie and and side as shown in Figi.
`The tablet feed zone 2 provided at the upper part side.
`The tablet container feed zone 3 provided at the lower part side.
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`JP,2001-130504,A {DETAILED DESCRIPTION]
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`The storage rack 1, the tablet filling portion 4 provided between the tablet container feed zones 3,
`and the control part 5 (refer to fig“! 7).
`
`is an approximately semi—cylindrical shape-like thing which has two or more
`[0012]The storage rack 1
`accommodating chambers 6. As shown in $3ng (a), each accommodating chamber 6 is frame shape,
`and the opposed face of the radial direction (the arrow in Fig.2 (a) shows.) is carrying out the opening
`at least. The opening of the radial-direction inside is closed by the door 6a energized by the spring
`etc. which are not illustrated. The door 6a has prevented entering of the hand to the filling container
`transportation part 13 mentioned later by providing rotatable only at the front-face side. The door 6a
`is rotated in the range in which it does not interfere in the tablet container 11 held at the container
`holding part 8. The display part 7 is provided by the upper part by the side of the outside diameter
`direction of the accommodating chamber 6. this embodiment -— the display part 7 -- a feeder
`container number and a tablet -- calculation is displayed. The container holding part 8 is provided by
`the accommodating chamber 6. This container holding part 8 energizes the horizontal pair of retainer
`board 9 provided removablely to direction opposing with the spring 9a. The holding claw 10 which
`extends in direction opposing is formed in the lower end part of the retainer board 9. As shown in
`fig.2 (b), the approximately elliptical concave part 10a is formed so that the tablet container 11 can
`be held, and the notch 10b which spreads toward the inner circumference side is formed in the
`opposed rim of each holding claw 10. This notch 10b is for making easy insertion of the tablet
`container 11 to the concave part 10a. It is detectable by the container sensor 8a whether the tablet
`container 11 is held by the container holding part 8 of each accommodating chamber 6.
`[0013]As shown in fig} the touch panel 12 is provided instead of the accommodating chamber 6 by
`the peripheral center of the aforementioned storage rack 1. This touch panel 12 is for making possible
`the direct entry of formula indicative data.
`[0014]The filling container transportation part 13 is arranged at the inner circumference side of the
`aforementioned storage rack 1. The filling container transportation part 13 provides the arm member
`15 to the rectangular frame 14 which can move up and down freely, enabling free revolution, as shown
`in M.
`[0015]The bearing recess 16 is provided by the both—outsides surface of the above-mentioned
`rectangular frame 14 at the upper—and—lower-ends part, respectively. The bearing recess 16 ****s
`the guide shaft 17 made to set up with a predetermined interval behind the storage rack 1. And
`up-and-down motion of the filling container transportation part 13 is enabled via a belt (not shown)
`by driving a motor (not shown). The 1st driving gear 18 is fixed to the center of the lower part side
`horizontal plate 14a of the above-mentioned rectangular frame 14. The aforementioned bearing
`recess 16 may constitute the aforementioned guide shaft 17 from the ****ing roller and bearing.
`[0016]The aforementioned arm member 15 equips the medial axis of the 1st above-mentioned driving
`gear 18 with the arm main part 19 arranged rotatably. The 1st drive motor 20 is arranged by the one
`end part of the arm main part 19. The axis of rotation of the 1st drive motor 20 is projected from the
`lower surface of the arm main part 19, and the position detecting plate 21, and the let above-
`mentioned driving gear 18 and the 2nd meshing driving gear (not shown) are fixed there. The rotary
`place of the 2nd driving gear can be distinguished by detecting the position detecting plate 21 by a
`sensor (not shown). Thereby, the arm member 15 rotates reciprocally in 180 degrees by the drive of
`the lst drive motor 20. The slide member 22 which carries out reciprocation moving to a longitudinal
`direction by the drive of the 2nd drive motor (not shown) to incorporate is arranged by the upper
`surface of the arm main part 19. The gripping member 23 is provided by the one end part (it is an
`opposite side in the let above-mentioned drive motor 20) of the slide member 22. The gripping
`member 23 comprises the pair of holding piece 25 opened and closed via the screwed shaft which is
`not illustrated by the drive of the 3rd drive motor 24 arranged on the slide member 22. The 3rd drive
`motor 24 drives or stops based on the current value changed by the difference in load which acts on
`the holding piece 25. Specifically, the 3rd drive motor 24 stops [ when gripping the tablet container 11
`with the holding piece 25, or ], when opening the holding piece 25, and load increases, and a current
`value exceeds a threshold value (value which added margin current to the current value which flows
`at the time of normal operation). The increase in the load at the time of opening the holding piece 25
`has been acquired by making the supporting part which does not illustrate the holding piece 25 in a
`predetermined open position abut. The holding piece 25 is energized by the opening direction with the
`spring etc. which are not illustrated, and the backlash of the aforementioned screwed shaft is
`absorbed.
