JP6914604B2 - PTP sheet and PTP packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a PTP sheet containing tablets and a PTP packaging machine for producing a PTP sheet.

A PTP (press-through pack) sheet is generally known as a blister sheet used in the field of pharmaceuticals and the like. The PTP sheet includes a container film having a pocket portion for containing a tablet, and a cover film attached so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion with respect to the container film.

The PTP sheet can be manufactured by a PTP packaging machine. The PTP wrapping machine has a means for forming a pocket portion on the band-shaped container film to be conveyed, a means for filling the pocket portion with tablets, and a band-shaped cover film on the container film so as to seal the opening side of the pocket portion. It is provided with a means for attaching, a means for punching a strip-shaped PTP film composed of a container film and a cover film in units of PTP sheets, and the like.

By the way, depending on the type of tablet, it may be stipulated that the tablet be taken at a predetermined time (for example, in the morning, at night, etc.). Therefore, a PTP sheet in which information on the timing of taking tablets is printed on a cover film has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like). According to such a PTP sheet, it is possible to confirm when the tablet should be taken by looking at the printed contents. In Patent Document 1, the information on the time of administration includes the day of the week provided corresponding to the row of the pocket portion, the time zone (morning, night, etc.) provided corresponding to the column of the pocket portion. ing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-21157

By the way, when information on the dosing time is provided on the PTP sheet (cover film) as in Patent Document 1, the information printed on the PTP sheet is used before the tablet is taken out from the PTP sheet (pocket portion). You can tell when to take the tablet by looking at it. However, once the tablet is taken out from the PTP sheet, the timing of taking the tablet cannot be known even by looking at the information on the PTP sheet, and there is a risk that the tablet may be taken by mistake at a time when it should not be taken.

For example, suppose you forget to take a tablet one morning, where the tablet should be taken in the morning and in the evening, respectively. In this case, when the tablet that should have been taken in the morning and the tablet that should be taken in the evening are taken out from the PTP sheet that night, the opening mark of the cover film is in a normal state (the tablet that should be taken in the morning and the tablet that should be taken in the evening). The state in which and was taken out) is shown, and there is no particular abnormality even if the information on the PTP sheet is viewed. Therefore, there is a risk of taking tablets (tablets that should have been taken in the morning) at the wrong time (night). In addition, when taking tablets, the user can notice that tablets that are taken at the wrong time are mixed based on the number of tablets to be taken, but when taking many tablets at once, From the number of tablets, it is difficult to notice that the tablets are taken at the wrong time, and there is a concern that the tablets may be taken at the wrong time as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to know when to take a tablet even after taking out the tablet from the PTP sheet, and to more reliably prevent the taking of the tablet at the wrong time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a PTP sheet and a PTP packaging machine capable of producing a tablet.

Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above object will be described in terms of terms. In addition, the action and effect peculiar to the corresponding means will be added as necessary.

Means 1 . A PTP sheet in which tablets are stored in each of a plurality of pockets formed on a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets.
Tablets are provided with a dosing time information section that provides information on when to take the tablets.
The container film has a flange portion that is formed so as to extend outward from the opening side end portion of the pocket portion and to which the cover film is attached, and is transparent or translucent.
On the surface of the cover film to be attached to the flange portion, a flange-side dosing time information portion indicating information on the tablet dosing time is provided corresponding to the pocket portion in which the tablet is housed. ,
The tablet is provided with a tablet information unit indicating product information regarding the tablet, which is different from the information regarding the administration time, on the back surface side of the surface provided with the administration time information unit, and the tablet is provided with the tablet information. The surface on the side where the portion is provided faces the pocket portion, and the surface on the side where the administration time information portion is provided faces the portion of the cover film that closes the pocket portion and is housed in the pocket portion. A PTP sheet characterized by being tableted.

According to the above means 1, since the tablet itself is provided with an administration time information unit, it is possible to know the administration time of the tablet by checking the administration time information unit. Therefore, even after the tablet is taken out from the PTP sheet, the time when the tablet is taken can be known, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the tablet from being taken at the wrong time. For example, if a pill is to be taken in the morning and evening, and if you forget to take the pill one morning, then that night, the pill that should have been taken in the morning and the pill that should be taken in the evening Was taken out from the PTP sheet. At this time, by checking the dosing time information section, it can be seen that some of the taken out tablets should have been taken in the morning. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the tablet (the tablet that should have been taken in the morning) from being taken at the wrong time (night).

Further, since the dosing time information unit is located on the cover film side, when the tablet is taken out while looking at the surface of the PTP sheet on the cover film side (the side from which the tablet is taken out), the taking time information part of the taken out tablet is taken out. Can be confirmed immediately. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the taking of tablets at the wrong time.

In addition , according to the above means 1 , since the flange side dosing time information portion is provided on the surface of the cover film to be attached to the container film (flange portion), the flange side is provided regardless of the tablet size. The dosing time information section can be displayed in a large size. Therefore, before taking out the tablet from the PTP sheet, the time when the tablet is taken can be more easily grasped by checking the flange side dosing time information part through the transparent or translucent flange part. On the other hand, after the tablet is taken out from the PTP sheet, the time when the tablet is taken can be grasped by checking the dosing time information unit provided on the tablet.

In addition, since the tablet information portion can be confirmed through the transparent or translucent pocket portion, it is possible to grasp whether or not the tablet is the correct tablet to be taken before taking out the tablet from the PTP sheet. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the wrong administration of tablets.

The "information on the time of administration" includes the day of the week, the time zone, the date, the order of administration, and the like. In addition, "information on the time of administration" can be composed of various information such as characters, symbols, patterns, and pictures.

In addition , as "product information on tablets", product names, contents, dosage forms, manufacturers, lot numbers and the like can be mentioned.

Means 2 . A PTP packaging machine for producing a PTP sheet in which tablets are stored in each of a plurality of pockets formed on a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets. And
A filling means for filling tablets into the pockets formed in the strip-shaped container film to be transported, and
An attachment means for attaching the band-shaped cover film to the container film in which the pocket portion is filled with tablets so as to close the pocket portion.
A means for separating the PTP sheet from the strip-shaped PTP film formed by attaching the cover film to the container film is provided.
The filling means
By adsorbing and transporting the tablet and releasing the adsorption of the tablet at a predetermined filling position, the tablet can be filled into the pocket portion of the container film transported to the filling position. Transport means and
The tablet is provided with a tablet printing means that prints and forms a dosing time information unit that indicates information on the taking time of the tablet that is adsorbed and conveyed by the carrying means.
The tablet printing means is a PTP packaging machine configured to print and form the dosing time information portion corresponding to the position of the pocket portion to be filled in the tablet onto the tablet.

According to the above means 2 , printing is applied to the tablet in a state where the tablet is adsorbed by the transport means, and then the tablet is filled in the pocket portion by releasing the adsorption by the transport means. That is, the tablet on which the dosing time information portion is formed in the adsorbed state is conveyed to the filling position side while maintaining the adsorbed state, and is filled in the pocket portion by being released from adsorption at the filling position. Therefore, the tablet does not rub against other tablets, hoppers, etc., and it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed content from becoming unclear due to the dosing time information portion being scraped or chipped. Thereby, a PTP sheet having a clear printed content can be obtained more reliably.

