JP7853541B2 - Medicine package binding machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a medication packaging binder.

Medications provided to patients in hospitals and pharmacies are packaged in individual doses on long sheets of paper using a drug packaging device. When taking the medication, the individual dose is detached from the long sheet. If multiple medications are being taken, multiple detached doses will be produced. Medications packaged in blister packs, PTPs, stick-shaped heat-packaged medications (such as granules), or rectangular heat-packaged medications (such as herbal medicines) are not packaged in individual sheets of paper and are therefore provided separately. Thus, patients taking multiple medications were provided with a mix of individual sheets of paper, blister packs, PTPs, heat-packaged medications, etc. (hereinafter, in this specification, these are collectively referred to as "medication packages," and the detached portions are referred to as "individual doses").

When there are multiple medication packets, to prevent accidental ingestion or missed doses, multiple packets containing a single dose are bundled together and sealed with a stapler or tape. However, this method is time-consuming and increases the workload of pharmacists and nurses. Furthermore, there are problems such as patients swallowing staples along with the medication, fingers being injured by the staples, and the medication packets being damaged.

Patent documents 1 and 2 describe binding devices that can bind paper without using staples. While such devices eliminate problems like accidental ingestion of staples, they are not suitable for continuously binding long lengths of individual paper packets.

In recent years, a drug packaging binder capable of binding multiple individual packaging papers lengthwise has been put into practical use (Tojist; registered trademark, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHxpcQ4RLyE).

This medication packaging machine had a poor appearance due to the rounded edges on both sides of the packaging area, resulting in weak compression. It required manual support to prevent the stacked packaging from coming loose from the upper and lower teeth while feeding it. Furthermore, the direction of insertion for the packaging was fixed, limiting installation space and making it inconvenient to use. Additionally, the upper and lower teeth spent a long time spinning freely, leading to rapid wear and a short lifespan. Because herbal medicines packaged in aluminum foil other than polycello were difficult to compress, there was a need for adjustable rotation speed and pressure from the upper and lower teeth.

Patent No. 6168146 specification Patent No. 6258686 specification

This invention has been made in view of the aforementioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a medicine package binding machine that can easily adjust the pressing force between the upper and lower teeth and easily separate the upper and lower teeth.

As a means to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides
A medicine package binding machine is configured to include a rotatable first gear and a second gear, wherein multiple medicine packages are inserted in stacks into the meshing portion of the first gear and the second gear, and the multiple medicine packages are bound together by the first gear and the second gear,
The device comprises a frame that rotatably supports the first gear and a slide block that rotatably supports the second gear,
The slide block is provided so as to be slidable in a direction in which the second gear moves toward and away from the first gear.
Two gear pressing springs are provided that press the second gear against the first gear via the slide block.
A gap is formed between the slide block and the frame in a direction that allows the second gear to move toward and away from the first gear.
The frame is provided with an adjustment member for adjusting the pressing force of the gear pressing spring .
Two sets of magnets are arranged on the respective surfaces of the slide block and the frame that face each other across the gap, with their magnetic poles facing each other, at positions corresponding to the two gear pressing springs . When the pressing force of the gear pressing springs is removed, the slide block is pushed up by the repulsive force of the magnets, causing the first gear and the second gear to separate.
This feature allows for a gap between the slide block and the frame, ensuring that the pressing force from the gear retaining member is reliably transmitted to the meshing portion of the first and second gears via the slide block, and allowing for easy adjustment of the pressing force between the upper and lower teeth.

Furthermore, if the pressing force applied by the pressing member is reduced, the first gear and the second gear will separate due to the repulsive force of the magnet.

Furthermore, the pressing force adjusted by the adjustment member is reliably transmitted to the meshing portion of the first and second gears via the slide block, allowing for easy adjustment of the pressing force between the upper and lower teeth.

According to the present invention, the pressing force between the upper and lower teeth can be easily adjusted, and the upper and lower teeth can be easily separated, among other effects.

