WO2021039121A1 - Printing device, printing method, and tablet coating device - Google Patents
Printing device, printing method, and tablet coating device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2021039121A1 WO2021039121A1 PCT/JP2020/026199 JP2020026199W WO2021039121A1 WO 2021039121 A1 WO2021039121 A1 WO 2021039121A1 JP 2020026199 W JP2020026199 W JP 2020026199W WO 2021039121 A1 WO2021039121 A1 WO 2021039121A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tablet
- ink
- coating
- transfer roller
- printing
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
- A61J3/06—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/36—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on tablets, pills, or like small articles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a printing technique for printing an ink containing a coating material on a tablet used for pharmaceuticals, foods, health foods, etc., and a tablet coating technique for coating the entire surface of a tablet with a coating material using the printing technique.
- the device is a drum-type (pan-type) granulation coating device using a rotating drum. This device sprays a coating solution containing a coating material while mixing tablets in a coating pan. Then, the coating liquid applied to the surface of the tablet is dried with hot air to form a film-like coating material on the surface of the tablet.
- a continuous type tablet coating device for coating each tablet uses a so-called inkjet printing device. That is, the nozzle head of the inkjet printer is arranged above the belt conveyor that horizontally conveys the tablets. Then, with respect to the tablet horizontally conveyed by the belt conveyor, droplets of ink containing the coating material are ejected from the nozzle head and printed on the tablet.
- the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tablet coating apparatus capable of satisfactorily coating the entire tablet with a coating layer for each tablet, and a printing technique suitable for the tablet coating apparatus. And.
- a first aspect of the present invention is a printing device that prints ink containing a coating material on a tablet that is horizontally conveyed, and is a transfer roller having a roller surface formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet.
- the position adjustment is provided with an ink supply unit that supplies ink containing a coating material to the roller surface, a position adjustment unit that adjusts the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a rotation drive unit that rotates the transfer roller.
- the relative position is adjusted so that the part pushes the transfer roller against the tablet from above, and the rotation drive part rotates the transfer roller that holds the ink on the roller surface, so that the ink carried on the transfer roller is tableted. It is characterized by transferring to at least a portion of the side surface of the tablet and onto the top surface of the tablet.
- a second aspect of the present invention is a printing method, in which the tablet is transported in the horizontal direction with one main surface of the tablet facing upward, and a roller made of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet.
- the step of supplying the ink containing the coating material to the transfer roller on which the surface was formed to support the ink on the roller surface and the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction were adjusted so that the transfer roller pushed the tablet from above.
- the tablet is transported in the horizontal direction and the transfer roller carrying the ink is rotated to transfer the ink to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and one main surface of the tablet.
- a third aspect of the present invention is a tablet coating device, wherein the tablet is transported with the first surface of the tablet facing upward along the first outward path extending in the first horizontal direction.
- the first ink containing the first coating material is printed on the first coated region including at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the first surface of the tablet transported in the first horizontal direction by the first transport device. 1
- the printing device, the first drying device that dries the first ink printed on the tablet to form the first coating layer on the tablet, and the first coating layer formed along the second outward path extending in the second horizontal direction.
- a second transport device that receives the tablet and transports the tablet with the second side of the tablet facing upward, and at least a part of the side surface of the tablet that is transported in the second horizontal direction by the second transport device and the tablet.
- a second printing apparatus for printing a second ink containing a second coating material on a second coated area including the second surface of the tablet, and a second coating layer on the tablet by drying the second ink printed on the tablet.
- the first printing apparatus includes a first transfer roller having a first roller surface formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to tablets, and a first roller that forms a first ink.
- first ink supply unit that supplies the surface
- first position adjustment unit that adjusts the relative position of the first transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction
- first rotation drive unit that rotates the first transfer roller.
- a second transfer roller having a second position adjusting unit and a second rotation drive unit for rotating the second transfer roller, and the second rotation drive unit carrying the second ink on the surface of the second roller.
- the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet is adjusted in the vertical direction.
- the transfer roller is in a so-called pressed state in which the tablet is pushed from above.
- the roller surface is elastically deformed according to the shape of the tablet while supporting the ink. That is, the roller surface contacts at least a portion of the side surface of the tablet and the top surface of the tablet.
- the tablet is conveyed in the horizontal direction while the pressed state is maintained, and the transfer roller carrying the ink rotates.
- the ink can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface of the tablet but also on the side surface of the tablet.
- the tablet having the first coating layer is formed by using the above printing technique.
- the entire tablet can be satisfactorily coated by printing ink on at least a part of the two sides and the side surface to form a second coating layer.
- the plurality of components of each aspect of the present invention described above are not all essential, and may be used to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems, or part or all of the effects described herein.
- the technical features included in the above-mentioned aspect of the present invention it is also possible to combine some or all with some or all of the technical features contained in the other aspects of the invention described above to form an independent form of the invention.
- FIG. 1st Embodiment of the tablet coating apparatus equipped with the printing apparatus which concerns on this invention It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the 1st printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of a gravure roller. It is a figure for demonstrating the pushing amount of the transfer roller with respect to a tablet. It is a figure which shows typically the pushing operation of the transfer roller with respect to a tablet. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the tablet coating apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the coating process executed by the tablet coating apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the flow of a coating process.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of a tablet coating apparatus equipped with a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
- the tablet coating device 100 prints ink containing a coating material (reference numeral IK in FIG. 2) on each tablet 1 while horizontally transporting the tablet 1 used for pharmaceuticals, foods, health foods, etc., and then dries the ink.
- This is an apparatus for coating the entire tablet 1 with a coating layer (reference numerals 14A and 14B in FIG. 7).
- XYZ right-angled coordinate axes are shown to clarify the directional relationship.
- the arrow X1 in the X direction is the horizontal transport direction of the tablet 1 when printing ink on the first surface 11 (see FIG. 7) of the tablet 1
- the arrow X2 in the X direction is the second surface 12 (see FIG. 7) of the tablet 1. (See FIG. 7), which is the horizontal transport direction of the tablet 1 when printing ink.
- the tablet coating device 100 includes a tablet supply device 2, a first transfer device 3A, a first printing device 4A, a first drying device 5A, a second transfer device 3B, a second printing device 4B, and a second. It includes a drying device 5B, a tablet collecting device 6, and a control device 7.
- the tablet supply device 2 is a device that supplies uncoated tablets 1 in units of one or several to the first transport device 3A, and is similar to, for example, the supply mechanism described in JP-A-2018-208. It is possible to use the one configured in.
- the first transfer device 3A is a transfer conveyor having a pair of pulleys 31A, a transfer belt 32A, a suction unit 33A (FIG. 5), and a belt drive unit 34A (FIG. 5). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of pulleys 31A are arranged so as to face each other while being separated from each other in the X direction. A transport belt 32A is looped between these pulleys 31A. Of the pair of pulleys 31A, the tablet 1 is supplied by the tablet supply device 2 from diagonally above the pulley 31A on the X2 direction side, and is fed to the supply position PS1 on the transport belt 32A wound around the pulley 31A.
- a plurality of through holes are provided in a matrix on the surface of the transport belt 32A.
- the suction portion 33A is connected to the space inside the transport belt 32A and the pulley 31A.
- a negative pressure is generated in the space inside the pulley 31A and the transport belt 32A.
- the tablets 1 supplied from the tablet supply device 2 by the negative pressure are adsorbed and held one by one by the transport belt 32A with the first surface 11 facing upward.
- one of the pair of pulleys 31A is connected to the belt drive unit 34A. Therefore, when the belt drive unit 34A operates in response to the operation command from the control device 7, the transport belt 32A circulates and moves. As a result, the tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 with the first surface 11 of the tablet 1 facing upward along the first outward path P11 toward the horizontal direction X1, folded back by the pulley 31A on the X1 direction side, and in the horizontal direction. The tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 with the first surface 11 of the tablet 1 facing downward along the first return path P12 toward X2.
- the first transport device 3A is provided with a release blow mechanism 35A.
- the release blow mechanism 35A is arranged at a predetermined release position facing the second transfer device 3B, and is locally directed from the inside of the transfer belt 32A toward the second transfer device 3B in response to a release command from the control device 7. Spray a pressurized gas.
- the tablet 1 transported to the pulley 31A on the X2 direction side along the first return path P12 is subjected to a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure at the release position, so that the adsorption of the tablet 1 is released and the first tablet 1 is released. 2
- the tablet 1 is delivered to the transport device 3B.
- the release command is not issued from the control device 7, the adsorption and holding of the tablet 1 is continued, and the tablet 1 can be circulated and transported along the first outward path P11 and the first return path P12.
- the tablet 1 adsorbed and held on the transport belt 32A is transported along the first outward path P11, it is sequentially subjected to a printing process by the first printing device 4A and a drying process by the first drying device 5A. That is, the first printing device 4A and the first drying device 5A are arranged in this order along the first outward path P11.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the first printing apparatus.
- FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gravure roller.
- the first printing device 4A is provided between the supply position PS1 that receives the supply of the tablet 1 and the first drying device 5A.
- the first printing apparatus 4A includes a transfer roller 41, an ink supply unit 42, and a cleaning unit 43.
- the transfer roller 41 has a core 411 having a shaft structure extending in the Y direction and a blanket portion 412 provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the core 411, and the rotation extending in the Y direction as a whole. It is finished in a roller shape that can rotate around the shaft AX1.
- the blanket portion 412 is made of a material that is elastically deformable with respect to the tablet 1.
- silicon rubber is used as an example of the material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a styrene-based elastomer, an olefin-based elastomer, or the like may be used.
- the ink IK is transferred to the tablet 1 at the transfer position PS3A without supporting the transfer roller 41 from the back surface side of the transport belt 32A, but it is backed up as a support means.
- a roller may be provided. That is, the backup roller may be arranged vertically below the transfer roller 41 so as to sandwich the transfer belt 32A and face the transfer roller 41 to support the transfer belt 32A from below.
- the transfer roller 41 is rotatably arranged around the rotation shaft AX1 above the transport belt 32A.
- the core 411 of the transfer roller 41 is connected to the rotation drive unit 45A (FIG. 5). Therefore, when the rotation drive unit 45A operates in response to the rotation command from the control device 7, the transfer roller 41 is rotated counterclockwise on the paper surface of FIG. That is, the transfer roller 41 is rotationally driven in the direction following the moving direction of the transport belt 32A along the first outward path P11, that is, in the so-called trail direction.