In addition, the tablet printing means prints the dosing time information section corresponding to the position of the pocket portion where the tablet is to be filled on the tablet. For example, when the pocket portions in the PTP sheet are arranged in 3 vertical rows and 7 horizontal rows, the tablet printing means is used for the tablets to be filled in the pocket portions in the 1st vertical row and the 1st horizontal row. The dosing time information section corresponding to the above is printed, and the dosing time information section corresponding to the pocket is printed on the tablet to be filled in the pockets in the first vertical row and the second horizontal row. Print an appropriate dosing time information section on the tablet according to the position of the target pocket. As a result, it is possible to more reliably obtain a PTP sheet that is easy for the user to use, such as a PTP sheet in which tablets are regularly arranged in the order of administration time.

Means 3 . The container film is transparent or translucent,
The means 2 is characterized in that the transport means is configured to fill the pocket portion with a tablet so that the surface on the side where the dosing time information portion is provided faces the pocket portion. PTP packaging machine.

According to the above means 3 , in the obtained PTP sheet, before taking out the tablet from the PTP sheet, the dosing time information part can be confirmed through the transparent or translucent pocket portion, and the tablet can be removed from the PTP sheet. After taking out, the taking time information unit of the taken out tablet can be confirmed. That is, the dosing time information unit can be confirmed both before and after taking out the tablet from the PTP sheet. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the taking of tablets at the wrong time.

Means 4 . The tablet printing means includes a printing head having a plurality of ejection nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto a tablet.
The PTP wrapping machine according to means 2 or 3 , further comprising a head moving means for periodically moving the print head.

According to the above means 4 , the ejection nozzles are evenly used by periodically changing the relative positional relationship between the print head and the tablet by the head moving means for moving the print head in a predetermined direction (for example, the width direction of the cover film). As a result, clogging of ink in the ejection nozzle can be prevented more reliably. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult for defects related to printing of the dosing time information section to occur, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective tablets and thus defective sheets. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the increase in the cost related to the production of the PTP sheet.

It is a perspective view which shows the PTP sheet in 1st Embodiment. It is a partially enlarged sectional view of the PTP sheet in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the tablet when viewed from the front surface side. It is a perspective view of the tablet when viewed from the back surface side. In the first embodiment, it is a top view of the PTP sheet when viewed from the container film side. It is a perspective view which shows the PTP film in 1st Embodiment. In the first embodiment, it is a bottom view of the PTP sheet when viewed from the cover film side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the PTP packaging machine in 1st Embodiment. It is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the tablet filling apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a partially cutaway perspective view which shows a rotary drum and a fixed valve. It is a partially cutaway perspective view which shows a rotary drum and a fixed valve. It is a partially enlarged sectional view of the rotary drum which shows the suction part. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the print head. It is a flowchart which shows the manufacturing process of a PTP sheet. It is a perspective view which shows the PTP sheet in 2nd Embodiment. In the second embodiment, it is a partially broken perspective view showing a tablet or the like when viewed from the container film side. In the second embodiment, it is a top view of the PTP sheet when viewed from the container film side. In the second embodiment, it is a partially broken perspective view showing a tablet or the like when viewed from the cover film side. It is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the tablet filling apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. In another embodiment, it is a plan view of the PTP sheet when viewed from the container film side.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of the PTP sheet will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the PTP sheet 1 has a container film 3 having a plurality of pocket portions 2 and a cover film 4 attached to the container film 3 so as to close the pocket portions 2. ing.

The container film 3 in the present embodiment is formed of a transparent thermoplastic resin material such as PP (polypropylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and has translucency. That is, the container film 3 is transparent or translucent. Further, the container film 3 has a flange portion 3A formed so as to extend outward from the opening side end portion of the pocket portion 2. A cover film 4 is attached to the flange portion 3A.

The cover film 4 is made of an opaque material (for example, aluminum foil) on which a sealant made of polypropylene resin or the like is provided on the surface. Of course, the materials of the films 3 and 4 are not limited to these, and other materials may be adopted.

The PTP sheet 1 is manufactured by punching a strip-shaped PTP film 6 (see FIG. 6) formed from a strip-shaped container film 3 and a strip-shaped cover film 4 into a sheet shape, and has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. It is formed in a shape. In the PTP sheet 1, three pocket rows consisting of seven pocket portions 2 arranged along the longitudinal direction thereof are formed in the lateral direction thereof. That is, the PTP sheet 1 is formed with three rows of pockets extending in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet 1), and the pocket rows extending in the horizontal direction (the lateral direction of the PTP sheet 1). Seven rows are formed. One tablet 5 is housed in each pocket portion 2.

The tablet 5 in the present embodiment is a disk-shaped uncoated tablet having a circular shape in a plan view, and has a configuration having a side surface 5A and a front surface 5B and a back surface 5C sandwiching the side surface 5A. Further, the side surface 5A includes a tapered portion 5D that chamfers the boundary portion with the front surface 5B and a tapered portion 5E that chamfers the boundary portion of the back surface 5C.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the surface 5B of the tablet 5, a dosing time information unit 5F showing information on the dosing time of the tablet 5 is printed and formed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, as the dosing time information unit 5F, the characters related to the day of the week to be taken (more specifically, the characters expressed by omitting the day of the week) and the characters related to the time zone (in the figure, "morning". ") Is printed. Information on the time of administration may be composed of various information other than characters such as symbols, patterns, and pictures.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, on the back surface 5C of the tablet 5, a tablet information unit 5G showing product information regarding the tablet 5 is formed, which is different from the information regarding the timing of administration. In the present embodiment, in the example shown in FIG. 4, as the tablet information unit 5G, characters indicating the product name of the tablet 5 and a number indicating the content of a predetermined component in the tablet 5 are printed. The product information regarding the tablet 5 may be "dosage form", "manufacturer", "lot number" and the like.

Further, in the PTP sheet 1, the tablet 5 is housed in the pocket portion 2 with the surface 5B, which is the surface on the side where the dosing time information portion 5F is provided, faces the pocket portion 2 (see FIG. 2). ). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the PTP sheet 1 is viewed from the container film 3 side, the dosing time information unit 5F can be visually recognized through the transparent or translucent pocket portion 2.

In addition, in the PTP sheet 1, the tablets 5 are arranged so that the characters indicating the time zone in the dosing time information unit 5F are arranged in the correct day of the week order for each pocket portion 2 arranged along the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet 1). Is housed. Further, the tablets 5 are stored in the pocket portions 2 arranged along the lateral direction (the lateral direction of the PTP sheet 1) so that the characters indicating the time zone in the dosing time information unit 5F are arranged in the correct order in time. ing. As described above, in the PTP sheet 1, the tablets 5 are regularly arranged in the order of the administration time. As a result, in the PTP sheet 1, each tablet 5 is in a state in which different types of dosing time information units 5F are printed and formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover portion 4A (shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7), which is the back surface of the surface of the cover film 4 that is attached to the container film 3 and is a portion that closes the pocket portion 2. A lid-side dosing time information portion 4B showing information regarding the dosing time of the tablet 5 housed in the pocket portion 2 is printed and formed on the circular portion). In the example shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, as the lid-side dosing time information unit 4B, characters having the same contents as the dosing time information unit 5F, that is, characters related to the day of the week and the time zone to be taken are printed and formed.