A perspective view of a medicine package binding machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cross-sectional view (a) shows an example of the state in which the medicine bag containing PTP-packaged medicine and the packaging paper are closed, and another cross-sectional view showing a different example. A perspective view (a) showing the main body cover and gear cover of the medicine packaging machine with the cover removed, and a cross-sectional view (b) of the same machine along line A-A. A perspective view (a) of the main body of the medicine packaging machine with the main body cover and front cover removed, and a perspective view (b) of the main body with the rear cover removed. Plan view of the control panel of a medicine packaging machine. Enlarged side view of the drug packaging support section. A side view showing the arm of the medicine packaging stapler in a protruding state (a) and in a tilted state. A perspective view showing the meshing state of the first and second gears. Front view (a) and side view (b) of the gear body. An enlarged view showing the tooth shape of the gear body. A close-up view of a part of the gear body. An enlarged cross-sectional view showing how the first and second gears bind the packaging paper. Perspective view of the gear frame. Perspective views of the front frame of the gear frame, seen from diagonally in front (a) and diagonally in rear (b). Perspective views of the rear frame of the gear frame, seen from the diagonal front (a) and diagonal rear (b). A perspective view showing the gear frame with the rear frame removed. Cross-sectional view of the gear frame. Front view of a medicine package binding machine. Block diagram of the control unit. An enlarged view (a) of the interlocking portion as seen from the direction of inserting the packaging paper, and a plan view (b) of the guide wall member, showing a first modified example having a depth adjustment mechanism for the fixed guide groove. An enlarged view of the interlocking portion as seen from the direction of insertion of the dispensing paper, showing a second modified example having a depth adjustment mechanism for the fixed guide groove. An enlarged view of the interlocking portion as seen from the direction of insertion of the dispensing paper, showing a third modified example having a depth adjustment mechanism for the fixed guide groove. A partial side view of a medicine packaging binder, seen from the direction of packaging paper insertion, showing a fourth modified example having a depth adjustment mechanism for fixed guide grooves. A plan view showing the difference between the seal portion of a drug packet and a paper packet. A cross-sectional view of a gear frame showing a modified example having a release mechanism for the first and second gears. A cross-sectional view of a gear frame showing a modified example having a biasing means for separating the first gear and the second gear.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1, 3, and 4 show a medicine package binding machine 1 according to the present invention. The medicine package binding machine 1 comprises a main body 2, a medicine package support section 3, a first gear 4a, a second gear 4b, a drive motor 5, and a foot switch 6.

The main body 2 of the medicine packaging binder 1 comprises a base plate 7, a main body cover 8 consisting of an upper plate, left and right side plates, and a rear plate that covers the base plate 7, and a front cover 9 that covers the front of the main body cover 8.

The base plate 7 is provided with four legs 10 and one leg 11 located below the medicine packet support 3. The base plate 7 is also equipped with a first gear 4a, a second gear 4b, and a drive motor 5, which will be described in detail later.

A carrying handle 12 is provided on the top plate of the main body cover 8. Furthermore, a pressure adjustment screw 38, located on the gear frame 30 (described later), is exposed on the front of the top plate of the main body cover 8.

The front cover 9 is provided with paper insert guide sections 13 that protrude to the left and right sides. Between the left and right paper insert guide sections 13, an opening 14 is formed, overlooking the second gear 4b (described later). This opening 14 is closed by a removable gear cover 15. An operation panel 16 is provided on the upper surface of the front cover 9. As shown in Figure 5, the operation panel 16 is equipped with a first rotation direction selector switch 17a, a second rotation direction selector switch 17b, and a rotation speed adjustment switch 18.

The first rotation direction changeover switch 17a and the second rotation direction changeover switch 17b are used to switch the rotation direction of the first gear 4a and change the transport direction of the paper packaging. When transporting paper packaging from right to left, pressing the first rotation direction changeover switch 17a on the right illuminates the lamp 17c on the right. When transporting paper packaging from left to right, pressing the second rotation direction changeover switch 17b on the left illuminates the lamp 17d on the left.

The rotation speed adjustment switch 18 controls the rotation speed of the drive motor 5 (described later) to switch the rotation speed of the first gear 4a to multiple stages (three stages in this embodiment). The number of lamps 18a, 18b, and 18c that light up changes according to the rotation speed stage.