`
`[0017]The tablet feed zone 2 comprises the tablet accommodation part 26 and the tablet
`transportation part 27.
`[0018]The tablet accommodation part 26 forms the common guide passage 31 by installing the groove
`part 29 extended to a vertical direction side by side in the both sides of the vertical wall section 28,
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`respectively, and blockading, respectively by the shelf member 30 provided around the center of the
`pivot 30a of each groove part 29 enabling free rotation, as the part is shown in Egg Two or more
`tablet discharge ports 30b are drilled in a vertical direction by each shelf member 30, and, outside,
`the motor base 32 is attached corresponding to each tablet discharge port 30b, respectively.
`[0019jAs shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6, the motor base 32 contained the drive motor 32a, and the driving
`gear 33 to which the power of the aforementioned drive motor 32a is transmited has exposed it to
`the upper surfaceThe fall guide passage 34 is formed in the end side of the motor base 32. The
`tablet detection sensor 35 is provided by the wall of this fall guide passage 34, and the tablet
`discharged by passing through the fall guide passage 34 can be detected now to it (calculation).
`[OOZOjThe feeder container 36 is removably attached to the aforementioned motor base 32. The
`opening of the feeder container 36 is carried out to the upper part, it is the approximately rectangular
`solid form which can cover with the covering 37, and the tablet is accommodated in the inside. The
`rotor 39 which has the gear 38 in a lower end is provided by the bottom of the feeder container 36.
`[0021]If the rotor 39 has a conic surface up and down as shown in fig; and the aforementioned
`motor base 32 is equipped with the feeder container 36, the gear 38 will gear with the gear 33 of the
`aforementioned motor base 32. The tablet guide groove 40 which becomes spiral toward a center, and
`the pass partition groove 41 carried out in the center for 2 minutes are formed in the lower part
`conic surface of the rotor 39. The hand of cut (an arrow shows among Fig.7 (b).) of the direction of a
`whorl of the tablet guide groove 40 is a counter direction toward the center of rotation of the rotor
`39. The partition fin 42 is arranged by the pass partition groove 41, and as shown in Fig.6 (b), each
`tablet which passes through the tablet guide groove 40 with rotation of the rotor 39 is classified
`sequentially.
`[0022]On the gear 38 of the aforementioned feeder container 36, the gear stopper 43 is removable.
`As shown in Fig.5 (b), the gear stopper 43 is energized by the stopper spring 44 at the gear 38 side.
`Since the gear stopper 43 engages with the gear 38 and rotation of the rotor 39 is prevented by this
`even if it removes the feeder container 36 from the motor base 32, a tablet does not fall outside.
`[0023jln the aforementioned tablet feed zone 2, if the drive motor 32a in the motor base 32 is driven
`where the feeder container 36 is attached to the motor base 32, the rotor 39 will rotate via the gear
`33 and the driving gear 38, and a tablet will go to a center of rotation by a single tier via each tablet
`guide groove 40. Since the direction of a whorl of the tablet guide groove 40 is formed toward the
`center of rotation of the rotor 39 as mentioned above so that it may become the hand of cut with a
`counter direction, a tablet is forcibly moved toward a center of rotation irrespective of the centrifugal
`force which acts on a tablet with rotation of the rotor 39. It is divided by the partition fin 42 and a
`tablet faiis one piece at a time to the common guide passage 31 via the fall guide passage 34, before
`entering in the tablet guide groove 40.
`[0024]The shutter 43 for once holding the tablet which has fallen is provided by the lower end of the
`common guide passage 31. The shutter 43 consists of one board horizontally slid to the dropping
`direction of the fall guide passage 34. The openings 43a and 43b are formed in the both ends of the
`shutter 43, respectively. If the shutter 43 slides to a left end, the opening of the fall guide passage 34
`will be carried out by the right-hand side opening 43a, and if it slides to a right end, the opening of
`the fall guide passage 34 will be carried out by the left-hand side opening 43b. if the shutter 43 stops
`in the central part of the slide stroke, both the fall guide passages 34 will be closed.