Further, in any one pocket portion 2, the information indicated by the lid-side dosing time information unit 4B corresponding to the pocket portion 2 and the dosing time information unit 5F provided in the tablet 5 housed in the pocket portion 2 The information shown has the same content. For example, in the present embodiment, regarding the pocket portion 2 in the first vertical row and the first horizontal row, the lid-side dosing time information portion 4B corresponding to the pocket portion 2 and the dosing time of the tablet 5 contained in the pocket portion 2 are taken. The information unit 5F is formed by printing characters for indicating the time zone of "morning" and characters for indicating the day of the week "Monday" (characters of "month" in the figure).

Next, the schematic configuration of the PTP packaging machine 10 for manufacturing the PTP sheet 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, on the most upstream side of the PTP packaging machine 10, the original fabric of the strip-shaped container film 3 is wound in a roll shape. The drawer end side of the container film 3 wound in a roll shape is guided by the guide roll 13. The container film 3 is hung on the intermittent feed roll 14 on the downstream side of the guide roll 13. The intermittent feed roll 14 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, and intermittently conveys the container film 3.

A heating device 15 and a pocket portion forming device 16 are sequentially arranged between the guide roll 13 and the intermittent feed roll 14 along the transport path of the container film 3. Then, in a state where the container film 3 is heated by the heating device 15 and the container film 3 becomes relatively flexible, the pocket portion forming device 16 forms a plurality of pocket portions 2 at predetermined positions of the container film 3. The formation of the pocket portion 2 is performed at the interval between the transport operations of the container film 3 by the intermittent feed roll 14.

The container film 3 fed from the intermittent feed roll 14 is hung in the order of the tension roll 18, the guide roll 19, and the film receiving roll 20. Since the film receiving roll 20 is connected to a motor that rotates at a constant speed, the container film 3 is continuously conveyed at a constant speed. The tension roll 18 is in a state of pulling the container film 3 toward the tension side by elastic force, and prevents the container film 3 from loosening due to the difference in the transport operation between the intermittent feed roll 14 and the film receiving roll 20 to prevent the container film 3 from loosening. The film 3 is always kept in a tense state.

A tablet filling device 21 and an inspection device 22 are sequentially arranged between the guide roll 19 and the film receiving roll 20 along the transport path of the container film 3.

The tablet filling device 21 has a function as a filling means for filling the pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5. The tablet filling device 21 adsorbs and conveys the tablet 5 in synchronization with the transfer operation of the container film 3 by the film receiving roll 20, and automatically fills each pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5. Details of the tablet filling device 21 will be described later.

The inspection device 22 mainly inspects whether or not each pocket portion 2 is securely filled with the tablet 5, whether or not the tablet 5 is abnormal, and whether or not foreign matter is mixed in the pocket portion 2.

On the other hand, the original fabric of the cover film 4 formed in a strip shape is wound in a roll shape on the most upstream side. The drawer end of the cover film 4 wound in a roll shape is guided toward the heating roll 25 by the guide roll 24.

The heating roll 25 can be pressure-contacted with the film receiving roll 20, and the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are fed between the rolls 20 and 25. Then, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 pass between the rolls 20 and 25 in a heat and pressure contact state, so that the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 and the pocket portion 2 is closed by the cover film 4. .. As a result, a strip-shaped PTP film 6 in which the tablet 5 is housed in each pocket portion 2 is manufactured. The film receiving roll 20 and the heating roll 25 constitute the mounting means in the present embodiment.

Further, a lid-compatible printing device 26 is provided between the cover film 4 wound in a roll shape and the rolls 20 and 25. The lid-compatible printing device 26 constitutes the lid-compatible printing means of the present embodiment.

The lid-compatible printing device 26 is composed of, for example, an inkjet printing machine, an offset printing machine, a letterpress printing machine, a flexographic printing machine, or the like, and immediately before attachment to the container film 3, the pocket portion 2 in the cover film 4 is formed. A lid-side dosing time information unit 4B is printed and formed on each of the parts to be closed (the part that eventually becomes the lid part 4A). By detecting a mark (not shown) provided in advance on the cover film 4 with a predetermined sensor (not shown), a portion of the cover film 4 scheduled to block the pocket portion 2 is detected, and the portion is detected. On the other hand, the lid side dosing time information unit 4B is printed and formed.

Further, as the lid-side dosing time information unit 4B, information on the dosing time of the tablet 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 to be closed by the lid portion 4A is printed and formed on each lid portion 4A. For example, when the dosing time information unit 5F indicating a predetermined day of the week and time zone is printed on the tablet 5 filled in the pocket portion 2, the day and time of the same content are printed on the lid portion 4A that closes the pocket portion 2. The lid-side dosing time information unit 4B indicating the band is printed and formed.

The PTP film 6 fed from the film receiving roll 20 is hung in the order of the tension roll 27 and the intermittent feed roll 28. Since the intermittent feed roll 28 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the PTP film 6 is intermittently conveyed. The tension roll 27 is in a state of pulling the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by the elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening due to the difference in the transport operation between the film receiving roll 20 and the intermittent feed roll 28. The PTP film 6 is always kept in a tense state.

The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 28 is hung in the order of the tension roll 31 and the intermittent feed roll 32. Since the intermittent feed roll 32 is connected to a motor that rotates intermittently, the PTP film 6 is intermittently conveyed. The tension roll 31 is in a state of pulling the PTP film 6 toward the tension side by the elastic force, and prevents the PTP film 6 from loosening between the intermittent feed rolls 28 and 32.

A slit forming device 33 and a marking device 34 are sequentially arranged between the intermittent feed roll 28 and the tension roll 31 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The slit forming device 33 has a function of forming a slit for cutting at a predetermined position of the PTP film 6. Further, the marking device 34 has a function of marking a predetermined position (for example, a tag portion) of the PTP film 6. In addition, in FIG. 1 and the like, the slit for cutting and the like are omitted.

The PTP film 6 fed from the intermittent feed roll 32 is hung in the order of the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36 on the downstream side thereof. A sheet punching device 37 is arranged between the intermittent feed roll 32 and the tension roll 35 along the transport path of the PTP film 6. The sheet punching device 37 has a function of punching the outer edge of the PTP film 6 in units of one PTP sheet. The sheet punching device 37 constitutes the cutting means in the present embodiment.

The PTP sheet 1 punched by the sheet punching device 37 is conveyed by the conveyor 39 and temporarily stored in the finished product hopper 40. However, the PTP sheet 1 determined to be a defective product by the inspection device 22 is not sent to the finished product hopper 40, but is separately discharged by a defective sheet discharging mechanism (not shown).