- the ink supply unit 42 includes an ink storage pan 421, a gravure roller 422, and a doctor blade 423.
- the ink storage pan 421 stores ink IK in a state of being opened vertically upward.
- Ink IK is a coating material dissolved in a solvent, and a small amount of a colorant is mixed in addition to these.
- the coating material includes HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), HPC (hydroxypropyl cellulose), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), POVACOAT (polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate copolymer), polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and the like.
- Graft copolymer PVP (polypolypyrrolidone), PEG (polyethylene glycol), aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E, methacrylic acid copolymer LD, methacrylic acid copolymer L, methacrylic acid copolymer S, ethyl acrylate / methyl methacrylate copolymer, ammonioalkyl methacrylate copolymer , At least one selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate / diethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, vinyl acetate resin, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carmellose, and HEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose).
- PVP polypolypyrrolidone
- PEG polyethylene glycol
- aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E methacrylic acid copolymer LD, methacrylic acid copolymer L, methacrylic acid copolymer S
- the gravure roller 422 is a kind of coating roller having an uneven surface, and can rotate clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 2 by receiving a part of the rotational driving force of the rotational driving unit 45A. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the gravure roller 422, a plurality of groove-shaped recesses 422a are uniformly and spirally formed on the surface of the roller made of metal or resin. Therefore, the gravure roller 422 rotates and comes into contact with the ink IK in the ink storage pan 421 to support the ink IK in the recess 422a. Then, the ink IK is conveyed toward the coating position PS2A. Needless to say, a dedicated rotary drive unit for rotationally driving the gravure roller 422 may be separately provided.
- the doctor blade 423 contacts the surface of the gravure roller 422 along the thrust direction Y of the gravure roller 422 on the upstream side of the coating position PS2A in the rotation direction R of the gravure roller 422 and gravure. Regulates the amount of ink IK on the roller 422. That is, the doctor blade 423 plays a role of scraping off the excess ink IK on the gravure roller 422 and measuring the amount of ink IK on the gravure roller 422 supplied to the transfer roller 41.
- Ink IK measured in an appropriate amount by the doctor blade 423 in this way is applied to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41. Then, the ink IK is leveled on the roller surface 413, and an ink film having a uniform film thickness is supported on the roller surface 413.
- the cleaning unit 43 removes the ink IK remaining on the roller surface 413 after transferring the ink layer on the roller surface 413 to the first surface 11 of the tablet 1.
- the cleaning unit 43 has a cleaning blade 431 and an ink recovery pan 432.
- the cleaning blade 431 is brought into contact with the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41, and the ink IK remaining on the roller surface 413 after transfer can be scraped off and removed.
- the transfer roller 41, the ink supply unit 42, and the cleaning unit 43 are integrally provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z, and are connected to the position adjustment unit 46A.
- the position adjusting unit 46A integrally raises and lowers the transfer roller 41, the ink supply unit 42, and the cleaning unit 43 in response to an elevating command from the control device 7, and positions them in the vertical direction Z. Thereby, the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 can be adjusted to control the pushing amount of the transfer roller 41 with high accuracy.
- FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the amount of pressing of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet.
- FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically showing a pushing operation of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet.
- FIG. 4A shows a state in which the tablet 1 (the alternate long and short dash line in the figure) is virtually adsorbed and held on the transport belt 32A
- FIG. 4A in the figure shows the first surface (upper surface) of the tablet 1.
- ) 11 shows the state in which the transfer roller 41 is in contact
- (b) in the figure shows the state in which the transfer roller 41 is pushed against the tablet 1.
- the pushing amount of the transfer roller 41 corresponds to the difference between the height position of the transfer roller 41 in the contact state (Fig.
- the roller surface 413 has a peripheral surface shape as shown in column (a) of FIG. 4B until the tablet 1 is transferred from the transfer roller 41 to the transfer position PS3A to which the ink IK is transferred.
- the roller surface 413 elastically deforms according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. Adheres to tablet 1. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1.
- the coefficient k1 is set to 0. It is desirable to set it to 5.5 or higher. Further, in order to expand the side surface region to which the ink IK is transferred to the second surface side (lower side in the figure), the coefficient k1 may be set to a value larger than 0.5.
- the position adjusting unit 46A positions the transfer roller 41 in the vertical direction Z so as to be. That is, in the present embodiment, the pushing amount A1 is positioned so as to satisfy the formula (2) as shown in FIG. 4A (b) in advance before printing the ink IK on the tablet 1 continuously. .. After that, by moving the transport belt 32A, the transfer to the tablet 1 is not performed as shown in the column (a) of FIG.
- the roller surface 413 elastically deforms according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 as shown in the column (b) of FIG. 4B. Adhere to 1.
- the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1.
- the transfer roller 41 is positioned at the same height position during continuous printing, but each time the tablet 1 is transferred to the transfer position PS3A, the transfer roller 41 is pushed into the push height position (FIG. 4B). It may be configured to move up and down between the non-contact height position (FIG. 2).
- the first drying device 5A is arranged on the downstream side of the first printing device 4A in the first horizontal direction X1.
- the first drying device 5A is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32A, removes the solvent component containing the ink IK printed on the first side 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 by the first printing device 4A, and is composed of a coating material.
- the first coating layer (reference numeral 14A in FIG. 7) is formed.
- the tablet 1 on which the first coating layer is formed is transported along the first outward path P11 toward the pulley 31A on the X1 direction side while being sucked and held by the transport belt 32A, and the transport direction is folded back by the pulley 31A.
- the first print inspection camera 81 is arranged in the vicinity of the folding position PS4A.
- the first print inspection camera 81 is a camera that photographs the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 that has been conveyed to the folding position PS4A, and transmits the captured image to the control device 7.
- the control device 7 inspects whether or not the first coating layer is properly formed based on the image. Then, when the first coating layer is not properly formed, the tablet 1 is recovered at the defective product recovery position PS5A by the first defective product recovery unit 91 described below.
- the first defective product collection unit 91 has a blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective print products and a defective print collection box 912.
- the blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints is arranged above the transport belt 32A that moves along the first return path P12. Further, a print defective product collection box 912 is arranged below the print defective product recovery blow mechanism 911 with the transport belt 32A sandwiched at the defective product collection position PS5A.
- the blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32A toward the defective print recovery box 912 in response to a recovery command from the control device 7.
- the blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints applies a positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the target tablet designated as defective by the control device 7, and holds the target tablet on the transport belt 32A. Release the adsorption. As a result, the target tablet is collected in the defective print collection box 912.
- the tablet 1 is adsorbed and held by the transport belt 32A with the first coating layer facing downward, and the first return path. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 along P12. Then, the tablet 1 is delivered from the first transport device 3A to the second transport device 3B at the delivery position PS6 in which the release blow mechanism 35A is arranged.
- the second transfer device 3B has a pair of pulleys 31B, a transfer belt 32B, a suction unit 33B (FIG. 5), and a belt drive unit 34B (FIG. 5), similarly to the first transfer device 3A. ..
- the pair of pulleys 31B are arranged so as to face each other while being separated from each other in the X direction.
- a transport belt 32B is annularly hung between these pulleys 31B.
- the tablet 1 having the first coating layer formed on the first surface 11 is supplied from the first transport device 3A to the pulley 31B on the X1 direction side, and the transport belt is wound around the pulley 31B. It is sent on 32B.
- the transport belt 32B transports the tablet 1 received from the first transport device 3A by the negative pressure generated by the suction unit 33B with the first surface 12 facing upward. It is attracted and held one by one by the belt 32B.
- one of the pair of pulleys 31B is connected to the belt drive unit 34B. Therefore, when the belt drive unit 34B operates in response to the operation command from the control device 7, the transport belt 32B circulates and moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction in the first transport device 3A. Therefore, in the second transport device 3B, the tablet 1 is transported in the horizontal direction X2 with the second surface 12 of the tablet 1 facing upward along the second outward path P21 toward the horizontal direction X2, and the tablet 1 is transported in the horizontal direction X2. The tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 with the second surface 12 of the tablet 1 facing downward along the second return path P22 toward the horizontal direction X1 after being folded back by the pulley 31B.
- the second transport device 3B is provided with a blow mechanism 35B for discharging non-defective products.
- the non-defective product discharge blow mechanism 35B is arranged at the non-defective product collection position PS7, and blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32B diagonally downward in response to a discharge command from the control device 7.
- the tablet 1 having the coating material satisfactorily coated on the entire surface is collected by the tablet collection device 6 at the non-defective product collection position PS7.
- the release command is not issued from the control device 7, the adsorption and holding of the tablet 1 is continued, and the tablet 1 can be circulated and transported along the second outward path P21 and the second return path P22.
- the tablet 1 adsorbed and held on the transport belt 32B is transported along the second outward path P21, it is sequentially subjected to a printing process by the second printing device 4B and a drying process by the second drying device 5B. That is, the second printing device 4B and the second drying device 5B are arranged in this order along the second outward path P21.
- the second printing apparatus 4B has a plane-symmetrical configuration with the YZ plane as the target plane.
- the second drying device 5B has the same configuration as the first drying device 5A. Therefore, in the present specification, the same configuration is designated by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and detailed configuration description of the second printing apparatus 4B and the second drying apparatus 5B will be omitted.
- the tablet 1 sucked and held by the transport belt 32B is transported to the second printing device 4B along the second outward path P21 with the second surface 12 facing upward. Then, at the transfer position PS3B where the ink IK is transferred from the transfer roller 41, the roller surface 413 adheres to the tablet 1 while elastically deforming according to the shapes of the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1.
- the pushing amount A2 is 0.5 ⁇ T ⁇ A2 ⁇ 1.5 ⁇ T... (4)
- the position adjusting unit 46B positions the transfer roller 41 in the vertical direction Z so as to be.
- the second drying device 5B is arranged on the downstream side of the second printing device 4B.
- the second drying device 5B removes the solvent component containing the ink IK printed on the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 by the second printing device 4B, and removes the solvent component, and is composed of a coating material.
- Reference numeral 14B) in 7 is formed.
- the tablet 1 on which the second coating layer is formed is transported along the second outward path P21 toward the pulley 31B on the X2 direction side while being sucked and held by the transport belt 32B, and the transport direction is folded back by the pulley 31B.
- a second print inspection camera 82 is arranged in the vicinity of the folding position PS4B.
- the second print inspection camera 82 is a camera that photographs the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 that has been conveyed to the folded position PS4B, and transmits the captured image to the control device 7.