`[0025jmoreover -— in the lower part of the shutter 43, the hopper 44 is a slide -- and it provides
`removably. The hopper 44 is slid to the position which can receive a tablet according to the slide
`operation of the aforementioned shutter 43. And supply of the tablet received from each
`aforementioned fall guide passage 34 is enabled respectively at the transportation vessel 46 of the
`two tablet transportation parts 27 provided in the lower part of the hopper 44.
`[0026]The tablet transportation part 27 extends the conveying belt 48 between the pair of rollers 47,
`is what made possible reciprocation moving of the transportation vessel 46 with this conveying belt
`48, and is provided by two rows. The transportation vessel 46 is supported with the supporting frame
`body 46a. The rectangular hole 460 is installed in the bottom plate part 46b of the supporting frame
`body 46a side by side (refer to Egg, Fig.14, and Fig.15).The aforementioned conveying belt 48 has the
`continuous guide projected rim part 48a. This guide projected rim part 48a engages with the
`aforementioned rectangular hole 46c, and makes the transportation vessel 46 transportable. The
`transportation vessel 46 comprises the shutter 49 which can open and close a lower surface. The
`shutter 49 is energized so that the bottom of the transportation vessel 46 may be blockaded with the
`spring 50 arranged to the end side. The projection part 49a is formed in the end side lower surface of
`the shutter 49.
`
`[0027]The stock container 51 in which the tablet container feed zone 3 accommodates the empty
`tablet container 11 as shown in Eigg and Fig.9,lt comprises the container extraction part 52 which
`picks out every one tablet container H from this stock container 51, and the empty container
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`JP,2001*130504,A [D ETAILED DESCRIPTION]
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`4 / 10
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`transportation part 53 which conveys the tablet container 1 1 picked out from the stock container 51
`by this container extraction part 52. The tablet container feed zone 3 is installed in a single tier side
`by side, and the tablet container 11 of the sky where sizes (an outer diameter or length) differ,
`respectively is accommodated in each stock container 51, respectively.
`[0028]The bottom wall 54 of the aforementioned stock container 51 inclines caudad toward the
`container extraction part 52, and the turntable 55 is arranged near the container extraction part 52.
`The turntable 55 is slightly projected from the bottom wall 54, and changes the slope direction of
`positive and the tablet container [ as opposed to / rotate reversely and / the container extraction
`part 52 j 11 periodically by the drive of the motor 56. The hemispherical projection 55a is provided by
`the upper surface of the rotatable plate 55. This projection 55a helps smooth drawing by the
`container extraction part 52 by making the tablet container 11 sideways. The transmission type
`photosensor 54a is attached above the inclined plane of the bottom wall 54. The indicator lamp (not
`shown) provided to the stock container 51 displays the storage residue of the tablet container 11
`based on the detecting signal in the transmission type photosensor 54a. That is, an indicator lamp
`turns on the "F” lamp, when the light between the transmission type photosensors 54a is
`intercepted, and when not intercepted, it turns on the "L" lamp. An indicator lamp turns on the "E"
`lamp, when the sensor provided to the conveying base 62 mentioned later cannot detect the tablet
`container 11 for a definite period of time. It may be made to display the storage residue of the
`aforementioned tablet container 11 on the touch panel 12 shown in am.
`[0029jThe aforementioned container extraction part 52 builds over the belt 58 between the rollers 57
`arranged up and down, as shown in Fig“). Along with the moving direction, the horizontal container
`holding part 59 is provided with the predetermined interval by the belt 58. The vertical container
`exclusion part 60 is provided by two places between each horizontal container holding part 59. The
`horizontal container holding part 59 comprises two or more holding claws 59a projected with a
`predetermined interval, and the vertical container exclusion part 60 comprises two or more protruding
`parts 60a projected with a predetermined interval. The interval of each horizontal container holding
`part 59 is smaller than the height measurement of the tablet container 11, and is enlarged rather than
`the outside diameter size. The interval of each holding claw 59a is enlarged rather than the outside
`diameter size of the tablet container 11. It is possible to hold the tablet container 11 sideways
`reliably by this, without catching the opening of the tablet container 11 in the holding claw 59a.
`[0030]As shown in Egg the aforementioned container extraction part 52 is further provided with the
`conveyor 61 and the conveying base 62, and conveys the tablet container 1 1 taken out by the
`aforementioned container extraction part 52 to the empty container transportation part 53. The
`conveyor 61 builds over the conveyance rope 59 of four convenience between the pair of rollers 68.