A cutting device 41 is arranged on the downstream side of the continuous feed roll 36. Then, the unnecessary film portion 42 constituting the residual material portion (scrap portion) remaining in a strip shape after punching by the sheet punching device 37 is guided to the cutting device 41 after being guided by the tension roll 35 and the continuous feed roll 36. .. The driven roll is pressure-welded to the continuous feed roll 36, and the continuous feed roll 36 performs a transport operation while sandwiching the unnecessary film portion 42. The cutting device 41 cuts the unnecessary film portion 42 to a predetermined size. The cut unnecessary film portion 42 (scrap) is stored in the scrap hopper 43 and then separately disposed of.

The rolls 14, 20, 28, 31, 32 and the like have a positional relationship in which the roll surface and the pocket portion 2 face each other, but the pocket portion 2 is provided on the surface of the intermittent feed roll 14 and the like. Since the recess to be accommodated is formed, the pocket portion 2 is not crushed. Further, since the feeding operation is performed while the pocket portion 2 is housed in each recess such as the intermittent feeding roll 14, the intermittent feeding operation and the continuous feeding operation are surely performed.

Next, the configuration of the tablet filling device 21 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the tablet filling device 21.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tablet filling device 21 includes a storage unit 45, a supply chute 46, a first rotary drum 47, and a second rotary drum 48 in this order from the upstream side along the supply path of the tablet 5. The first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 constitute the transport means in the present embodiment.

Further, the tablet filling device 21 includes a first printing device 61 corresponding to the first rotary drum 47 and a second printing device 62 corresponding to the second rotary drum 48. The first printing device 61 constitutes the second tablet printing means of the present embodiment, and the second printing device 62 constitutes the tablet printing means of the present embodiment.

Further, each mechanism unit (storage unit 45, supply chute 46, rotary drums 47, 48, printing device 61, 62) of the tablet filling device 21 is driven and controlled by the control device 71.

Next, each mechanical unit of the tablet filling device 21 and the control device 71 will be described in detail.

The storage unit 45 is configured to be able to store a large number of tablets 5, and is configured to sequentially supply the tablets 5 to the supply chute 46 from here. In the tablet 5 stored in the storage unit 45, the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G are not formed, respectively.

The supply chute 46 is provided corresponding to the position of each pocket portion 2 in the width direction (paper surface depth direction of FIG. 9) of the container film 3 to be horizontally conveyed. That is, in the present embodiment, seven supply chutes 46 are arranged side by side along the width direction of the container film 3. Each supply chute 46 has a tubular shape, and is configured so that the tablets 5 can be loaded in a row in the vertical direction in a horizontal posture.

Further, each supply chute 46 is arranged so that its lower opening is close to the first rotary drum 47. More specifically, the lower opening of each supply chute 46 is slightly downstream from the position directly above the rotation shaft 54 described later of the first rotary drum 47 along the rotation direction of the first rotary drum 47. It is placed close to a predetermined position.

A shutter 46A capable of opening and closing the lower opening is provided in the vicinity of the lower opening of each supply chute 46. Then, by opening and closing the shutter 46A, one tablet 5 can be naturally dropped from each supply chute 46 and supplied to the first rotary drum 47.

Next, the first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 will be described. Since the first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 have the same configuration, they are collectively referred to as “rotary drums 47 and 48” here.

The rotary drums 47 and 48 have a cylindrical shape and are rotatably supported by the shaft. The rotary drums 47 and 48 are arranged so that their rotation shafts 54 are parallel to the width direction of the container film 3. The rotary shaft 54 is directly or indirectly connected to a drive means such as a motor (not shown), and is rotationally driven by the motor. Then, the rotary drums 47 and 48 rotate integrally with the rotation of the rotating shaft 54.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a large number of suction portions 55A for sucking and holding the tablet 5 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary drums 47 and 48. The suction portions 55A are regularly arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48. In the present embodiment, seven suction portions 55A are provided at equal intervals in the axial direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48 corresponding to the positions of the pocket portions 2 in the width direction of the container film 3. Then, seven rows of seven suction portions 55A arranged in the axial direction (hereinafter, referred to as "suction portion 55A rows") are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48. Further, the forming interval (pitch) of the suction portions 55A with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48 is the same as the forming interval (pitch) of the pocket portion 2 with respect to the conveying direction (rightward direction in FIG. 9) of the container film 3.

Each suction portion 55A has a substantially circular shape in a plan view of the rotary drums 47 and 48 in the radial direction, and has a size capable of accommodating the tablet 5. Further, each suction portion 55A has a substantially arc shape in a cross-sectional view along the radial direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48 (see FIG. 12). That is, each suction portion 55A is a concave portion recessed in a substantially spherical shape on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drums 47 and 48.

In the present embodiment, in a state where the tablet 5 is adsorbed and held by the adsorption portion 55A, the tapered portion 5D or the tapered portion 5E of the tablet 5 comes into contact with the adsorption portion 55A, and among the tablets 5, the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G The front surface 5B and the back surface 5C on which the above surface is formed are configured to be in a non-contact state with the suction portion 55A (see FIG. 12). Further, in a state where the tablet 5 is sucked and held by the suction portion 55A, a part of the tablet 5 protrudes from the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary drums 47 and 48.

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

Each air passage 55C communicates with seven suction holes 55B arranged in the axial direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48. Further, each ventilation path 55C is open on the side surface of the rotary drums 47 and 48 on one end side in the axial direction. A disk-shaped fixed valve 56 is provided on the side surface of the rotary drums 47, 48 on one end side in the axial direction (the side surface through which the ventilation passage 55C is opened) so as to cover the side surface.

A negative pressure space portion A1 and an atmospheric open space portion A2 are formed in the fixed valve 56. Both space portions A1 and A2 are curved in an arc shape along the rotation direction of the rotary drums 47 and 48, respectively, and are open to the opposite surface side facing the side surface of the rotary drums 47 and 48 on one end side in the axial direction ( (See FIG. 10). In addition, in FIGS. 10 and 11, both space portions A1 and A2 corresponding to the second rotary drum 48 are shown.

The negative pressure space portion A1 has suction holes 55B and suction portions 55A that change positions as the rotary drums 47 and 48 rotate in predetermined directions (in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 9). ) Is formed in a range that enables continuous communication while moving from a position substantially directly above the rotation shaft 54 to a position substantially directly below. Further, the negative pressure space portion A1 is connected to a predetermined vacuum pump (not shown) via a through hole 56A formed in the fixed valve 56.

Therefore, when the vacuum pump is in the operating state, the air in the negative pressure space A1 is sucked through the through hole 56A, and the inside of the negative pressure space A1 is always evacuated (negative pressure is supplied). State). As a result, as the rotary drums 47 and 48 rotate, the ventilation passage 55C at a predetermined position communicating with the negative pressure space portion A1 is also evacuated in the same manner. As a result, the tablets 5 contained in the suction portions 55A communicating with the ventilation passages 55C can be sucked and sucked on each suction portion 55A.