The medicine package support section 3 is designed to support multiple individual packaging papers M1 and M2 on its upper surface. Between the medicine package support section 3 and the individual packaging paper insertion guide section 13, a fixed guide groove 19 is formed to guide the binding edge of the individual packaging papers M1 and M2, which are bound together by the first gear 4a and second gear 4b. As shown in Figure 6, the fixed guide groove 19 consists of the lower surface 19a of the individual packaging paper insertion guide section 13, the upper surface 19b of the medicine package support section 3, and the vertical surface 19c between the individual packaging paper insertion guide section 13 and the medicine package support section 3.

The drug packaging support section 3 is provided with arm sections 20 that protrude forward from both the left and right sides. As shown in Figure 7, the arm sections 20 are rotatably attached by a pivot axis 21 to the tips of arm base sections 42, which are provided on the left and right side frames 41 (described later), so as to tilt downward. As shown in Figure 1, the arm sections 20 are provided with a slide groove 22. The slide groove 22 is provided with a movable guide section 23 that guides the unbound edges of multiple packaging papers and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the packaging paper insertion direction. The sliding position of the movable guide section 23 is adjustable by a fixing screw 24, as shown in Figure 6. If the width of the packaging papers is always the same, the movable guide 23 may not be movable in a direction perpendicular to the packaging paper insertion direction.

As shown in Figure 8, the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b each consist of a gear body 25 that meshes with each other, retaining plates 26 on both sides of the gear body 25, and a gear shaft 27.

As shown in Figure 9, the gear body 25 is circular with teeth formed on its outer circumference. The tooth shape of the gear body 25, as shown in Figure 10, is formed by a tooth tip 25a consisting of a cylindrical surface with radius r1, a tooth root 25b consisting of a cylindrical surface with radius r2, and an inclined tooth surface 25c with an inclination angle θ between the tooth root 25b and the tooth tip 25a. As shown in Figure 11, chamfers 25d are provided on both ends of the teeth. The gear body 25 in this embodiment has a thickness of 2.3 mm, a pitch circle pc diameter of 30.9 mm, and 95 teeth. The tooth pitch p is 1 mm, the radius r1 of the tooth tip 25a is 0.25 mm, the radius r2 of the tooth root 25b is 0.23 mm, and the chamfer 25d is 40° and 0.34 mm.

The angle θ of the two inclined tooth surfaces 25c on either side of the tooth root 25b, and the tooth pitch p, significantly affect the adhesion of the packaging paper. The angle θ of the inclined tooth surfaces 25c is 30° to 50°, preferably 40°. If the angle θ of the inclined tooth surfaces 25c is 30° or less, the adhesion force to the packaging paper is too strong, causing damage to the paper. If the angle θ of the inclined tooth surfaces 25c is 50° or more, the adhesion force to the packaging paper becomes too weak, and sufficient adhesion between the packaging papers is not achieved.

The tooth pitch p is 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm, preferably 1.0 mm. If the tooth pitch p is less than 0.8 mm, the area of the inclined tooth surface 25c decreases, reducing the clamping force. If the tooth pitch p exceeds 1.2 mm, the clamping area per unit length decreases, and sufficient clamping between the dispensing papers cannot be achieved.

The retaining plates 26 are coaxially arranged on both sides of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. As shown in Figure 12, the retaining plates 26 have an outer diameter smaller than the pitch circle of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, and larger than the root circle. When the gear bodies 25 of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b mesh, the outer circumferences of the retaining plates 26 of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b do not come into contact with each other. The retaining plates 26 are disc-shaped, but may also be annular. Furthermore, the retaining plates 26 can be provided on one side of the first gear 4 and the second gear 4b. Additionally, the retaining plates 26 may be integrally molded with the first gear 4 and the second gear 4b.

As shown in Figure 8, the gear shaft 27 has a hub 28 at one end, and the gear body 25 and retaining plate 26 are attached to the hub 28 with mounting screws 29.

As shown in Figure 3, the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are installed inside the main body cover 8 such that the second gear 4b is positioned above the first gear 4a. The meshing portion of the gear body 25 of the first gear 4a is exposed to the fixed guide groove 19 through an opening 3a formed in the cartridge support portion 3, and the meshing portion of the gear body 25 of the second gear 4b is exposed to the fixed guide groove 19 through an opening 14 in the front cover 9.