- the control device 7 inspects whether or not the second coating layer is properly formed based on the image. Then, when the second coating layer is not properly formed, the tablet 1 is recovered at the defective product recovery position PS5B by the second defective product recovery unit 92 described below.
- the second defective product collection unit 92 is configured in the same manner as the first defective product collection unit 91. That is, the blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints is arranged above the transport belt 32B that moves along the second return path P22. Further, a print defective product collection box 922 is arranged below the print defective product recovery blow mechanism 921 with the transport belt 32B sandwiched at the defective product collection position PS5B.
- the blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32B toward the defective print recovery box 922 in response to a recovery command from the control device 7.
- the blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints applies a positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the target tablet designated as defective by the control device 7, and holds the target tablet on the transport belt 32A. Release the adsorption. As a result, the target tablet is collected in the defective print collection box 922.
- the tablet 1 is adsorbed and held by the transport belt 32B with the second coating layer facing downward, and the second return path. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 along P22. Then, at the non-defective product collection position PS7 in which the non-defective product discharge blow mechanism 35B is arranged, locally pressurized gas is sprayed from the second transport device 3B toward the tablet collection device 6. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 having the coating material uniformly coated on the entire surface with a desired thickness is collected by the tablet collecting device 6.
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the tablet coating device shown in FIG.
- the control device 7 is a means for controlling the operation of each part of the tablet coating device 100.
- the control device 7 is composed of a computer having an arithmetic processing unit 71 such as a CPU, a memory 72 such as a RAM, and a storage unit 73 such as a hard disk drive.
- a computer program P for executing the tablet coating process is installed in the storage unit 73.
- the control device 7 temporarily reads the computer program P and data stored in the storage unit 73 into the memory 72, and the arithmetic processing unit 71 performs arithmetic processing based on the computer program P. Operation control of each part.
- the coating treatment for the plurality of tablets 1 is executed as follows.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the coating process executed by the tablet coating apparatus shown in FIG.
- FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of the coating process.
- tablets 1 before coating treatment tablet 1 on which the first coating layer 14A is formed, and tablet 1 on which the second coating layer 14B is further formed are shown. ing. Further, in FIG. 7, hatching is added to clearly indicate the coating layers 14A and 14B.
- the tablet coating device 100 a plurality of tablets 1 before coating treatment are simultaneously supplied by the tablet supply device 2, as in the case of the devices described in JP-A-2018-208. In order to facilitate the understanding of the contents, the coating treatment performed on one tablet 1 will be focused on.
- the arithmetic processing unit 71 of the control device 7 controls each unit of the device according to the computer program P described above as follows to execute the coating process.
- each device can execute a predetermined operation. That is, when the tablet coating device 100 is continuously operating, the tablet 1 is supplied by the tablet supply device 2, the tablet 1 is transferred by the first transfer device 3A, and the ink IK is printed by the first printing device 4A. Formation of the first coating layer 14A by the first drying device 5A, receipt and transportation of the tablet 1 by the second transport device 3B, printing of ink IK by the second printing device 4B, and the second coating layer 14B by the second drying device 5B. The formation and the recovery of the coated tablets by the tablet recovery device 6 are performed in parallel.
- the uncoated tablet 1 that is, the uncoated tablet 1 is supplied to the supply position PS1 in response to the supply command from the control device 7 (step S1).
- this uncoated tablet 1 as shown in column (a) of FIG. 7, no coating material is coated on any of the first surface 11, the second surface 12, and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
- the side surfaces 13 the region on the first surface 11 side is referred to as "first side surface region 13A”, and the region on the second surface 12 side is referred to as "second side surface region 13B".
- the uncoated tablet 1 is sucked and held by the transport belt 32A with the first surface 11 facing upward at the supply position PS1, and then transported in the horizontal direction X1 along the first outward path P11.
- the ink IK is transferred to the first side surface 11 and the first side surface region 13A by the first printing apparatus 4A. That is, since the pressing amount A1 in the first printing apparatus 4A is set so as to satisfy the equation (2), the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. However, at least the first side surface region 13A of the side surface 13 and all of the first surface 11 are in close contact with each other. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1 and the first coating film is printed (step S2).
- the tablet 1 passes directly under the first drying device 5A.
- the solvent component contained in the first coating film is removed.
- the drying of the first coating film proceeds, and as shown in the column (b) of FIG. 7, the first coating layer 14A is formed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 (step S3).
- the control device 7 inspects whether or not the first coating layer 14A is properly formed based on the captured image (step S4).
- step S5 defective product collection is executed. That is, when the defective coating tablet 1 is conveyed to the defective product recovery position PS5A along the first return path P12, the pressurized gas is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the printing defective product recovery blow mechanism 911. As a result, the poorly coated tablet 1 is discharged to the defective printing product collection box 912 and collected (step S6).
- step S5 the tablet 1 is placed along the first return path P12 with the first surface 11 coated with the first coating layer 14A facing downward. It is further conveyed in the horizontal direction X2.
- step S7 When the tablet 1 is transported to the delivery position PS6, the gas pressurized against the tablet 1 is sprayed from the release blow mechanism 35A toward the second transport device 3B. As a result, the tablet 1 coated on one side with the first coating layer 14A is transferred to the transport belt 32B of the second transport device 3B (step S7). The transferred tablet 1 is sucked and held by the transport belt 32B of the second transport device 3B with the second surface 12 facing upward, and then in that state, the tablet 1 is held in the horizontal direction X2 along the second outward path P21. Will be transported to.
- the ink IK is transferred to the second side surface 21 and the second side surface region 13B by the second printing device 4B. That is, since the pressing amount A2 in the second printing device 4B is set so as to satisfy the equation (4), the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shapes of the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. However, at least the second side surface region 13B of the side surface 13 and all of the second surface 12 are in close contact with each other. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1, and the second coating film is printed on the side opposite to the first coating layer 14A (step S8).
- the tablet 1 passes directly under the second drying device 5B.
- the solvent component contained in the second coating film is removed.
- the drying of the second coating film proceeds, and as shown in column (c) of FIG. 7, the second coating layer 14B is formed on the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 (step S9).
- the so-called double-sided coated tablet 1 coated with the coating material on both sides in this way is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 along the second outward path P21, and further, after the transport direction is reversed at the folding position PS4B, along the second return path P22. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1.
- the control device 7 inspects whether or not the second coating layer 14B is properly formed based on the captured image (step S10).
- step S11 defective product collection is executed. That is, the gas pressurized at the stage when the poorly coated tablet 1 is conveyed to the defective product recovery position PS5B along the second return path P22 is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the printing defective product recovery blow mechanism 921. As a result, the poorly coated tablet 1 is discharged to the defective printing product collection box 922 and collected (step S12).
- step S11 the second coating layer 14B is appropriate, it can be concluded that the coating treatment has been successfully performed on the tablet 1. That is, the tablet 1 has a coating material uniformly coated on the entire surface with a desired thickness.
- the non-defective tablet 1 is transported to the non-defective product recovery position PS7 along the second return path P22, and the gas pressurized at the non-defective product recovery position PS7 is sprayed onto the non-defective product discharge mechanism 35B. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 is discharged from the transport belt 32B to the tablet collection device 6 and collected (step S13).
- the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 is adjusted in the vertical direction Z.
- the transfer roller 41 pushes the tablet 1 from above, and the roller surface 413 carries the ink IK in the shape of the tablet 1. It is executed in a state of elastic deformation. Therefore, the ink IK can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface (first surface 11) of the tablet 1 but also on the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
- the second printing apparatus 4B and the ink IK can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface (second surface 12) of the tablet 1 but also on the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
- the ink IK is printed on at least the first side surface region 13A of the first side surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 using the first printing device 4A to form the first coating layer 14A.
- the second coating layer 4B is used to print ink IK on at least the second side surface region 13B of the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 having the first coating layer. It forms 14B. Therefore, for each tablet 1, the entire surface of the tablet 1 can be satisfactorily coated.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of a tablet coating apparatus equipped with a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of a coating process executed by the tablet coating apparatus according to the second embodiment.
- the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two printing devices 4C and 4D and two drying devices 5C and 5D are added, and the other configurations are different from those of the first embodiment. It is the same. Therefore, in the following, the differences will be mainly described, and the same components will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description of the components will be omitted.
- the third printing device 4C and the third drying device 5C are arranged along the first outward path P11 between the first drying device 5A and the first printing inspection camera 81.
- the third printing apparatus 4C has a head 47 that ejects droplets of ink IK onto the tablet 1 by a so-called inkjet method.
- the head 47 extends in the Y direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
- a plurality of nozzles (not shown) capable of ejecting ink droplets are two-dimensionally arranged in the X direction and the Y direction.
- the head 47 selectively ejects ink droplets from the nozzles in response to the ejection command from the control device 7 to form a coating film on the tablet 1. More specifically, the head 47 ejects ink droplets toward the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A of the one-sided coated tablet 1 (see column (b) of FIG. 9) transported in the horizontal direction X1 by the transport belt 32A. To do. Therefore, an annular third coating film is formed on the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A.
- a third drying device 5C is arranged on the downstream side of the third printing device 4C in the X1 direction.
- the third drying device 5C is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32A, and removes the solvent component contained in the third coating film printed on the first coating layer 14A of the tablet 1 by the third printing device 4C.
- the third coating layer 14C composed of the coating material is formed by being laminated on the first coating layer 14A in an annular shape.
- the fourth printing device 4D and the fourth drying device 5D are also arranged between the second drying device 5B and the second printing inspection camera 82 along the second outward path P21.
- the fourth printing device 4D also has a head 47 that ejects droplets of ink IK onto the tablet 1. Then, the head 47 ejects ink droplets toward the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B of the double-sided coated tablet 1 (see column (d) of FIG. 9) which is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 by the conveying belt 32B. Therefore, an annular fourth coating film is formed on the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B.
- a fourth drying device 5D is arranged on the downstream side of the fourth printing device 4D in the X2 direction.
- the fourth drying device 5D is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32B, and removes the solvent component contained in the fourth coating film printed on the second coating layer 14B of the tablet 1 by the fourth printing device 4D.
- the fourth coating layer 14D composed of the coating material is formed by laminating on the second coating layer 14B in an annular shape.
- the first coating layer 14A is obtained by pressing the transfer roller 41 against the tablet 1 from above to dry the first coating film formed. Since the peripheral edge portion of the tablet 1, that is, the connection portion between the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 is an edge portion, the peripheral edge portion of the first coating layer 14A may become thinner as the edge portion becomes steeper. This point is the same for the second coating layer 14B.