The tablet 5 adsorbed on the adsorbing portion 55A in this way does not fall off from the adsorbing portion 55A while being transferred from substantially directly above to substantially below the rotating shaft 54 as the rotary drums 47 and 48 rotate. , It is held by the suction unit 55A.

The atmosphere open space portion A2 has suction holes 55B and suction portions 55A that change positions as the rotary drums 47 and 48 rotate in predetermined directions (in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 9). ) Is formed in a range that enables continuous communication while moving from a position substantially directly below the rotation shaft 54 to a position substantially directly above. The atmosphere open space portion A2 is always open to the atmosphere through the through hole 56B formed in the fixed valve 56.

Under the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, the first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 are arranged so as to be close to each other in the vertical direction. Further, the second rotary drum 48 is arranged so as to be close to the container film 3 which is horizontally conveyed.

Further, the first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 are always in predetermined directions (in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 9) at the same rotation speed so as to be synchronized with the transport operation of the container film 3 by the PTP packaging machine 10. It is driven and controlled by the control device 71 so as to rotate continuously. In the present embodiment, on the paper surface of FIG. 9, the first rotary drum 47 continuously rotates in the clockwise direction, and the second rotary drum 48 continuously rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

The first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48 are each provided with an encoder (not shown), and a signal relating to the rotation angle is output from the encoder to the control device 71 at predetermined time intervals. As a result, the control device 71 can grasp the rotational positions of the first rotary drum 47 and the second rotary drum 48, and thus can grasp the positions of the tablets 5 to be adsorbed and conveyed.

Further, the timing at which the suction portion 55A of the first rotary drum 47 passes through the third position P3, which is directly below the first rotary drum 47 and directly above the second rotary drum 48, and the suction portion of the second rotary drum 48. It is set to match the timing at which 55A passes.

Further, the fifth position P5, which is directly below the second rotary drum 48, is set so that the timing at which the suction portion 55A of the second rotary drum 48 passes and the timing at which the pocket portion 2 of the container film 3 passes coincide with each other. Has been done. In this embodiment, the fifth position P5 corresponds to the filling position.

Next, the first printing device 61 and the second printing device 62 will be described. Each of the first printing device 61 and the second printing device 62 is a known tablet printing device capable of printing on the tablet 5 in a non-contact manner using a printing head of a predetermined inkjet method (for example, a piezo method or a thermal method). Is. The printing devices 61 and 62 each include a printing head 63, and the printing head 63 is provided with a plurality of ejection nozzles 64 for ejecting ink droplets on the tablet 5 (see FIG. 13). The printing devices 61 and 62 can eject droplets of edible ink from a plurality of ejection nozzles 64 and print identification information such as characters and symbols on the tablet 5.

Further, each of the printing devices 61 and 62 is provided with a predetermined driving means (for example, a motor), and the print head 63 is moved in a predetermined direction (in the present embodiment, the cover film 4 is conveyed by the driving force obtained from the driving means). The moving mechanism 65 is provided so as to be able to move in the width direction of the above. In the present embodiment, the moving mechanism 65 corresponds to the head moving means. By periodically moving the print head 63 by the moving mechanism 65, the relative positional relationship between the tablet 5 to be printed and the print head 63 can be changed periodically. The operation of the moving mechanism 65 is controlled by the control device 71, and the movement of the print head 63 by the moving mechanism 65 is performed at regular intervals, for example, in accordance with the interval between printing operations by the printing devices 61 and 62.

The first printing apparatus 61 is arranged at the second position P2, which is a lateral position of the first rotary drum 47, and corresponds to the seven suction portions 55A (tablets 5) arranged in the axial direction of the first rotary drum 47. It has seven print heads 63. Then, the first printing apparatus 61 ejects ink from each printing head 63 toward each tablet 5 which is adsorbed and conveyed by the first rotary drum 47 and passes through the second position P2, and prints in a non-contact manner.

The second printing apparatus 62 is arranged at the fourth position P4, which is a lateral position of the second rotary drum 48, and corresponds to the seven suction portions 55A (tablets 5) arranged in the axial direction of the second rotary drum 48. It has seven print heads. Then, the second printing apparatus 62 ejects ink from each printing head 63 toward each tablet 5 which is adsorbed and conveyed by the second rotary drum 48 and passes through the fourth position P4, and prints in a non-contact manner.

The control device 71 includes a CPU as a calculation means, a ROM for storing various programs, a RAM for temporarily storing various data, a storage medium for long-term storage of information (for example, a hard disk, etc.) and the like. The control device 71 executes control processing related to each mechanical unit of the tablet filling device 21 such as the first printing device 61 and the second printing device 62 by executing a predetermined program by the CPU. In the present embodiment, the storage medium stores various types of print data corresponding to a plurality of types of dosing time information units 5F and print data corresponding to the tablet information unit 5G.

The control device 71 forms the tablet information unit 5G on the tablet 5 by controlling the operation of the first printing device 61 based on the print data corresponding to the tablet information unit 5G.

Further, the control device 71 forms the dosing time information unit 5F on the tablet 5 by controlling the operation of the second printing device 62 based on the print data corresponding to the dosing time information unit 5F.

Here, the operation control of the second printing device 62 by the control device 71 will be described more specifically. The control device 71 can grasp which of the vertical first row, the vertical second row, and the vertical third row of the PTP sheet 1 is the pocket rows arranged in the width direction of the container film 3 to be conveyed. In addition, the seven tablets 5 arranged in one row to be printed (each tablet 5 adsorbed on the adsorption unit 55A arranged in one row) are in the first vertical row and the second vertical row in the PTP sheet 1. It is also possible to grasp which pocket row of the third vertical row is filled.

In the control device 71, first, the seven tablets 5 arranged in one row to be printed are filled in any of the pocket rows of the first vertical row, the second vertical row, and the third vertical row in the PTP sheet 1. Know if you plan to do so. Then, the control device 71 prints the characters indicating the days of the week on each of the tablets 5 arranged in a row so as to be in the order of the days of the week in which the tablets 5 are arranged, and plans to fill each tablet 5 with the characters indicating the day of the week. The operation of the second printing device 62 is controlled so as to print characters indicating the time zone corresponding to the pocket row of. As a result, for example, "morning" is commonly printed as a character indicating the time zone on each tablet 5 arranged in a row corresponding to the pocket row in the first vertical row. Further, on each tablet 5, characters indicating different days of the week are printed so that the order of the tablets 5 and the order of the days of the week match.

By performing the above-mentioned operation control, the second printing device 62 prints and forms the dosing time information unit 5F corresponding to the position of the pocket portion 2 where the tablet 5 is to be filled for each tablet 5. NS. For example, for the tablet 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 of the first vertical row and the first horizontal row of the PTP sheet 1, the information corresponding to the pocket portion 2 as the dosing time information unit 5F (for example, "morning"). Characters for indicating the time zone and characters for indicating the day of the week "Monday") are printed and formed. Further, for the tablet 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 in the first vertical row and the second horizontal row, the information corresponding to the pocket portion 2 (for example, the time zone of "morning") is shown as the dosing time information unit 5F. Characters for and characters for indicating the day of the week "Tuesday") are printed and formed.