As shown in Figure 13, the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are supported by the gear frame 30 inside the main body cover 8. The gear frame 30 consists of a front frame 31 erected on the front of the base plate 7, and a rear frame 32 mounted on the back of the front frame 31 and also erected on the base plate 7. A backing plate 30a is attached to the front of the front frame 31 of the gear frame 30 to prevent the packaged paper sandwiched between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b from going too far inward.

As shown in Figure 14, the front frame 31 is provided with a shaft hole 31a that penetrates in the front-rear direction, a rectangular recess 31b recessed downward from the top surface, a front opening 31c and notch 31d formed on the front surface to communicate with the recess 31b, and a rear opening 31e and notch 31f formed on the rear surface to communicate with the recess 31b.

As shown in Figure 16, a slide block 33 is slidably housed in the recess 31b of the front frame 31. The slide block 33 has a shaft hole 33a that penetrates in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14(b), a hole 31g is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 31b, and a hole 33b is formed in the bottom surface of the slide block 33 as shown in Figure 17. A gear separation spring 34 is housed between these holes 31g and 33b. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, two positioning pins 33c are provided on the upper surface of the slide block 33.

Two gear-pressing springs 35 are arranged around the positioning pin 33c of the slide block 33. Having two gear-pressing springs 35 distributes the pressing force load, improving the durability of the gear-pressing springs 35 and the slide block 33, and also stabilizing the slide block 33. Multiple spring retaining plates 36 are provided above the gear-pressing springs 35. An upper frame 37 is attached to the upper end of the front frame 31, closing the upper opening of the recess 31b. A screw hole 37a is formed in the upper frame 37, and a pressing force adjustment screw 38 is screwed into this screw hole 37a. The lower end of the pressing force adjustment screw 38 abuts against the spring retaining plate 36. The pressing force of the gear-pressing springs 35 can be adjusted by turning the pressing force adjustment screw 38 with a hexagonal handle (not shown) to move the spring retaining plate 36 up and down. In this embodiment, the pressing force of the gear pressing spring 35 is approximately 1400 N, which is sufficient to bind up to about six medicine packets.

As shown in Figure 15, the rear frame 32 is provided with a first axial hole 32a formed by passing through a large-diameter hole 32a' on the front and a small-diameter hole 32a'' on the rear, and a second axial hole 32b formed by passing through a roughly oval-shaped hole 32b' on the front and a small-diameter hole 32b'' on the rear.

The gear shaft 27 of the first gear 4a is inserted through the shaft hole 31a of the front frame 31 and the first shaft hole 32a of the rear frame 32. It is supported by two bearings 39a and 39b on the front frame 31 and rotatably supported by one bearing 39c on the rear frame 32. A drive gear 40 is attached to the end of the gear shaft 27 of the first gear 4a opposite the hub 28.

The gear shaft 27 of the second gear 4b is inserted through the shaft hole 33a of the slide block 33 of the front frame 31 and also through the second shaft hole 32b of the rear frame 32. It is supported by two bearings 39a and 39b on the slide block 33 of the front frame 31, and by one bearing 39c in the oval hole 32b' of the second shaft hole 32b on the rear frame 32. This allows the second gear 4b to move toward and away from the first gear. A counterweight 48 is attached to the end of the gear shaft 27 of the second gear 4b opposite the hub 28 to balance it with the hub 28 side. A gap G (see Figures 17 and 26) is formed between the slide block 33 and the front frame 31 in the direction in which the first gear 41a and the second gear 42b move toward and away from each other. Therefore, when the slide block 33 is pressed down by the gear compression spring 35, the gear shaft 27 of the second gear 4b is supported at two points: the oval hole 32b' of the second shaft hole 32b in the rear frame 32, and the meshing portion between the second gear 4b and the first gear 4a, and is kept parallel to the gear shaft 27 of the first gear 4a. Furthermore, because there is a gap G between the slide block 33 and the front frame 31, the pressing force from the gear compression spring 35 is reliably transmitted to the meshing portion between the first gear 41a and the second gear 42a via the gear shaft 27, rather than to the front frame 31 directly below the slide block 33, allowing for easy adjustment of the pressing force between the upper and lower teeth.