- the third coating layer 14C is laminated and formed on the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A
- the fourth coating layer 14D is laminated and formed on the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B. Therefore, each peripheral edge portion is reinforced, and the tablet 1 can be uniformly coated.
- the first printing device 4A (third printing device 4C), while transporting the uncoated tablet 1 in the order of the first outward path P11, the first return path P12, the second outward path P21, and the second return path P22.
- the ink IK is printed by the second printing device 4B, (fourth printing device 4D), but the transfer order is not limited to this.
- the second coating is performed.
- FIG. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the flow of the coating process executed in the third embodiment of the tablet coating apparatus according to the present invention.
- the uncoated tablet 1 supplied to the first transport device 3A is transported in the X1 direction along the first outward path P11 and is subjected to the first coating treatment (steps S2 and S3). Is executed, the number of times of the first coating process is determined in step S14. Then, the tablet 1 is circulated and transported along the first outward path P11 and the first return path P12 while the first coating process has not reached the preset M times, that is, is determined as “NO” in step S14.
- step S4 the inspection of the first coating layer 14A (step S4) is executed as in the first embodiment. Then, when it is determined in step S5 that the first coating layer 14A is appropriate, the tablet 1 coated on one side (column (b) in FIG. 7) is transferred to the second transport device 3B as shown in FIG. (Step S7).
- step S10 the inspection of the second coating layer 14B (step S10) is executed as in the first embodiment. Then, when it is determined in step S11 that the second coating layer 14B is appropriate, the tablet 1 coated on both sides (column (c) in FIG. 7) is transported to the non-defective product collection position PS7. Then, the gas pressurized at the non-defective product recovery position PS7 is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the non-defective product discharging blow mechanism 35B. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 is discharged from the transport belt 32B to the tablet collection device 6 and collected (step S13).
- the tablet 1 can be more reliably coated with the coating material as compared with the first embodiment. it can. As a result, the frequency of defective products can be reduced.
- the number of times the first coating process is repeated M and the number of times the second coating process is repeated N may be the same or different from each other. Further, either one may be set at one time. Needless to say, the technical matter of repeating at least one of the first coating treatment and the second coating treatment a plurality of times may be applied to the second embodiment.
- the first coating treatment is performed a plurality of times by circulating the tablet 1 along the first outward route P11 and the first return route P12, but the configuration for performing the first coating treatment a plurality of times. Is not limited to this.
- a plurality of the first printing apparatus 4A and the first drying apparatus 5A may be provided, for example, two in the apparatus shown in FIG. 12 (fourth embodiment).
- the first coating treatment is performed twice while the tablet 1 is transported along the first outward path P11, and the tablet 1 is more reliably coated with the coating material as compared with the first embodiment. can do.
- the circulation transfer is performed M times in the fourth embodiment, the first coating process is executed (2 ⁇ M) times.
- the number of arrangements of the first printing apparatus 4A is not limited to "1" and "2", and may be 3 or more. Further, these points are the same for the second coating treatment. That is, a plurality of second printing devices 4B may be provided so that the second coating process is repeated a plurality of times. As described above, the technical matter of increasing the number of arrangements of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B can be applied to the first to third embodiments.
- the same ink IK is used for both the first coating treatment and the second coating treatment. That is, ink IK is used as the "first ink” and "second ink” of the present invention. However, using the same ink IK is not an essential component of the present invention, and different inks may be used. For example, inks of different colors may be used. Further, considering that the tablet 1 is a drug, food, health food, etc., it is desirable that the tablet 1 satisfies at least one of the drug additive standard, the food additive standard, and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia standard and is edible.
- ink IK is applied to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41 to form an ink film (liquid film of ink IK), and then a part of the ink film is tableted. It is transferred to 1 and printed. Therefore, there is a possibility that some of the components of the material constituting the blanket portion 412 may be mixed with the ink IK and enter the coating layer. Therefore, in consideration of this point, it is desirable that the blanket portion 412 is made of an elastic material approved by the Food Sanitation Law.
- the gravure roller 422 is used to supply ink IK to the transfer roller 41 to coat the ink film. Therefore, if the amount of ink supplied from the gravure roller 422 to the transfer roller 41 is too small or too large, it is difficult to perform a good coating treatment, and the cell volume of the recess 422a is 50 cm 3 / m 2 or more. It is desirable to use a gravure roller 422 which is 500 cm 3 / m 2 or less. This point will be described in detail in a later embodiment.
- the unevenness of the amount of ink on the transfer roller 41 is closely related to the viscosity of the ink IK. That is, if an ink IK having a shear viscosity of less than 100 mPa at a shear rate of 100 / s is used, it becomes difficult to coat the ink film on the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41. On the contrary, when ink IK having a shear viscosity of more than 30,000 mPa at a shear rate of 100 / s is used, sufficient leveling does not occur on the roller surface 413, and it is difficult to form a uniform ink film.
- an ink IK having a shear viscosity of 100 mPa or more and 30,000 mPa or less at a shear rate of 100 / s. This point will be described in detail in a later embodiment.
- the ink supply unit 42 is a gravure coater using the gravure roller 422, but the ink supply unit 42 may be configured by another roll coater. Further, a method other than the roll coater, for example, a slit coating method in which ink is discharged from the slit nozzle to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41 and supplied may be used.
- the tablet 1 is transported by a so-called conveyor method, but the transport method of the tablet 1 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary.
- the transfer roller 41 is moved in the vertical direction Z to adjust the pushing amounts A1 and A2, but the transfer belts 32A and 32B are moved upward at the transfer positions PS3A and PS3B.
- the push-in amounts A1 and A2 may be adjusted by moving them.
- the transfer roller 41 and the transport belts 32A and 32B may be moved in the vertical direction Z for adjustment. That is, the pushing amounts A1 and A2 may be adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 in the vertical direction Z.
- the inkjet printing devices 4C and 4D are used for the purpose of reinforcing the peripheral edges of the coating layers 14A and 14B, respectively. Therefore, in order to properly eject ink droplets of ink IK, that is, ink droplets from the nozzle of the head 47, it is desirable to set the viscosity of ink IK to 1 mPa ⁇ s or more and 15 mPa ⁇ s or less.
- the first drying device 5A to the fourth drying device 5D are provided corresponding to each of the first printing device 4A to the fourth printing device 4D, but a part of the drying device is provided. It may be omitted.
- the first drying device 5A is omitted, and the first coating film printed by the first printing device 4A and the third printing device 4C is collectively dried by the third drying device 5C to form the first coating layer 14A.
- the second drying device 5B is omitted, and the second coating film printed by the second printing device 4B and the fourth printing device 4D is collectively dried by the fourth drying device 5D to form the second coating layer 14B.
- the first printing device 4A and the third printing device 4C for printing the first coating film may be replaced.
- the second printing device 4B and the fourth printing device 4D for printing the second coating film may be replaced.
- the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B correspond to an example of the “printing device” according to the present invention.
- the transfer rollers 41 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B correspond to examples of the "first transfer roller” and the “second transfer roller” of the present invention, respectively.
- the roller surface 413 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B corresponds to an example of the "first roller surface” and the “second roller surface” of the present invention, respectively.
- the ink supply unit 42 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B corresponds to an example of the "first ink supply unit” and the "second ink supply unit” of the present invention, respectively.
- the rotation drive units 45A and 45B correspond to examples of the "first rotation drive unit” and the “second rotation drive unit” of the present invention, respectively.
- the position adjusting units 46A and 46B correspond to examples of the "first position adjusting unit” and the “second position adjusting unit” of the present invention, respectively.
- the first side surface region 13A and the second side surface region 13B correspond to an example of "at least a part of the side surface of the tablet” of the present invention, and the region where the first side surface region 13A and the first surface 11 are combined is the present invention.
- the combined region of the second side surface region 13B and the second surface 12 corresponds to an example of the "second coated region” of the present invention.
- the ink storage pan 421 and the gravure roller 422 correspond to an example of the "ink storage unit” and the “ink supply roller” of the present invention, respectively.
- the X1 direction and the X2 direction correspond to the "first horizontal direction” and the “second horizontal direction” of the present invention, respectively.
- the coating material constituting the first coating layer 14A corresponds to an example of the "first coating material” of the present invention
- the coating material constituting the second coating layer 14B is an example of the "second coating material” of the present invention. Corresponds to.
- the tablet 1 is pushed from above by the transfer roller 41 having the ink IK liquid film supported on the roller surface 413, so that the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the tablet 1 while the tablet 1 is deformed.
- the ink IK is transferred not only to the upper surface (first surface and the second surface) of the tablet 1 but also to the side surface of the tablet 1, and the coating film is applied to the tablet 1. Therefore, while switching the pressing amount in 11 different steps (see the column of "pressing amount" in Table 1), the first coating process is repeated three times under the following printing conditions for each pressing amount, and then the pressing amount is changed.
- the surface condition of the first coating layer 14A was visually observed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13, and the coating unevenness on the first surface 11 and the coating state on the side surface 13 were evaluated based on the following criteria.
- the “pushing amount (mm)” in the table is the moving amount of the transfer roller 41, and the “pushing amount A1" is based on the thickness T of the tablet 1.
- the pushing amount A1 is less than 0.5 ⁇ T, the coating cannot be applied to the side surface 13, and an unapplied portion appears on the first surface 11.
- the pressing amount A1 exceeds 1.5 ⁇ T, the film thickness of the peripheral portion of the tablet 1 becomes thin. Also, if tablet 1 is relatively brittle, it may crack. Therefore, in order to perform the coating treatment well, it is desirable to set the pushing amount A1 so that the above-mentioned equation (2) is satisfied.
- ink IK is supplied to the transfer roller 41 by using a gravure roller 422 provided with a recess 422a to coat the ink film. Therefore, while switching the cell volume of the recess 422a in 11 different steps (see the column of "theoretical cell volume” in Table 2), the first coating process is repeated three times under the following printing conditions for each theoretical cell volume. After this, the surface condition of the first coating layer 14A was visually observed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 and the time required for drying the coating film was measured, and the coating unevenness on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 were measured. The coating condition and dryness were evaluated based on the following criteria.
- a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 50 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 500 cm 3 / m 2 or less. Further, more preferably, it is desirable to use a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 60 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 300 cm 3 / m 2 or less. Further, it is preferable to use a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 80 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 180 cm 3 / m 2 or less.
- an ink IK having a shear viscosity of 100 mPa or more and 30,000 mPa or less at a shear rate of 100 / s.