`The roller 68 can rotate reciprocally by the drive of the motor which is not illustrated. The interval of
`the conveyance rope 69 is a value smaller than the outer diameter of the tablet container 1 1
`conveyed at least. The conveying base 62 is section abbreviation L type, and transports the tablet
`container 11 which rotated between the positions shown with a solid line and a two-dot chain line
`among Fig.9 by the drive of the solenoid which is not illustrated, and was conveyed by conveyor 61 to
`the empty container transportation part 53. The aforementioned container extraction part 52 is driven
`when the tablet container 11 on the conveyor 61 is not detected by the sensor which is not
`illustrated. The aforementioned empty container transportation parts 53 will be collected to the
`recovering box which does not illustrate this, if the transportation direction was reversed and the
`empty tablet container 11 has stopped on the way for a definite period of time at the time of power
`supply starting from an initial power up or a scram.
`[0031]The aforementioned empty container transportation part 53 is arranged under the conveying
`base 62 along with the stock container 51 installed side by side. This empty container transportation
`part 53 comprises the pair of roller 71 and the pair of conveyance rope 72 extended to those both
`ends, respectively like the aforementioned transportation part 66.
`[0032]The tablet filling portion 4 is provided with the following.
`As shown in Fig.1 '1, it is the container supporting part 76 of a letter of a fork.
`Tablet metering zone 77.
`
`[0033]The aforementioned container supporting part 76 has two or more holding pieces 78, and
`supports the tablet container 11 between each. The interval of each holding piece 78 corresponds to
`the size of the tablet container 11. In this embodiment, it is possible to the container supporting part
`76 to hold the tablet container 11 of S, M, and L size. The container supporting part 76 carries out
`reciprocation moving of between a container supporting position and tablet feeding positions with the
`driving device which is not illustrated.
`[0034]The guide plates 79, 80, and 81 are provided near the container supporting position. The first
`guide plate 79 is a substantially V~shape form, and leads the tablet container 11 conveyed from the
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`empty container transportation part 53 to the second guide plate 80. In the container supporting part
`76, the second guide plate 80 inclines the tablet container 11 so that supply is possible. The third
`guide plate 81 moves to the second guide plate 80, and carries out permission or denial of the supply
`of the tablet container 11 to the container supporting part 76. The third guide plate 81 may equip the
`back side with the sending—out guide plate from the transmission direction so that the tablet
`container 11 may roll reliably.
`[0035]The container aligning plate 82 is arranged under the container supporting part 76. When the
`container aligning plate 82 carries out horizontal migration of the container supporting part 76, the
`tablet container 11 supported with each holding piece 78 is abutted, and it is aligned at a single tier. It
`becomes possible for this to stop an extrusion outlet with the extrusion roller 92 mentioned later, and
`to make efficient operation perform.
`[0036]Near the tablet feeding position, the label sticking device 83 and the lifter 84 are provided.
`[0037]The label sticking device 83 prints a drugs name etc. on a label, and sticks them on the tablet
`container 11. The label 85 is stuck on the sheet 87 supplied from one roller 86a, and when the sheet
`87 is converted in a direction by the guide tips 88, it separates. The sheet 87 removed in the label 85
`is rolled round by the roller 86b of another side. Printing to the label 85 is performed by carrying out
`hot printing of the ribbon 90 by the print head 89, being supported by the backing strip roller 86c
`before being removed from the sheet 87. The ribbon 90 is supplied from one roller 91a, and is rolled
`round by the roller 91 b of another side.
`[0038]Under the aforementioned container supporting part 76, the pair of extrusion roller 92 and the
`guide roller 93 are arranged. Between the extrusion rollers 92, the size detection sensor (not shown)
`for detecting the size of the tablet container 11 is provided. The extrusion roller 92 extrudes the
`tablet container 1 1 aligned with the container aligning plate 82 to the projection direction of the
`holding piece 78, and holds the tablet container 11 with the guide roller 93 which is placed at the
`opposite side. The rotation cradle 110 is provided under the tablet container 11 held by the extrusion
`roller 92 and the guide roller 93. This rotation cradle 110 goes up to the height according to the
`detection size in the aforementioned size detection sensor. The guide roller 93 is energized at the
`aforementioned extrusion roller 92 side, and rotates the tablet container 11 by the drive of the motor
`93a.
`
`[0039]The lifter 84 is raised to the tablet filling position which lifts even the filling hopper 97 which
`mentions the tablet container 11 later with the rotary place where the flange is placed up slightly
`rather than the holding piece 78.