As mentioned above, the gear shafts 27 of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are supported by a total of three bearings 39a, 39b, and 39c. Therefore, the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b mesh together and can adequately resist the reaction force when binding multiple paper packages, ensuring a stable pressing force.

Returning to Figure 4, side frames 41 are attached to the base plate 7 on both sides of the front frame 31 of the gear frame 30. An arm base 42 is attached to the side frame 41, and the aforementioned arm portion 20 is tiltably attached to the tip of the arm base 42. As shown in Figures 6 and 18, the right side frame 41 is provided with a first packaging paper detection sensor 43a that detects the approach of a packaging paper inserted into the packaging support 3 from the right side. Similarly, the left side frame 41 is provided with a second packaging paper detection sensor 43b that detects the approach of a packaging paper inserted into the packaging support 3 from the left side. The first packaging paper detection sensor 43a and the second packaging paper detection sensor 43b may detect the tip of the packaging paper, or they may detect a mark on the packaging paper.

As shown in Figure 4, the drive motor 5 is mounted on a motor frame 44 attached to a base plate 7. As shown in Figure 3, a motor gear 45 is provided on the drive shaft of the drive motor 5, and this motor gear 45 meshes with the drive gear 40 of the first gear 4a.

As shown in Figure 1, the foot switch 6 is installed on the floor and connected via the cord 46 to the control device 50 located inside the main unit cover 8.

The reference numeral 47 in Figure 1 indicates a medicine packet stocker for stacking multiple medicine packets M3, such as herbal medicine packets, in a predetermined orientation, to be bound together with the individual packaging papers M1 and M2. The medicine packets M3 may be heat-packaged in a stick shape. Since PTP-packaged medicines are too small to be bound together with the individual packaging papers M1 and M2 even after being cut individually, as shown in Figure 1, pre-cut individual tablets are placed in a medicine bag M4, allowing the medicine bag M4 to be bound together with the individual packaging papers M1 and M2. It is preferable to extend one edge of the opening of the medicine bag M4 to create a binding allowance m, and then bind this binding allowance m together with the individual packaging paper M1. In this case, as shown in Figure 2(a), facing the opening outwards (opposite the individual packaging papers being bound simultaneously) makes it easier to remove the medicine, and as shown in Figure 2(b), facing the opening inwards (towards the individual packaging papers being bound simultaneously) makes it less likely for the medicine to fall out.

As shown in Figure 19, the control device 50 receives signals from the first rotation direction changeover switch 17a, the second rotation direction changeover switch 17b, the rotation speed adjustment switch 18, the first packaging detection sensor 43a, the second packaging detection sensor 43b, and the foot switch 6, and is configured to control the on/off state, rotation direction, and rotation speed of the drive motor 5.

Next, the operation of the medicine packaging binder 1, which has the above configuration, will be described.

First, hold the handle 12 and position the medication packaging machine 1 at the desired location on the table. If the packaging paper to be bound is long, as shown in Figure 7, positioning the packaging support unit 3 forward from the edge of the table allows the packaging paper to be fed while hanging down, making the work easier. In this case, one leg 11 of the packaging support unit 3 will detach from the table, but the center of gravity of the medication packaging machine 1 is towards the rear, and it is stabilized by the four legs 10 located behind the interlocking part, so it will not tilt or tip over.

To insert the dispensing paper from right to left, press the first rotation direction switch 17a on the right side of the control panel 16. To insert the dispensing paper from left to right, press the second rotation direction switch 17b on the left side of the control panel 16. Also, press the rotation speed adjustment switch 18 to set the desired rotation speed. When stacking a small number of dispensing papers, increase the rotation speed. When stacking a large number of papers, or when the operation is complex, such as stacking blister packs, sticks, or herbal medicines on dispensing papers according to the prescribed dosage period, decrease the rotation speed.

As shown in Figure 1, overlap multiple individual packets M1 and M2 to be closed. Ensure that the binding edges are facing the same direction and that packets with the same dosage schedule are overlapped. With the binding sides of the overlapping packets facing the fixed guide groove 19 located between the packet support section 3 and the packet insertion guide section 13, place the leading edge of each packet in the packet support section 3 and insert the binding edge of the packet into the fixed guide groove 19.