- the present invention can be applied to a printing technique for printing an ink containing a coating material on a tablet and a tablet coating technique for coating the entire surface of a tablet with a coating material using the printing technique.
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- Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract
The present invention includes a transfer roller that has a roller surface formed from an elastic material capable of elastically deforming relative to a tablet, an ink supply unit that supplies an ink containing a coating material to the roller surface, a position adjusting unit that adjusts the relative position of the transfer roller to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a rotation drive unit that rotates the transfer roller, wherein the position adjusting unit adjusts the relative position by pushing the transfer roller against the tablet from above, and the rotation drive unit rotates the transfer roller that carries the ink on the roller surface to transfer the ink carried by the transfer roller on to the top surface of the tablet and at least a portion of the side surface of the tablet.
Description
この発明は、医薬品・食品・健康食品等に用いられる錠剤にコーティング材を含むインクを印刷する印刷技術および当該印刷技術を用いて錠剤の全面にコーティング材をコーティングする錠剤コーティング技術に関するものである。
The present invention relates to a printing technique for printing an ink containing a coating material on a tablet used for pharmaceuticals, foods, health foods, etc., and a tablet coating technique for coating the entire surface of a tablet with a coating material using the printing technique.
以下に示す日本出願の明細書、図面および特許請求の範囲における開示内容は、参照によりその全内容が本書に組み入れられる:
特願2019-153378(2019年8月26日出願)。 The specification, drawings and claims of the Japanese application shown below are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-153378 (filed on August 26, 2019).
特願2019-153378(2019年8月26日出願)。 The specification, drawings and claims of the Japanese application shown below are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety:
Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-153378 (filed on August 26, 2019).
市場に流通している錠剤のうち約半分程度については、錠剤の表面全体をコーティング層で覆う、いわゆるコーティング処理が施されている。このコーティング処理は、例えば特許文献1に記載の装置により行われていた。当該装置は、回転ドラムを用いたドラム型(パン型)の造粒コーティング装置である。この装置は、コーティングパンの中で錠剤を混ぜながら、コーティング材を含む塗布液をスプレー塗布する。そして、錠剤の表面に塗工された塗布液を熱風乾燥させて錠剤の表面にコーティング材をフィルム状に成膜する。
About half of the tablets on the market are covered with a coating layer, so-called coating treatment. This coating treatment has been performed by, for example, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1. The device is a drum-type (pan-type) granulation coating device using a rotating drum. This device sprays a coating solution containing a coating material while mixing tablets in a coating pan. Then, the coating liquid applied to the surface of the tablet is dried with hot air to form a film-like coating material on the surface of the tablet.
上記装置はいわゆるバッチ方式であるため、コーティング処理の完了後には毎回装置を清掃しなければならない。そのため、錠剤のコーティングに手間と時間がかかるという課題があった。また、品目によってはラボスケールからコマーシャルスケールへのスケールアップが困難という課題や、小ロットへの対応が難しいという課題もあった。
Since the above equipment is a so-called batch method, the equipment must be cleaned after each coating process is completed. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to coat the tablet. In addition, depending on the item, there was a problem that it was difficult to scale up from a laboratory scale to a commercial scale, and there was also a problem that it was difficult to handle small lots.
そこで、例えば特許文献2に記載されているように、錠剤1錠ごとにコーティングを施す連続方式の錠剤コーティング装置が提案されている。この錠剤コーティング装置はいわゆるインクジェット方式の印刷装置を用いている。つまり、錠剤を水平搬送するベルトコンベアの上方にインクジェットプリンタのノズルヘッドが配置されている。そして、ベルトコンベアにより水平搬送される錠剤に対し、コーティング材を含むインクの液滴がノズルヘッドから吐出されて錠剤に印刷される。
Therefore, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, a continuous type tablet coating device for coating each tablet has been proposed. This tablet coating device uses a so-called inkjet printing device. That is, the nozzle head of the inkjet printer is arranged above the belt conveyor that horizontally conveys the tablets. Then, with respect to the tablet horizontally conveyed by the belt conveyor, droplets of ink containing the coating material are ejected from the nozzle head and printed on the tablet.
しかしながら、特許文献2に記載された装置では、錠剤の側面に対してインクを良好に印刷することが難しい。また、一方主面にインクが印刷された錠剤を反転させた後で当該錠剤を錠剤コーティング装置により印刷しても、錠剤の側面にコーティング層を良好に形成することは難しい。
However, with the apparatus described in Patent Document 2, it is difficult to print ink well on the side surface of the tablet. Further, even if a tablet having ink printed on the main surface is inverted and then the tablet is printed by a tablet coating device, it is difficult to form a coating layer on the side surface of the tablet well.
この発明は、上記課題に鑑みなされたものであり、錠剤毎に錠剤全体にコーティング層を良好にコーティングすることができる錠剤コーティング装置、ならびに当該錠剤コーティング装置に好適な印刷技術を提供することを目的とする。
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tablet coating apparatus capable of satisfactorily coating the entire tablet with a coating layer for each tablet, and a printing technique suitable for the tablet coating apparatus. And.
この発明の第1態様は、水平方向に搬送される錠剤にコーティング材を含むインクを印刷する印刷装置であって、錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料でローラー表面が形成された転写ローラーと、コーティング材を含むインクをローラー表面に供給するインク供給部と、鉛直方向における錠剤に対する転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する位置調整部と、転写ローラーを回転させる回転駆動部と、を備え、位置調整部が錠剤に対して転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように相対位置を調整し、回転駆動部がインクをローラー表面で担持している転写ローラーを回転させることで、転写ローラーに担持されたインクを錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の上面に転写することを特徴としている。
A first aspect of the present invention is a printing device that prints ink containing a coating material on a tablet that is horizontally conveyed, and is a transfer roller having a roller surface formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet. The position adjustment is provided with an ink supply unit that supplies ink containing a coating material to the roller surface, a position adjustment unit that adjusts the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a rotation drive unit that rotates the transfer roller. The relative position is adjusted so that the part pushes the transfer roller against the tablet from above, and the rotation drive part rotates the transfer roller that holds the ink on the roller surface, so that the ink carried on the transfer roller is tableted. It is characterized by transferring to at least a portion of the side surface of the tablet and onto the top surface of the tablet.
また、この発明の第2態様は、印刷方法であって、錠剤の一方主面を上方に向けた状態で錠剤を水平方向に搬送する工程と、錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料でローラー表面が形成された転写ローラーにコーティング材を含むインクを供給してローラー表面にインクを担持させる工程と、錠剤を転写ローラーが上方から押し込むように鉛直方向における錠剤に対する転写ローラーの相対位置を調整した状態で、水平方向に錠剤を搬送するとともにインクを担持する転写ローラーを回転させ、インクを錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の一方主面に転写する工程とを備えることを特徴としている。
A second aspect of the present invention is a printing method, in which the tablet is transported in the horizontal direction with one main surface of the tablet facing upward, and a roller made of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet. The step of supplying the ink containing the coating material to the transfer roller on which the surface was formed to support the ink on the roller surface and the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction were adjusted so that the transfer roller pushed the tablet from above. In the state, the tablet is transported in the horizontal direction and the transfer roller carrying the ink is rotated to transfer the ink to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and one main surface of the tablet.
さらに、この発明の第3態様は、錠剤コーティング装置であって、第1水平方向に延びる第1往路に沿って錠剤の第1面を上方に向けた状態で錠剤を搬送する第1搬送装置と、第1搬送装置により第1水平方向に搬送される錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の第1面を含む第1被コーティング領域に対し、第1コーティング材を含む第1インクを印刷する第1印刷装置と、錠剤に印刷された第1インクを乾燥させて錠剤に第1コーティング層を形成する第1乾燥装置と、第2水平方向に延びる第2往路に沿って第1コーティング層が形成された錠剤を受け取り、錠剤の第2面を上方に向けた状態で錠剤を搬送する第2搬送装置と、第2搬送装置により第2水平方向に搬送される錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の第2面を含む第2被コーティング領域に対し、第2コーティング材を含む第2インクを印刷する第2印刷装置と、錠剤に印刷された第2インクを乾燥させて錠剤に第2コーティング層を形成する第2乾燥装置と、を備え、第1印刷装置は、錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料で第1ローラー表面が形成された第1転写ローラーと、第1インクを第1ローラー表面に供給する第1インク供給部と、鉛直方向における錠剤に対する第1転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する第1位置調整部と、第1転写ローラーを回転させる第1回転駆動部と、を有し、第1回転駆動部が第1インクを第1ローラー表面で担持している第1転写ローラーを回転させつつ、第1位置調整部が錠剤に対して第1転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように相対位置を調整することで、第1転写ローラーに担持された第1インクを錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の上面に転写して印刷し、第2印刷装置は、錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料で第2ローラー表面が形成された第2転写ローラーと、第2インクを第2ローラー表面に供給する第2インク供給部と、鉛直方向における錠剤に対する第2転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する第2位置調整部と、第2転写ローラーを回転させる第2回転駆動部と、を有し、第2回転駆動部が第2インクを第2ローラー表面で担持している第2転写ローラーを回転させつつ、第2位置調整部が錠剤に対して第2転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように相対位置を調整することで、第2転写ローラーに担持された第2インクを錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の上面に転写して印刷することを特徴としている。
Further, a third aspect of the present invention is a tablet coating device, wherein the tablet is transported with the first surface of the tablet facing upward along the first outward path extending in the first horizontal direction. The first ink containing the first coating material is printed on the first coated region including at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the first surface of the tablet transported in the first horizontal direction by the first transport device. 1 The printing device, the first drying device that dries the first ink printed on the tablet to form the first coating layer on the tablet, and the first coating layer formed along the second outward path extending in the second horizontal direction. A second transport device that receives the tablet and transports the tablet with the second side of the tablet facing upward, and at least a part of the side surface of the tablet that is transported in the second horizontal direction by the second transport device and the tablet. A second printing apparatus for printing a second ink containing a second coating material on a second coated area including the second surface of the tablet, and a second coating layer on the tablet by drying the second ink printed on the tablet. The first printing apparatus includes a first transfer roller having a first roller surface formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to tablets, and a first roller that forms a first ink. It has a first ink supply unit that supplies the surface, a first position adjustment unit that adjusts the relative position of the first transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a first rotation drive unit that rotates the first transfer roller. , While the first rotation drive unit rotates the first transfer roller carrying the first ink on the surface of the first roller, the first position adjusting unit pushes the first transfer roller relative to the tablet from above. By adjusting the position, the first ink carried on the first transfer roller is transferred to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the upper surface of the tablet for printing, and the second printing apparatus can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet. Adjusts the relative positions of the second transfer roller whose surface is formed of the elastic material, the second ink supply unit that supplies the second ink to the surface of the second roller, and the second transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction. A second transfer roller having a second position adjusting unit and a second rotation drive unit for rotating the second transfer roller, and the second rotation drive unit carrying the second ink on the surface of the second roller. By adjusting the relative position so that the second position adjusting unit pushes the second transfer roller against the tablet from above while rotating, the second ink carried on the second transfer roller is applied to at least one of the side surfaces of the tablet. Transfer to the part and the top surface of the tablet It is characterized by printing.