`[0040]The aforementioned tablet metering zone 77 is provided with the injecting hopper 94, the
`metering zone 95, the scale hopper 96, the filling hopper 97, and the discharge hopper 98.
`[0041jln the injecting hopper 94, if the aforementioned transportation vessel 46 moves as shown in
`Fig.1 ES, by abutting an edge, the projection part 49a of the shutter 49 will resist the energization force
`of the spring 50, and will open the shutter 49. Thereby, the tablet accommodated in the
`transportation vessel 46 falls to the injecting hopper 94 sequentially.
`[0042]The metering zone 95 consists of the graduated cylinder 99 which accommodates the tablet
`which falls from the injecting hopper 94, the measuring instrument 100 measured with the tablet
`which had this graduated cylinder 99 accommodated, and the pair of arm 101 which supports the
`aforementioned graduated cylinder 99, as shown in Figji 1. Two projections 99a and 99b are formed in
`the both—sides outer surface of the graduated cylinder 99, respectively. The locking recess 101a to
`which the projection 99a by the side of an end is locked is formed at the tip of the arm 101. When
`this locking recess 101a rotates the arm 101 and supplies the tablet in the graduated cylinder 99 to
`the filling hopper 97, in order to prevent omission of the projection 99a of the aforementioned
`graduated cylinder 99, it is formed in the key type. When a tablet is fed into the graduated cylinder 99
`from the injecting hopper 94, the aforementioned arm 101 is supported in the state where the
`graduated cylinder 99 was floated from the measuring instrument 100 so that the impulse force may
`not act on the measuring instrument 100 directly, and it is rotated so that the graduated cylinder 99
`may be placed on the measuring instrument 100 after that. Thereby, the metering time by the
`measuring instrument 100 is shortened.
`[0043]It comprises the shutter 96a, the fill volume detection sensor 102 is arranged by the opposed
`side, and the bottom surface of the scale hopper 96 can distinguish the amount of tablets stored in
`the scale hopper 96.
`[0044]The upper opening of the filling hopper 97 and the discharge hopper 98 is opened and closed
`with the opening and closing door 103 provided enabling free rotation. The filling hopper 97 serves as
`the form with the stage where the lower part tubed part 110 makes an inner diameter small gradually
`as shown in figirfi, and the inner cylinder 111 is arranged there, enabling free up-and~down motion.
`The umbrella part 112 is formed in the upper part of an inner cylinder, and the inner direction opening
`110a of the lower part tubed part 110 is opened and closed. If the tablet container 11 is made to
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`upper-** and an inner cylinder is pushed up by the aforementioned lifter 84 by this, the tablet held by
`the umbrella part 112 will be supplied in the tablet container 11.
`[0045]The control part 5 receives the input of prescription information from the host computer 105
`(input signal in the touch panel 12), as shown in gigif, the storage rack 1 tablet (container sensor 8a,
`touch—panel 12, motor 14a, ist drive-motor 20, 3rd drive motor 24, etc.) feed zone 2 (the drive motor
`32a ~—) The tablet detection sensor 35 etc. receive signals from the tablet container feed zone 3, the
`tablet filling portion 4, the emergency stop switches (the measuring instrument 100, the fill volume
`detection sensor 102, etc.) 106, etc, and drive controlling is carried out.
`[0046]Next, it describes about operation of the tablet filling apparatus of the aforementioned
`composition.
`[0047]As shown in the flow chart of figJS, the formula indicative data based on prescription data is
`first received from the host computer 105 (Step S1). And based on this formula indicative data, an
`empty container provisioning process (Step 82) and tablet transfer processing (Step 83) are
`performed by parallel concurrent processing. Then, after performing tablet filling treatment (step S4),
`container transfer processing in which the tablet container 11 is transported to the accommodating
`chamber 6 of the storage rack 1
`is performed (Step SS). Two or more formula indicative data may be
`received according to throughput.
`[0048]As an empty container provisioning process is shown in the flow chart of Fig.1 9 and Fig.20, the
`container extraction part 52 of the stock container 51 in which the tablet container 11 applicable
`based on the aforementioned formula indicative data is accommodated first is driven (Step S11).In
`the container extraction part 52, the tablet container 11 is conveyed upwards by the horizontal
`container holding part 60 in the state where it was held sideways. The tablet container 11 has it
`prevented by the horizontal container holding part 60 by the vertical container exclusion part 61 at
`this time longitude or that two are laminated. [the time of use of th