In this state, the foot switch 6 is pressed to feed the packaging papers M1 and M2 in the desired direction. As shown in Figure 18, when the first packaging paper detection sensor 43a detects the approach of the packaging papers M1 and M2, the control device 50 starts the drive motor 5. This transmits the rotational force of the drive motor 5 to the gear shaft 27 of the first gear 4a via the motor gear 45 and the drive gear 40 of the first gear 4a, causing the first gear 4a to rotate in the predetermined direction. Thus, even when the foot switch 6 is pressed, the drive motor 5 does not rotate until the first packaging paper detection sensor 43a detects the approach of the packaging papers M1 and M2. This prevents the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b from spinning freely, reducing tooth wear and extending their lifespan.

When the first gear 4a rotates, the second gear 4b, which meshes with the first gear 4a, also rotates. At the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, multiple paper packets M1 and M2 are continuously bound together and fed downstream. At the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, the tooth tips 25a and tooth roots 25b mesh, and the multiple paper packets M1 and M2 are pressed between the inclined tooth surfaces 25c of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

At this time, since the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are provided with chamfers 25d, damage to the packaging papers M1 and M2 at the corners of both ends of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b is prevented. Multiple stacked packaging papers M1 and M2 are bound together by the continuous recesses and protrusions formed by the pressure between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. At the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 12, the packaging papers M1 and M2 tend to become U-shaped in the width direction, but since there are pressing plates 26 on both sides of the gear body 25, the outer edge of the pressing plate 26 of the second gear 4b presses the lateral portion of the binding of the packaging papers M1 and M2 in the direction in which the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b mesh, preventing the packaging papers M1 and M2 from bending. In this embodiment, the pressing plate 26 is provided on both the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, but it may also be provided on either the first gear 4a or the second gear 4b. By providing the pressing plate 26 on both the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, the surfaces of the packaging paper M1 and M2 that are convex by the first gear 4a and the surfaces of the packaging paper M1 and M2 that are convex by the second gear 4b can be pressed down, effectively pressing down the side portion of the binding from both sides.

The paper packets M1 and M2, bound together by the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, are guided by the fixed guide groove 19 and the movable guide section 23, with the bound side and the unbound side being guided, and are automatically fed out by the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

If the binding force is weak, the binding force can be increased by rotating the pressure adjustment screw 38 clockwise with a hexagonal handle (not shown) to compress the gear pressure spring 35. Conversely, if the binding force is strong, the binding force can be increased by rotating the pressure adjustment screw 38 counterclockwise to extend the gear pressure spring 35.

If any abnormality occurs during the binding process, the rotation of the first gear 4a can be stopped by releasing the foot from the foot switch 6.

If there are drug packets M3 containing medications that are not individually packaged in blister packs, sticks, or herbal medicine packets M1 and M2, these packets M3 should be stacked in the drug packet stocker 47 and placed near the drug packet binding machine 1, as shown in Figure 1. The same applies to drug bags M4 containing medications in PTP packaging. Furthermore, if the movable guide section 23 interferes with the work, the arm section 20 should be tilted downwards and moved away from the drug packet support section 3.

Then, while the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are binding and feeding out multiple individual packets M1 and M2, before the packets for a predetermined dosage period enter the interlocking section of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, the individual packets M3 or medicine bags M4 can be taken out of the medicine packet stocker 47, placed on top of the packets for the predetermined dosage period, and fed into the interlocking section of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. This allows the individual packets M3 or medicine bags M4 to be bound together with the individual packets M1 and M2. At this time, if the movable guide section 23 is tilted, the process of placing the individual packets M3 or medicine bags M4 on top of the individual packets M1 and M2 becomes easier.

The sealed individual packets M1, M2, drug packets M3, or drug bags M4 can be separated and provided to the patient according to their dosage schedule. Since each separated packet, drug packet M3, or drug bag M4 is sealed for individual doses, accidental ingestion and missed doses can be prevented. Furthermore, the sealed portion can be easily torn apart by hand, allowing for separate administration of each individual packet.