このように構成された印刷装置および印刷方法によれば、鉛直方向において錠剤に対する転写ローラーの相対位置が調整される。そして、調整後の転写ローラーから錠剤にインクを転写する際、転写ローラーは錠剤を上方から押し込んだ、いわゆる押込状態となる。このとき、ローラー表面はインクを担持しながら錠剤の形状に倣って弾性変形する。つまり、ローラー表面は錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および錠剤の上面に接触する。そして、押込状態が維持されたまま錠剤が水平方向に搬送されるとともにインクを担持する転写ローラーが回転する。これによって、インクを錠剤の上面のみならず錠剤の側面にも良好にインクを印刷することができる。
According to the printing apparatus and printing method configured in this way, the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet is adjusted in the vertical direction. Then, when the ink is transferred from the adjusted transfer roller to the tablet, the transfer roller is in a so-called pressed state in which the tablet is pushed from above. At this time, the roller surface is elastically deformed according to the shape of the tablet while supporting the ink. That is, the roller surface contacts at least a portion of the side surface of the tablet and the top surface of the tablet. Then, the tablet is conveyed in the horizontal direction while the pressed state is maintained, and the transfer roller carrying the ink rotates. As a result, the ink can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface of the tablet but also on the side surface of the tablet.
また、上記印刷技術を用いて錠剤の第1面および側面の少なくとも一部にインクを印刷して第1コーティング層を形成した後で、上記印刷技術を用いて第1コーティング層を有する錠剤の第2面および側面の少なくとも一部にインクを印刷して第2コーティング層を形成することで錠剤全体を良好にコーティングすることができる。
Further, after the ink is printed on at least a part of the first surface and the side surface of the tablet using the above printing technique to form the first coating layer, the tablet having the first coating layer is formed by using the above printing technique. The entire tablet can be satisfactorily coated by printing ink on at least a part of the two sides and the side surface to form a second coating layer.
上述した本発明の各態様の有する複数の構成要素はすべてが必須のものではなく、上述の課題の一部又は全部を解決するため、あるいは、本明細書に記載された効果の一部又は全部を達成するために、適宜、前記複数の構成要素の一部の構成要素について、その変更、削除、新たな他の構成要素との差し替え、限定内容の一部削除を行うことが可能である。また、上述の課題の一部又は全部を解決するため、あるいは、本明細書に記載された効果の一部又は全部を達成するために、上述した本発明の一態様に含まれる技術的特徴の一部又は全部を上述した本発明の他の態様に含まれる技術的特徴の一部又は全部と組み合わせて、本発明の独立した一形態とすることも可能である。
The plurality of components of each aspect of the present invention described above are not all essential, and may be used to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems, or part or all of the effects described herein. In order to achieve the above, it is possible to change, delete, replace some of the plurality of components with new other components, and partially delete the limited contents, as appropriate. In addition, in order to solve a part or all of the above-mentioned problems, or to achieve a part or all of the effects described in the present specification, the technical features included in the above-mentioned aspect of the present invention. It is also possible to combine some or all with some or all of the technical features contained in the other aspects of the invention described above to form an independent form of the invention.
図1は本発明に係る印刷装置を装備する錠剤コーティング装置の第1実施形態を模式的に示す図である。錠剤コーティング装置100は、医薬品・食品・健康食品等に用いられる錠剤1を水平方向に搬送しながら各錠剤1にコーティング材を含むインク(図2の符号IK)を印刷した後で当該インクを乾燥させて錠剤1全体をコーティング層(図7の符号14A、14B)でコーティングする装置である。同図および後で説明する各図では、方向関係を明確にするために、XYZ直角座標軸が示されている。これらの図には、鉛直方向に平行なZ方向と、錠剤1の搬送方向に平行なX方向と、Z方向およびX方向に垂直なY方向とが示されている。なお、X方向の矢印X1は錠剤1の第1面11(図7参照)にインクを印刷する際の錠剤1の水平搬送方向であり、X方向の矢印X2は錠剤1の第2面12(図7参照)にインクを印刷する際の錠剤1の水平搬送方向である。
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of a tablet coating apparatus equipped with a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The tablet coating device 100 prints ink containing a coating material (reference numeral IK in FIG. 2) on each tablet 1 while horizontally transporting the tablet 1 used for pharmaceuticals, foods, health foods, etc., and then dries the ink. This is an apparatus for coating the entire tablet 1 with a coating layer ( reference numerals 14A and 14B in FIG. 7). In this figure and each of the figures described later, XYZ right-angled coordinate axes are shown to clarify the directional relationship. In these figures, the Z direction parallel to the vertical direction, the X direction parallel to the transport direction of the tablet 1, and the Z direction and the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction are shown. The arrow X1 in the X direction is the horizontal transport direction of the tablet 1 when printing ink on the first surface 11 (see FIG. 7) of the tablet 1, and the arrow X2 in the X direction is the second surface 12 (see FIG. 7) of the tablet 1. (See FIG. 7), which is the horizontal transport direction of the tablet 1 when printing ink.
錠剤コーティング装置100は、図1に示すように、錠剤供給装置2、第1搬送装置3A、第1印刷装置4A、第1乾燥装置5A、第2搬送装置3B、第2印刷装置4B、第2乾燥装置5B、錠剤回収装置6および制御装置7を備えている。これらのうち錠剤供給装置2は、未コーティングの錠剤1を1個または数個単位で第1搬送装置3Aに供給する装置であり、例えば特開2018-208号公報に記載された供給機構と同様に構成されたものを用いることができる。
As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet coating device 100 includes a tablet supply device 2, a first transfer device 3A, a first printing device 4A, a first drying device 5A, a second transfer device 3B, a second printing device 4B, and a second. It includes a drying device 5B, a tablet collecting device 6, and a control device 7. Of these, the tablet supply device 2 is a device that supplies uncoated tablets 1 in units of one or several to the first transport device 3A, and is similar to, for example, the supply mechanism described in JP-A-2018-208. It is possible to use the one configured in.
第1搬送装置3Aは、一対のプーリ31Aと、搬送ベルト32Aと、吸引部33A(図5)と、ベルト駆動部34A(図5)とを有する搬送コンベアである。より詳しくは、図1に示すように、一対のプーリ31AはX方向において互いに離間しながら対向して配置されている。そして、これらのプーリ31Aの間に搬送ベルト32Aが環状に掛け渡されている。一対のプーリ31AのうちX2方向側のプーリ31Aの斜め上方から錠剤1が錠剤供給装置2により供給され、当該プーリ31Aに巻き掛けられた搬送ベルト32A上の供給位置PS1に送り込まれる。
The first transfer device 3A is a transfer conveyor having a pair of pulleys 31A, a transfer belt 32A, a suction unit 33A (FIG. 5), and a belt drive unit 34A (FIG. 5). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of pulleys 31A are arranged so as to face each other while being separated from each other in the X direction. A transport belt 32A is looped between these pulleys 31A. Of the pair of pulleys 31A, the tablet 1 is supplied by the tablet supply device 2 from diagonally above the pulley 31A on the X2 direction side, and is fed to the supply position PS1 on the transport belt 32A wound around the pulley 31A.
搬送ベルト32Aの表面には、複数の貫通孔(図示省略)がマトリックス状に設けられている。搬送ベルト32Aおよびプーリ31Aの内側の空間に対し、吸引部33Aが接続されている。吸引部33Aは制御装置7からの吸引指令に応じて作動すると、プーリ31Aおよび搬送ベルト32Aの内側の空間に負圧を生じさせる。当該負圧によって錠剤供給装置2から供給された錠剤1は第1面11を上方に向けた状態で搬送ベルト32Aによって1つずつ吸着保持される。
A plurality of through holes (not shown) are provided in a matrix on the surface of the transport belt 32A. The suction portion 33A is connected to the space inside the transport belt 32A and the pulley 31A. When the suction unit 33A operates in response to a suction command from the control device 7, a negative pressure is generated in the space inside the pulley 31A and the transport belt 32A. The tablets 1 supplied from the tablet supply device 2 by the negative pressure are adsorbed and held one by one by the transport belt 32A with the first surface 11 facing upward.
また、一対のプーリ31Aの一方はベルト駆動部34Aと連結されている。このため、制御装置7からの動作指令に応じてベルト駆動部34Aが作動すると、搬送ベルト32Aが循環移動する。これにより、水平方向X1に向かう第1往路P11に沿って錠剤1の第1面11を上方に向けた状態で錠剤1を水平方向X1に搬送し、X1方向側のプーリ31Aで折り返し、水平方向X2に向かう第1復路P12に沿って錠剤1の第1面11を下方に向けた状態で錠剤1を水平方向X2に搬送する。なお、第1搬送装置3Aには、解除用ブロー機構35Aが設けられている。解除用ブロー機構35Aは、第2搬送装置3Bに対向する所定の解除位置に配置されており、制御装置7からの解除指令に応じて搬送ベルト32Aの内側から第2搬送装置3Bへ向けて局所的に加圧された気体を吹き付ける。これにより、第1復路P12に沿ってX2方向側のプーリ31Aに搬送されてきた錠剤1に対し、解除位置で大気圧よりも高い陽圧を作用させ、錠剤1の吸着が解除されるとともに第2搬送装置3Bへ錠剤1が受け渡される。一方、制御装置7から解除指令が発せられない間、錠剤1の吸着保持は継続され、第1往路P11および第1復路P12に沿って錠剤1を循環搬送することが可能となっている。
Further, one of the pair of pulleys 31A is connected to the belt drive unit 34A. Therefore, when the belt drive unit 34A operates in response to the operation command from the control device 7, the transport belt 32A circulates and moves. As a result, the tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 with the first surface 11 of the tablet 1 facing upward along the first outward path P11 toward the horizontal direction X1, folded back by the pulley 31A on the X1 direction side, and in the horizontal direction. The tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 with the first surface 11 of the tablet 1 facing downward along the first return path P12 toward X2. The first transport device 3A is provided with a release blow mechanism 35A. The release blow mechanism 35A is arranged at a predetermined release position facing the second transfer device 3B, and is locally directed from the inside of the transfer belt 32A toward the second transfer device 3B in response to a release command from the control device 7. Spray a pressurized gas. As a result, the tablet 1 transported to the pulley 31A on the X2 direction side along the first return path P12 is subjected to a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure at the release position, so that the adsorption of the tablet 1 is released and the first tablet 1 is released. 2 The tablet 1 is delivered to the transport device 3B. On the other hand, while the release command is not issued from the control device 7, the adsorption and holding of the tablet 1 is continued, and the tablet 1 can be circulated and transported along the first outward path P11 and the first return path P12.