When the tablet 5 is provided with a dividing line, a camera for photographing the tablet 5 adsorbed and conveyed by the rotary drums 47 and 48 is provided, and the orientation of the printing pattern such as characters and numbers is set to 0 as the print data. It is also possible to prepare in advance what has been rotated by 1 degree in the range of 1 degree to 359 degrees, and select the print data to be used according to the direction of the dividing line in the image data obtained by the camera. For example, when the inclination angle of the secant line with respect to a predetermined reference line is 90 degrees in the image data, a print pattern such as characters or numbers rotated by 90 degrees is selected from a plurality of print data and used. You may do so. In this case, the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G can be formed more accurately at a predetermined position avoiding the score line in the tablet 5.

Next, the manufacturing process (manufacturing method) of the PTP sheet 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, centering on the filling step of filling the pocket portion 2 of the container film 3 with the tablet 5.

First, in the pocket portion forming step of step S11, the pocket portion 2 is sequentially formed by the pocket portion forming device 16 on the container film 3 that has become relatively flexible by the heating device 15.

Next, in the filling step of step S12, the tablet 5 is filled into the formed pocket portion 2. The filling step S12 includes a tablet supply step S121, a first printing step S122, a second printing step S123, and a tablet loading step S124.

The tablet supply step of step S121 is a step of supplying the tablet 5 to the first rotary drum 47. In the tablet supply step S121, first, the shutter 46A is opened and closed at a predetermined timing when the empty suction portion 55A, which moves with the rotation of the first rotary drum 47, reaches a predetermined first position P1 (see FIG. 9). .. By the opening / closing operation of the shutter 46A, the tablet 5 is dropped one by one from each supply chute 46 and is housed in the suction portion 55A that has moved to the first position P1. At this time, since the suction unit 55A containing the tablet 5 is in a vacuumed state, the tablet 5 is in a state of being sucked and held. In the supply chute 46, when one tablet 5 drops, the tablet 5 above it drops to the lower opening, and the shutter 46A prevents the tablet 5 from falling. The first position P1 is a position corresponding to the drop position of the tablet 5 from the supply chute 46.

Next, the first printing step of step S122 is performed. That is, when the tablet 5 is conveyed along with the rotation of the first rotary drum 47 and reaches a predetermined timing to reach the second position P2, the first printing device 61 is operated under the control of the control device 71. As a result, printing is applied to the non-adsorption surface side of the tablet 5 passing through the second position P2, and the tablet information unit 5G is formed on the tablet 5.

After that, when the tablet 5 is placed in the third position P3 with the rotation of the first rotary drum 47, the tablet 5 is released from adsorption and delivered to the second rotary drum 48. At this time, since the suction portion 55A of the second rotary drum 48 is in a vacuumed state, the tablet 5 is in a state of being sucked and held by the second rotary drum 48. Then, as the second rotary drum 48 rotates, the tablet 5 is conveyed toward the second printing device 62.

Next, the second printing step of step S123 is performed. That is, when the tablet 5 is further conveyed with the rotation of the second rotary drum 48 and reaches a predetermined timing to reach the fourth position P4, the second printing device 62 is operated under the control of the control device 71. As a result, the dosing time information portion 5F is formed on the surface (front surface 5B) opposite to the surface (back surface 5C) on which the tablet information portion 5G is formed in the tablet 5.

After that, the tablet loading step of step S124 is performed. That is, when the tablet 5 adsorbed and held by the second rotary drum 48 reaches the fifth position P5, the tablet 5 enters the pocket portion 2 of the container film 3 located at the fifth position P5. At the same time, the air passage 55C related to the suction portion 55A of the second rotary drum 48 sucking the tablet 5 communicates with the atmosphere open space portion A2, and the suction holding of the tablet 5 is released. As a result, the tablet 5 falls from the suction portion 55A of the second rotary drum 48 into the pocket portion 2, and the tablet 5 is filled in the pocket portion 2. At this time, the tablet 5 is filled into the pocket portion 2 with the surface (surface 5B) on the side where the dosing time information portion 5F is provided faces the pocket portion 2.

Following the filling step S12, the attachment step of step S13 is performed. In the attachment step S13, the container film 3 and the cover film 4 are fed between the rolls 20 and 25, so that the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3 and the PTP film 6 is obtained. Prior to the attachment step S13, the lid-side dosing time information unit 4B is pre-printed and formed on the portion of the cover film 4 to be the lid portion 4A by the lid-corresponding printing device 26. Further, the obtained PTP film 6 is in a state in which the lid side administration time information unit 4B is provided on the lid portion 4A that closes the pocket portion 2.

Then, after the treatment by the slit forming device 33 and the marking device 34 is applied to the PTP film 6, the cutting step of step S14 is performed, so that the manufacturing process of the PTP sheet 1 is completed. In the cutting step S14, the PTP film 6 is punched by the sheet punching device 37, and the PTP sheet 1 is cut off from the PTP film 6 to manufacture the PTP sheet 1.

As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, the tablet 5 itself is provided with the dosing time information unit 5F. Therefore, by checking the dosing time information unit 5F, the dosing time of the tablet 5 can be known. be able to. Therefore, even after the tablet 5 is taken out from the PTP sheet 1, the time when the tablet 5 is taken can be known, and the time when the tablet 5 is taken at the wrong time can be prevented more reliably.

Further, before taking out the tablet 5 from the PTP sheet 1, the dosing time information part 5F can be confirmed through the transparent or translucent pocket part 2, and after taking out the tablet 5 from the PTP sheet 1, the taken out said The dosing time information unit 5F of the tablet 5 can be confirmed. That is, the dosing time information unit 5F can be confirmed both before and after taking out the tablet 5 from the PTP sheet 1. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the taking of the tablet 5 at the wrong time.

Further, at least after the tablet 5 is taken out, the tablet information unit 5G can be confirmed. By checking the tablet information unit 5G, it is possible to grasp whether or not the tablet 5 is correct to be taken, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the wrong tablet 5 from being taken.

In addition, the lid portion 4A of the cover film 4 is provided with a lid-side dosing time information portion 4B. Therefore, when trying to take out the tablet 5 while looking at the surface of the cover film 4 side (the side from which the tablet 5 is taken out), by looking at the lid side dosing time information unit 4B, the wrong tablet 5 can be taken out more. It can be reliably prevented. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent the tablet 5 from being taken at the wrong time.

Further, at the time of manufacturing the PTP sheet 1, printing is applied to the tablets 5 in a state where the tablets 5 are adsorbed by the rotary drums 47 and 48, and then the adsorption by the second rotary drum 48 is released, so that the pocket portion is formed. Tablet 5 is filled into 2. That is, the tablet 5 on which the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G are formed in the adsorbed state is transported to the fifth position P5 side while maintaining the adsorbed state, and is released from adsorption at the fifth position P5. Then, the pocket portion 2 is filled. Therefore, the tablet 5 does not rub against other tablets 5, the hopper, and the like, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the printed contents from being unclear due to the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G being scraped or chipped. Thereby, the PTP sheet 1 having a clear printed content can be obtained more reliably.