To perform maintenance on the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, as shown in Figure 3, removing the gear cover 15 on the front cover 9 exposes the second gear 4b, allowing inspection of the meshing surface between the second gear 4b and the first gear 4a. Furthermore, by turning the pressure adjustment screw 38 counterclockwise several times to release the pressure of the gear pressure spring 35, the gear separation spring 34 pushes up the slide block 33, separating the second gear 4b from the first gear 4a. This allows for detailed inspection of the tooth surface condition. To replace the second gear 4b, the mounting screw 29 is removed, and the second gear 4b and retaining plate 26 are detached from the hub 28 of the gear shaft 27 and replaced with new parts.

In the above embodiment, the first gear 4a rotates when the first or second packaging paper detection sensor 43a or 43b detects the approach of packaging papers M1 and M2 after the foot switch 6 is pressed. However, the first gear 4a may also rotate when the first or second packaging paper detection sensor 43a or 43b detects the approach of packaging papers M1 and M2, even without pressing the foot switch 6.

Figure 20(a) shows the depth adjustment mechanism of the fixed guide groove 19. The depth adjustment mechanism is configured such that the vertical surface 19c of the fixed guide groove 19 is made up of a guide wall member 51 separate from the packaging paper insertion guide section 13 and the packaging paper support section 3, and the guide wall member 51 is provided so as to be movable in a direction approaching or separating from the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. The guide wall member 51 extends from the packaging paper insertion side to the packaging paper dispensing side of the packaging paper support section 3. As shown in Figure 20(b), an adjustment screw 53 is inserted through the bracket 13a protruding from the side of the packaging paper insertion guide section 13 and the drug packaging support section 3. A washer 13b is fixed to the adjustment screw 53, thereby mounting the adjustment screw 53 so that it is rotatable but immovable in the axial direction. Furthermore, by screwing the adjustment screw 53 into the female threads 52 formed at both ends of the guide wall member 51, the distance between the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b and the vertical surface 19c can be adjusted by rotating the adjustment screw 53.

The guide wall portion 51 may be groove-shaped, as shown in Figure 21, forming the upper surface 19a, lower surface 19b, and vertical surface 19c of the fixed guide groove 19. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 22, it may be L-shaped, forming the upper surface 19a and vertical surface 19c of the fixed guide groove 19, or conversely, L-shaped, forming the lower surface 19b and vertical surface 19c. In the case of an L-shaped guide member 51, it is preferable to make it rotatable around a support shaft 51a provided on the upper surface 19a side. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 23, the depth of the fixed guide groove 19 may be adjusted by moving the front cover 9 together with the packaging insertion guide 13 and the packaging paper support portion 3 in the front-rear direction, or by rotating it around a horizontal pivot shaft 9a provided on the upper part of the front cover 9.

As shown in Figure 24, the pre-packaged herbal medicine packets M3, which are aluminum-wrapped at the pharmaceutical factory, have a smaller seal portion s compared to the individual packaging papers M1 and M2. Therefore, when binding the small seal portion M3 with the individual packaging papers M1 and M2, the guide wall member 51 of the fixed guide groove 19 is moved in a direction closer to the interlocking portion, reducing the distance between the interlocking portion and the vertical surface 19c. This allows the packets to be bound within the width of the seal portion s of the medicine packet M3.

Figure 25 shows the upper and lower gear release mechanism. The upper and lower gear release mechanism allows the first gear 4a to move in a direction away from the second gear 4b. Specifically, a slide block 54 is provided to support the bearings 39a and 39b of the first gear 4a, and the first shaft hole 31a of the front frame 31 is made into an elongated hole in the vertical direction. By fitting the slide block 54 of the first gear 4a into the first shaft hole 31a, the first gear 4a is provided to move in a direction towards or away from the second gear 4b. The meshing of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b can be maintained by tightening an adjustment screw 56 that screws into a female screw 55 formed in the front frame 31 and pressing it against the slide block 54. Also, when the adjustment screw 56 is loosened, the second gear 4b does not move down, but the first gear 4a moves down, so the meshing of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b can be released. The adjustment screw 56 is equipped with a handle 57 for external operation.