搬送ベルト32Aに吸着保持された錠剤1が第1往路P11に沿って搬送される間に、第1印刷装置4Aによる印刷処理および第1乾燥装置5Aによる乾燥処理を順次受ける。つまり、第1往路P11に沿って第1印刷装置4Aおよび第1乾燥装置5Aがこの順序で配設されている。
While the tablet 1 adsorbed and held on the transport belt 32A is transported along the first outward path P11, it is sequentially subjected to a printing process by the first printing device 4A and a drying process by the first drying device 5A. That is, the first printing device 4A and the first drying device 5A are arranged in this order along the first outward path P11.
図2は第1印刷装置の構成を模式的に示す図である。また、図3はグラビアローラーの構成を示す図である。第1印刷装置4Aは図1に示すように錠剤1の供給を受ける供給位置PS1と第1乾燥装置5Aとの間に設けられている。第1印刷装置4Aは、転写ローラー41と、インク供給部42と、クリーニング部43とを有している。転写ローラー41は、Y方向に延設された軸体構造のコア411と、コア411の外周面を被覆するように設けられたブランケット部412とを有しており、全体としてY方向に延びる回転軸AX1まわりに回転自在なローラー形状に仕上げられている。ブランケット部412は錠剤1に対して弾性変形可能な材料で構成されている。本実施形態では、当該材料の一例としてシリコンゴムを用いているが、これに限定されるものではなく、例えばスチレン系エラストマー、オレフィン系エラストマー等を使用してもよい。また、本実施形態および後で説明する実施形態では、転写ローラー41を搬送ベルト32Aの裏面側から支持することなく、転写位置PS3AでインクIKを錠剤1に転写しているが、支持手段としてバックアップローラーを設けてもよい。つまり、転写ローラー41の鉛直下方において搬送ベルト32Aを挟んで転写ローラー41と対向してバックアップローラーを配置し、搬送ベルト32Aを下方から支持してもよい。
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the first printing apparatus. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gravure roller. As shown in FIG. 1, the first printing device 4A is provided between the supply position PS1 that receives the supply of the tablet 1 and the first drying device 5A. The first printing apparatus 4A includes a transfer roller 41, an ink supply unit 42, and a cleaning unit 43. The transfer roller 41 has a core 411 having a shaft structure extending in the Y direction and a blanket portion 412 provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the core 411, and the rotation extending in the Y direction as a whole. It is finished in a roller shape that can rotate around the shaft AX1. The blanket portion 412 is made of a material that is elastically deformable with respect to the tablet 1. In the present embodiment, silicon rubber is used as an example of the material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a styrene-based elastomer, an olefin-based elastomer, or the like may be used. Further, in the present embodiment and the embodiment described later, the ink IK is transferred to the tablet 1 at the transfer position PS3A without supporting the transfer roller 41 from the back surface side of the transport belt 32A, but it is backed up as a support means. A roller may be provided. That is, the backup roller may be arranged vertically below the transfer roller 41 so as to sandwich the transfer belt 32A and face the transfer roller 41 to support the transfer belt 32A from below.
転写ローラー41は搬送ベルト32Aの上方で回転軸AX1まわりに回転自在に配置されている。転写ローラー41のコア411は回転駆動部45A(図5)と連結されている。このため、制御装置7からの回転指令に応じて回転駆動部45Aが作動すると、図1の紙面において転写ローラー41を反時計まわりに回転させる。つまり、第1往路P11に沿った搬送ベルト32Aの移動方向に追従する方向、いわゆるトレイル方向に転写ローラー41が回転駆動される。
The transfer roller 41 is rotatably arranged around the rotation shaft AX1 above the transport belt 32A. The core 411 of the transfer roller 41 is connected to the rotation drive unit 45A (FIG. 5). Therefore, when the rotation drive unit 45A operates in response to the rotation command from the control device 7, the transfer roller 41 is rotated counterclockwise on the paper surface of FIG. That is, the transfer roller 41 is rotationally driven in the direction following the moving direction of the transport belt 32A along the first outward path P11, that is, in the so-called trail direction.
インク供給部42は、図1および図2に示すように、インク貯留パン421と、グラビアローラー422と、ドクターブレード423とを有している。インク貯留パン421は鉛直上方に開口した状態でインクIKを貯留している。インクIKはコーティング材を溶媒で溶かしたものであり、これら以外に微量の着色剤が混合されている。コーティング材は、具体的には、HPMC(ヒドロキシプロピルメチルセルロース)、HPC(ヒドロキシプロピルセルロース)、PVA(ポリビニルアルコール)、POVACOAT(ポリビニルアルコール・アクリル酸・メタクリル酸メチル共重合体)ポリビニルアルコール・ポリエチレングリコール・グラフトコポリマー、PVP(ポリビニルピロリドン)、PEG(ポリエチレングリコール)、アミノアルキルメタクリレートコポリマーE、メタクリル酸コポリマーLD、メタクリル酸コポリマーL、メタクリル酸コポリマーS、アクリル酸エチル・メタクリル酸メチルコポリマー、アンモニオアルキルメタクリレートコポリマー、メタクリル酸メチル・メタクリル酸ジエチルアミノエチル共重合体、酢酸ビニル樹脂、エチルセルロース、メチルセルロース、カルメロースナトリウム、HEC(ヒドロキシエチルセルロース)からなる群より選ばれた少なくとも1種である。また、溶媒は、具体的には、アルコール類および水からなる群より選ばれる少なくとも1種である。
グラビアローラー422は表面に凹凸を有する塗布ローラーの一種であり、回転駆動部45Aの回転駆動力の一部を受けて図2の紙面において時計まわりに回転可能となっている。また図3に示すように、グラビアローラー422は金属性や樹脂製のローラーの表面に複数の溝状の凹部422aが均一かつ螺旋状に形成されている。このため、グラビアローラー422が回転しながらインク貯留パン421内のインクIKに接触することによって、凹部422aにインクIKを担持する。そして、当該インクIKを塗布位置PS2Aに向けて搬送する。なお、グラビアローラー422を回転駆動させるための専用の回転駆動部を別途設けてもよいことはいうまでもない。 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theink supply unit 42 includes an ink storage pan 421, a gravure roller 422, and a doctor blade 423. The ink storage pan 421 stores ink IK in a state of being opened vertically upward. Ink IK is a coating material dissolved in a solvent, and a small amount of a colorant is mixed in addition to these. Specifically, the coating material includes HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), HPC (hydroxypropyl cellulose), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), POVACOAT (polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate copolymer), polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and the like. Graft copolymer, PVP (polypolypyrrolidone), PEG (polyethylene glycol), aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E, methacrylic acid copolymer LD, methacrylic acid copolymer L, methacrylic acid copolymer S, ethyl acrylate / methyl methacrylate copolymer, ammonioalkyl methacrylate copolymer , At least one selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate / diethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, vinyl acetate resin, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carmellose, and HEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose). Further, the solvent is specifically at least one selected from the group consisting of alcohols and water.
Thegravure roller 422 is a kind of coating roller having an uneven surface, and can rotate clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 2 by receiving a part of the rotational driving force of the rotational driving unit 45A. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the gravure roller 422, a plurality of groove-shaped recesses 422a are uniformly and spirally formed on the surface of the roller made of metal or resin. Therefore, the gravure roller 422 rotates and comes into contact with the ink IK in the ink storage pan 421 to support the ink IK in the recess 422a. Then, the ink IK is conveyed toward the coating position PS2A. Needless to say, a dedicated rotary drive unit for rotationally driving the gravure roller 422 may be separately provided.
グラビアローラー422は表面に凹凸を有する塗布ローラーの一種であり、回転駆動部45Aの回転駆動力の一部を受けて図2の紙面において時計まわりに回転可能となっている。また図3に示すように、グラビアローラー422は金属性や樹脂製のローラーの表面に複数の溝状の凹部422aが均一かつ螺旋状に形成されている。このため、グラビアローラー422が回転しながらインク貯留パン421内のインクIKに接触することによって、凹部422aにインクIKを担持する。そして、当該インクIKを塗布位置PS2Aに向けて搬送する。なお、グラビアローラー422を回転駆動させるための専用の回転駆動部を別途設けてもよいことはいうまでもない。 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
The
ドクターブレード423は、図2に示すように、グラビアローラー422の回転方向Rにおける塗布位置PS2Aの上流側において、グラビアローラー422のスラスト方向Yに沿って、該グラビアローラー422の表面に接触してグラビアローラー422上のインクIKの量を規制する。すなわち、ドクターブレード423は、グラビアローラー422上の余剰なインクIKを掻き取って、転写ローラー41に供給するグラビアローラー422上のインクIKの量を計量する役割を果たしている。
As shown in FIG. 2, the doctor blade 423 contacts the surface of the gravure roller 422 along the thrust direction Y of the gravure roller 422 on the upstream side of the coating position PS2A in the rotation direction R of the gravure roller 422 and gravure. Regulates the amount of ink IK on the roller 422. That is, the doctor blade 423 plays a role of scraping off the excess ink IK on the gravure roller 422 and measuring the amount of ink IK on the gravure roller 422 supplied to the transfer roller 41.
このようにドクターブレード423により適正な量に計量されたインクIKが転写ローラー41のローラー表面413に塗布される。そして、ローラー表面413上でインクIKはレベリングされ、均一な膜厚を有するインク膜がローラー表面413に担持される。
Ink IK measured in an appropriate amount by the doctor blade 423 in this way is applied to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41. Then, the ink IK is leveled on the roller surface 413, and an ink film having a uniform film thickness is supported on the roller surface 413.