Further, the second printing device 62 prints the dosing time information unit 5F corresponding to the position of the pocket portion 2 to be filled with the tablet 5 on the tablet. As a result, it is possible to more reliably obtain the PTP sheet 1 that is easy for the user to use, such as the PTP sheet 1 in which the tablets 5 are regularly arranged in the order of the administration time.

In addition, the discharge nozzle 64 is evenly used by periodically changing the relative positional relationship between the print head 63 and the tablet 5 by the moving mechanism 65 that moves the print head 63 in the width direction of the cover film 4. It is possible to more reliably prevent the clogging of the ink in 64. As a result, it is possible to make it more difficult for defects related to printing of the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G to occur, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective tablets and thus defective sheets. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the increase in the cost related to the production of the PTP sheet 1.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a lid side dosing time information unit 4B showing information on the dosing time of the tablet 5 filled in the pocket portion 2 is printed and formed on the lid portion 4A that closes the pocket portion 2 in the cover film 4. There is.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, in the second embodiment, on the surface of the cover film 4 attached to the flange portion 3A of the container film 3, a flange showing information on the timing of taking the tablet 5 is shown. The side dosing time information unit 4C is printed and formed corresponding to the pocket portion 2 in which the tablet 5 is housed. When the PTP sheet 1 is viewed from the container film 3 side, the flange-side dosing time information unit 4C is visible through the transparent or translucent flange portion 3A (see FIGS. 15 and 17). The flange-side dosing time information unit 4C is pre-printed on the cover film 4.

In the second embodiment, as the flange-side dosing time information unit 4C, a character indicating a time zone corresponding to three rows of pocket rows extending in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the PTP sheet 1) and a horizontal direction (PTP sheet 1) There are letters indicating the day of the week corresponding to the seven rows of pockets extending in the direction of the short side of. By such a flange side dosing time information unit 4C, each pocket portion 2 is in a state of being associated with information regarding a time zone and information regarding a day of the week. For example, the pocket portion 2 in the first vertical column and the first horizontal column is associated with the information "morning" for the time zone and the information "Monday" for the day of the week (the character "month" in the figure). It is in a state of being. In the PTP packaging machine 10, the cover film 4 and the container film 3 are aligned by an alignment means (not shown) or the like, so that when the cover film 4 is attached to the container film 3, the pocket portion 2 The flange-side dosing time information unit 4C is provided at an appropriate position according to the position of.

Further, one tablet 5 is housed in each pocket portion 2, and the tablet 5 is printed with the dosing time information unit 5F showing information on the dosing time of the tablet 5, as in the first embodiment. It is formed (see FIG. 18). Then, in the pocket portion 2 of any one, the information indicated by the flange-side dosing time information unit 4C corresponding to the pocket portion 2 and the information indicated by the dosing time information unit 5F of the tablet 5 filled in the pocket portion 2. Have the same content. For example, the tablet 5 to be filled in the pocket portion 2 of the first vertical row and the first horizontal row has a character for indicating the time zone of "morning" and a day of the week of "Monday" as the dosing time information unit 5F. Is printed and formed, and the pocket portion 2 in the first vertical column and the first horizontal column is associated with the information "morning" for the time zone and the information "Monday" for the day of the week. It is in a state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, as in the first embodiment, the tablet information unit 5G is printed and formed on the back surface side of the tablet 5 on which the administration time information unit 5F is provided.

As described above, the tablet 5 in the second embodiment includes the dosing time information unit 5F and the tablet information unit 5G as in the first embodiment, but in a state of being reversed from the first embodiment. It is housed in the pocket portion 2. That is, in the second embodiment, the tablet 5 has the pocket portion in a state in which the surface on the side where the dosing time information portion 5F is provided faces the portion (cover portion 4A) of the cover film 4 that closes the pocket portion 2. It is housed in 2 (see FIG. 18).

On the other hand, the tablet 5 is housed in the pocket portion 2 with the tablet information portion 5G facing the pocket portion 2 (see FIG. 16). Therefore, when the PTP sheet 1 is viewed from the container film 3 side, the tablet information unit 5G can be visually recognized through the transparent or translucent pocket portion 2 (see FIG. 17). As a result, in the second embodiment, when the PTP sheet 1 is viewed from the container film 3 side, the flange side dosing time information unit 4C and the tablet information unit 5G can be confirmed at once. ..

Next, the tablet filling device 21 in the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 19, in the tablet filling device 21 of the second embodiment, the control device 71 performs the control process performed on the first printing device 61 of the first embodiment on the second printing device 82. The control process performed on the second printing device 62 of the first embodiment is performed on the first printing device 81. As a result, the first printing device 81 prints and forms the dosing time information unit 5F on the tablet 5, and the second printing device 82 prints and forms the tablet information unit 5G on the tablet 5. In the second embodiment, the first printing device 81 corresponds to the tablet printing means, and the second printing device 82 corresponds to the second tablet printing means.

Then, by the second rotary drum 48, the surface of the tablet 5 on the side provided with the dosing time information unit 5F is located on the opening side of the pocket portion 2, and the surface on the side provided with the tablet information unit 5G is the pocket portion. The pocket portion 2 is filled so as to face the 2. As a result, in the obtained PTP sheet 1 (PTP film 6), the dosing time information section 5F is located on the cover film 4 side, and the tablet information section 5G is located on the pocket section 2 side.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the dosing time information unit 5F is located on the cover film 4 side, the tablet 5 is viewed while looking at the cover film 4 side (the side from which the tablet 5 is taken out) of the PTP sheet 1. When the tablet 5 is taken out, the dosing time information unit 5F of the taken out tablet 5 can be immediately confirmed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the taking of the tablet 5 at the wrong time.

Further, since the flange side dosing time information unit 4C is provided on the surface of the cover film 4 that is attached to the container film 3 (flange part 3A), the flange side dosing time information unit 4C is provided regardless of the size of the tablet 5. Part 4C can be displayed in a large size. Therefore, before taking out the tablet 5 from the PTP sheet 1, the time when the tablet 5 is taken can be more easily grasped by checking the flange side dosing time information unit 4C through the transparent or translucent flange part 3A. ..

In addition, since the tablet information unit 5G can be confirmed through the transparent or translucent pocket portion 2, it is possible to grasp whether or not the tablet 5 is the correct tablet to be taken before taking out the tablet 5 from the PTP sheet 1. can do. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the wrong administration of the tablet 5.

It should be noted that the technical items mentioned in the first embodiment and the technical items mentioned in the second embodiment may be appropriately combined and used.

The content is not limited to the description of the above embodiment, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Of course, other application examples and modification examples not illustrated below are also possible.