During the binding process of dispensing paper with the drug packaging machine 1, if the closing operation needs to be interrupted for any reason, such as the dispensing paper tilting or shifting, the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b is stopped, and then the adjustment screw 56 is turned using the handle 57 to move the slide block 54 downwards. This separates the first gear 4a from the second gear 4b, opening the gap between the two gears, allowing the dispensing paper to be easily removed. Alternatively, a pin 58, shown by the dashed line in Figure 25, may be provided on the first gear 4b so as to protrude forward, and the pin 58 can be pushed upward to separate the second gear from the first gear 4a.

Figure 26 shows another example of a biasing mechanism for separating the upper and lower gears. While Figures 17 and 25 use a gear separation spring 34, which is an elastic member, as the biasing mechanism for separating the upper and lower gears, a magnet (shown in Figure 26(a)) or a plunger (shown in Figure 26(b)) can be used instead of the elastic member.

In Figure 26(a), magnets 61a and 61b are attached to opposing surfaces separated by a gap G between the front frame 31 and the slide block 33. Specifically, two first magnets 61a are attached to the bottom surface of the recess 31b of the front frame 31 using screws 62a and adhesive, while two second magnets 61b are attached to the bottom surface of the slide block 33 using screws 62b and adhesive, such that their magnetic poles repel each other (i.e., they are the same poles) face each other.

By turning the pressure adjustment screw 38 counterclockwise several times to eliminate the pressure of the gear pressure spring 35, the slide block 33 is pushed up by the repulsive force of the first magnet 61a and the second magnet 61b, and the second gear 4b separates from the first gear 4a. This allows for checking the condition of the tooth surfaces and easily removing any paper packaging caught between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

In Figure 26(b), ball plungers 65 are mounted on both sides of the front frame 31. One end of each plunger is closed, the other end is open, and a ball 63 is biased by a spring 64 to protrude from the opening. The ball 63 abuts against the upper inclined surface 33e of grooves 33d formed on both sides of the slide block 33, extending vertically.

By turning the pressure adjustment screw 38 counterclockwise several times to eliminate the pressure of the gear pressure spring 35, the ball presses against the upper inclined surface 33e of the slide block 33 due to the biasing force of the spring. As a result, the slide block 33 is pushed up, and the second gear 4b separates from the first gear 4a. This allows for checking the condition of the tooth surfaces and easily removing any paper packaging caught between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

1. Prescription bag binding machine 2. Main body 3. Prescription bag support section 4a. First gear 4b. Second gear 10. Leg section 11. Leg section 17a. First rotation direction changeover switch 17b. Second rotation direction changeover switch 19. Fixed guide groove 20. Arm section 23. Movable guide section 25a. Tooth tip 25b. Tooth root 25c. Inclined tooth surface 25d. Chamfer
26. Pressing plate (pressing part)
34 Gear separation spring 35 Gear compression spring 38 Compression force adjustment screw 43a First package paper detection sensor (first sensor)
43b Second packaging paper detection sensor (second sensor)
51 Guide wall member 53 Adjustment screw 54 Slide block 56 Adjustment screw 61a, 61b Magnet 65 Ball plunger G Gap M1 Packing paper M2 Packing paper M3 Medicine packet M4 Medicine bag

Claims (1)

A medicine package binding machine is configured to include a rotatable first gear and a second gear, wherein multiple medicine packages are inserted in stacks into the meshing portion of the first gear and the second gear, and the multiple medicine packages are bound together by the first gear and the second gear,
The device comprises a frame that rotatably supports the first gear and a slide block that rotatably supports the second gear,
The slide block is provided so as to be slidable in a direction in which the second gear moves toward and away from the first gear.
Two gear pressing springs are provided that press the second gear against the first gear via the slide block.
A gap is formed between the slide block and the frame in a direction that allows the second gear to move toward and away from the first gear.
The frame is provided with an adjustment member for adjusting the pressing force of the gear pressing spring .
A medicine package binding machine characterized in that two sets of magnets are arranged on the respective surfaces of the slide block and the frame that face each other across the gap, with their magnetic poles facing each other, at positions corresponding to the two gear pressing springs , and when the pressing force of the gear pressing springs is removed, the slide block is pushed up by the repulsive force of the magnets, causing the first gear and the second gear to separate.