(A) In the second embodiment, the second rotary drum 48 puts the tablet 5 into the pocket portion 2 so that the surface on the side where the dosing time information portion 5F is provided is located on the opening side of the pocket portion 2. It is configured to be filled. On the other hand, the second rotary drum 48 may be configured to fill the pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5 so that the surface on the side where the dosing time information portion 5F is provided faces the pocket portion 2. ..

With this configuration, in the PTP sheet 1, the tablet 5 is housed in the pocket portion 2 with the surface of the dosing time information portion 5F on the side facing the pocket portion 2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, the dosing time information section 5F provided on the tablet 5 and the flange-side dosing time information section 4C provided on the cover film 4 should be confirmed through the transparent or translucent container film 3. Can be done. Therefore, it becomes easy to compare the dosing time information unit 4C on the flange side and the dosing time information unit 5F, and the dosing time information (flange side dosing time information unit 4C) corresponding to the pocket part 2 and the pocket part 2 It is possible to easily determine whether or not the dosing time information (dosing time information unit 5F) of the filled tablet 5 is in the correct combination. This makes it possible to easily perform an inspection regarding erroneous filling of the tablet 5. The inspection regarding the erroneous filling of the tablet 5 can be performed by, for example, an inspection device equipped with a camera capable of photographing the PTP sheet 1 and the PTP film 6. Of course, the inspection may be performed visually.

(B) In the above embodiment, the tablet 5 is configured to have a dosing time information unit 5F on the front surface 5B and a tablet information unit 5G on the back surface 5C, but the dosing time information unit is provided on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet 5. The 5th floor may be provided.

When the dosing time information unit 5F is provided on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet 5, the contents of the dosing time information unit 5F may be the same or different on both the front and back surfaces. For example, information on the day of the week may be printed and formed on the front surface 5B of the tablet 5 as the dosing time information unit 5F, and information on the time zone may be printed and formed as the dosing time information unit 5F on the back surface 5C of the tablet 5.

(C) Since the tablet 5 is usually relatively small, the amount of information that can be represented by the dosing time information unit 5F is limited. Therefore, a caution for explaining the content of the dosing time information unit 5F to the portion of the cover film 4 that is attached to the flange portion 3A (for example, the content of the dosing time information unit 5F). It may be configured so that information on the dosing time of the tablet 5 can be grasped more accurately and in more detail based on the dosing time information unit 5F and the supplementary information unit.

(D) In the above embodiment, the day of the week and the time zone are mentioned as the information regarding the dosing time, but the information regarding the dosing time is not limited to these, and may be, for example, the date or the order of taking.

(E) In the above-described embodiment, as the tablet 5, a disk-shaped uncoated tablet (disk-shaped flat tablet) having a circular shape in a plan view is exemplified, but the type and shape of the tablet are described in each of the above-described embodiments. It is not limited to. For example, tablets include not only pharmaceuticals but also tablets used for eating and drinking. In addition, tablets include not only uncoated tablets but also sugar-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, enteric-coated tablets, gelatin-encapsulated tablets, and various other capsules such as hard capsules and soft capsules. Also includes tablets. Further, the shape of the tablet may be, for example, not only a circular shape in a plan view, but also a polygonal shape in a plan view, an elliptical shape in a plan view, an oval shape in a plan view, and the like.

(F) The arrangement and number of pocket portions 2 in the PTP sheet 1 are not limited to the above embodiment, and PTP sheets having various arrangements and numbers can be adopted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the PTP film 6 has a configuration in which a number of pocket portions 2 corresponding to one sheet is arranged along the width direction thereof, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example. , The number of pocket portions 2 corresponding to a plurality of sheets may be arranged along the width direction.

(G) The configuration of the transport means for the tablet 5 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, a cylindrical rotary drum 47 or the like is used as the transport means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an endless transport belt or the like may be used.

(H) In the above embodiment, the printing device 61 and the like are configured by the inkjet printing device, but the printing device 61 and the like may be configured by the laser printing device and the like.

1 ... PTP sheet, 2 ... pocket part, 3 ... container film, 3A ... flange part, 4 ... cover film, 4B ... lid side dosing time information part, 4C ... flange side dosing time information part, 5 ... tablet, 5F ... taking Timing information unit, 5G ... Tablet information unit, 6 ... PTP film, 10 ... PTP packaging machine, 20 ... Film receiving roll (attaching means), 21 ... Tablet filling means (filling means), 25 ... Heating roll (attaching means) ), 26 ... Lid-compatible printing device (lid-compatible printing means), 37 ... Sheet punching device (cutting means), 47 ... First rotary drum (conveying means), 48 ... Second rotary drum (conveying means) , 61 ... 1st printing apparatus (second tablet printing means), 62 ... second printing apparatus (tablet printing means), 63 ... printing head, 64 ... ejection nozzle, 65 ... moving mechanism (head moving means), 81 ... (1) Printing device (tablet printing means), 82 ... Second printing device (second tablet printing means).

Claims (4)

A PTP sheet in which tablets are housed in each of a plurality of pockets formed on a container film, and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets.
Tablets are provided with a dosing time information section that provides information on when to take the tablets.
The container film has a flange portion that is formed so as to extend outward from the opening side end portion of the pocket portion and to which the cover film is attached, and is transparent or translucent.
On the surface of the cover film to be attached to the flange portion, a flange-side dosing time information portion indicating information on the tablet dosing time is provided corresponding to the pocket portion in which the tablet is housed. ,
The tablet is provided with a tablet information unit indicating product information regarding the tablet, which is different from the information regarding the administration time, on the back surface side of the surface provided with the administration time information unit, and the tablet is provided with the tablet information. The surface on the side where the portion is provided faces the pocket portion, and the surface on the side where the administration time information portion is provided faces the portion of the cover film that closes the pocket portion and is housed in the pocket portion. A PTP sheet characterized by being tableted. A PTP packaging machine for producing a PTP sheet in which tablets are stored in each of a plurality of pockets formed on a container film and a cover film is attached to the container film so as to close the pockets. And
A filling means for filling tablets into the pockets formed in the strip-shaped container film to be transported, and
An attachment means for attaching the band-shaped cover film to the container film in which the pocket portion is filled with tablets so as to close the pocket portion.
A means for separating the PTP sheet from the strip-shaped PTP film formed by attaching the cover film to the container film is provided.
The filling means
By adsorbing and transporting the tablet and releasing the adsorption of the tablet at a predetermined filling position, the tablet can be filled into the pocket portion of the container film transported to the filling position. Transport means and
The tablet is provided with a tablet printing means that prints and forms a dosing time information unit that indicates information on the taking time of the tablet that is adsorbed and conveyed by the carrying means.
The tablet printing means is a PTP packaging machine configured to print and form the dosing time information portion corresponding to the position of the pocket portion to be filled in the tablet onto the tablet. The container film is transparent or translucent,
It said conveying means, to claim 2, characterized in that it is configured as a surface of the provided with the dose timing information unit side is filled tablets to the pocket portion so as to face the pocket portion The described PTP packaging machine. The tablet printing means includes a printing head having a plurality of ejection nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto a tablet.
The PTP wrapping machine according to claim 2 or 3 , further comprising a head moving means for periodically moving the print head.

Images