クリーニング部43は、後で説明するようにローラー表面413上のインク層を錠剤1の第1面11に転写した後にローラー表面413上に残留しているインクIKを除去するものである。クリーニング部43は、クリーニングブレード431と、インク回収パン432とを有している。クリーニングブレード431は転写ローラー41のローラー表面413に当接されて転写後においてローラー表面413に残留するインクIKを掻き落として除去することができる。
As will be described later, the cleaning unit 43 removes the ink IK remaining on the roller surface 413 after transferring the ink layer on the roller surface 413 to the first surface 11 of the tablet 1. The cleaning unit 43 has a cleaning blade 431 and an ink recovery pan 432. The cleaning blade 431 is brought into contact with the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41, and the ink IK remaining on the roller surface 413 after transfer can be scraped off and removed.
図2に示すように、転写ローラー41、インク供給部42およびクリーニング部43は一体的に鉛直方向Zに移動可能に設けられ、位置調整部46Aと連結されている。位置調整部46Aは制御装置7からの昇降指令に応じて転写ローラー41、インク供給部42およびクリーニング部43を一体的に昇降させ、鉛直方向Zにおいて位置決めする。これによって、錠剤1に対する転写ローラー41の相対位置を調整して転写ローラー41の押込量を高精度に制御することができる。
As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer roller 41, the ink supply unit 42, and the cleaning unit 43 are integrally provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z, and are connected to the position adjustment unit 46A. The position adjusting unit 46A integrally raises and lowers the transfer roller 41, the ink supply unit 42, and the cleaning unit 43 in response to an elevating command from the control device 7, and positions them in the vertical direction Z. Thereby, the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 can be adjusted to control the pushing amount of the transfer roller 41 with high accuracy.
図4Aは錠剤に対する転写ローラーの押込量を説明するための図である。また、図4Bは錠剤に対する転写ローラーの押込動作を模式的に示す図である。特に、図4Aでは、搬送ベルト32Aに錠剤1(同図の1点鎖線)が仮想的に吸着保持されている状態を示しており、同図の(a)は錠剤1の第1面(上面)11に転写ローラー41が接触した状態を示し、同図の(b)は錠剤1に対して転写ローラー41を押し込んだ状態を示している。転写ローラー41の押込量は接触状態(同図(a))での転写ローラー41の高さ位置と押込状態(同図(b))での転写ローラー41の高さ位置との差分に相当している。このため、転写ローラー41からインクIKが転写される転写位置PS3Aに錠剤1が搬送されてくるまでは、図4Bの(a)欄に示すようにローラー表面413は周面形状を有している。一方、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aに搬送されてくると、同図の(b)欄に示すように、ローラー表面413が錠剤1の第1面11および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら錠剤1と密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写される。ここで、錠剤1の厚み、つまり搬送ベルト32Aによって水平姿勢で搬送される錠剤1の鉛直方向Zにおける高さをTとしたとき、第1搬送装置3Aにおける押込量A1は、
A1=k1・T … (1)
であるが、第1面11のみならず側面13の第1面側の領域(後で説明する図7に示す第1側面領域13A)にもインクIKを転写するためには、係数k1を0.5以上に設定するのが望ましい。また、インクIKが転写される側面領域を第2面側(同図の下方側)に拡張するためには係数k1を0.5よりも大きい値に設定すればよい。ただし、係数k1の増大に伴い押込量A1が大きくなり、錠剤1に過大な荷重が印加される。したがって、係数k1は1.5以下に設定するのが望ましく、本実施形態では、押込量A1が、
0.5×T≦A1≦1.5×T … (2)
となるように、印刷前に位置調整部46Aは転写ローラー41を鉛直方向Zにおいて位置決めする。すなわち、本実施形態では、インクIKの錠剤1への印刷を連続的に行う前に、予め図4Aの(b)に示すように押込量A1が式(2)を満足するように位置決めされる。その後で、搬送ベルト32Aを移動させることで錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aを通過していない間は図4Bの(a)欄に示すように錠剤1への転写は行われない。一方、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aに搬送されてくると、図4Bの(b)欄に示すようにローラー表面413が錠剤1の第1面11および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら錠剤1と密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写される。なお、本実施形態では、連続印刷中において転写ローラー41を同一高さ位置に位置決めしているが、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aに搬送される毎に転写ローラー41を押込高さ位置(図4B)と非接触高さ位置(図2)との間で昇降させるように構成してもよい。 FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the amount of pressing of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet. Further, FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically showing a pushing operation of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet. In particular, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the tablet 1 (the alternate long and short dash line in the figure) is virtually adsorbed and held on thetransport belt 32A, and FIG. 4A in the figure shows the first surface (upper surface) of the tablet 1. ) 11 shows the state in which the transfer roller 41 is in contact, and (b) in the figure shows the state in which the transfer roller 41 is pushed against the tablet 1. The pushing amount of the transfer roller 41 corresponds to the difference between the height position of the transfer roller 41 in the contact state (Fig. (A)) and the height position of the transfer roller 41 in the pushed state (Fig. (B)). ing. Therefore, the roller surface 413 has a peripheral surface shape as shown in column (a) of FIG. 4B until the tablet 1 is transferred from the transfer roller 41 to the transfer position PS3A to which the ink IK is transferred. On the other hand, when the tablet 1 is transported to the transfer position PS3A, as shown in column (b) of the figure, the roller surface 413 elastically deforms according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. Adheres to tablet 1. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1. Here, when the thickness of the tablet 1, that is, the height of the tablet 1 transported in the horizontal posture by the transport belt 32A in the vertical direction Z is T, the pushing amount A1 in the first transport device 3A is
A1 = k1 · T ... (1)
However, in order to transfer the ink IK not only to thefirst surface 11 but also to the region on the first surface side of the side surface 13 (the first side surface region 13A shown in FIG. 7 to be described later), the coefficient k1 is set to 0. It is desirable to set it to 5.5 or higher. Further, in order to expand the side surface region to which the ink IK is transferred to the second surface side (lower side in the figure), the coefficient k1 may be set to a value larger than 0.5. However, as the coefficient k1 increases, the pushing amount A1 increases, and an excessive load is applied to the tablet 1. Therefore, it is desirable to set the coefficient k1 to 1.5 or less, and in the present embodiment, the pushing amount A1 is
0.5 × T ≦ A1 ≦ 1.5 × T… (2)
Before printing, theposition adjusting unit 46A positions the transfer roller 41 in the vertical direction Z so as to be. That is, in the present embodiment, the pushing amount A1 is positioned so as to satisfy the formula (2) as shown in FIG. 4A (b) in advance before printing the ink IK on the tablet 1 continuously. .. After that, by moving the transport belt 32A, the transfer to the tablet 1 is not performed as shown in the column (a) of FIG. 4B while the tablet 1 does not pass through the transfer position PS3A. On the other hand, when the tablet 1 is transported to the transfer position PS3A, the roller surface 413 elastically deforms according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 as shown in the column (b) of FIG. 4B. Adhere to 1. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1. In the present embodiment, the transfer roller 41 is positioned at the same height position during continuous printing, but each time the tablet 1 is transferred to the transfer position PS3A, the transfer roller 41 is pushed into the push height position (FIG. 4B). It may be configured to move up and down between the non-contact height position (FIG. 2).
A1=k1・T … (1)
であるが、第1面11のみならず側面13の第1面側の領域(後で説明する図7に示す第1側面領域13A)にもインクIKを転写するためには、係数k1を0.5以上に設定するのが望ましい。また、インクIKが転写される側面領域を第2面側(同図の下方側)に拡張するためには係数k1を0.5よりも大きい値に設定すればよい。ただし、係数k1の増大に伴い押込量A1が大きくなり、錠剤1に過大な荷重が印加される。したがって、係数k1は1.5以下に設定するのが望ましく、本実施形態では、押込量A1が、
0.5×T≦A1≦1.5×T … (2)
となるように、印刷前に位置調整部46Aは転写ローラー41を鉛直方向Zにおいて位置決めする。すなわち、本実施形態では、インクIKの錠剤1への印刷を連続的に行う前に、予め図4Aの(b)に示すように押込量A1が式(2)を満足するように位置決めされる。その後で、搬送ベルト32Aを移動させることで錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aを通過していない間は図4Bの(a)欄に示すように錠剤1への転写は行われない。一方、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aに搬送されてくると、図4Bの(b)欄に示すようにローラー表面413が錠剤1の第1面11および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら錠剤1と密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写される。なお、本実施形態では、連続印刷中において転写ローラー41を同一高さ位置に位置決めしているが、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aに搬送される毎に転写ローラー41を押込高さ位置(図4B)と非接触高さ位置(図2)との間で昇降させるように構成してもよい。 FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the amount of pressing of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet. Further, FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically showing a pushing operation of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet. In particular, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the tablet 1 (the alternate long and short dash line in the figure) is virtually adsorbed and held on the
A1 = k1 · T ... (1)
However, in order to transfer the ink IK not only to the
0.5 × T ≦ A1 ≦ 1.5 × T… (2)
Before printing, the
図1に戻って構成説明を続ける。第1水平方向X1において第1印刷装置4Aの下流側に第1乾燥装置5Aが配置されている。第1乾燥装置5Aは搬送ベルト32Aの上方側に配置され、第1印刷装置4Aにより錠剤1の第1面11および側面13に印刷されたインクIKを含まれる溶媒成分を取り除き、コーティング材で構成される第1コーティング層(図7中の符号14A)を形成する。
Return to Fig. 1 and continue the explanation of the configuration. The first drying device 5A is arranged on the downstream side of the first printing device 4A in the first horizontal direction X1. The first drying device 5A is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32A, removes the solvent component containing the ink IK printed on the first side 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 by the first printing device 4A, and is composed of a coating material. The first coating layer (reference numeral 14A in FIG. 7) is formed.
第1コーティング層が形成された錠剤1は搬送ベルト32Aに吸着保持されたまま第1往路P11に沿ってX1方向側のプーリ31Aに向けて搬送され、当該プーリ31Aで搬送方向が折り返される。この折り返し位置PS4Aの近傍には、第1印刷検査カメラ81が配置されている。第1印刷検査カメラ81は折り返し位置PS4Aに搬送されてきた錠剤1の第1面11および側面13を撮影するカメラであり、撮像された画像を制御装置7に送信する。制御装置7は当該画像に基づいて第1コーティング層が適切に形成されているか否かを検査する。そして、第1コーティング層が適切に形成されていない場合には、次に説明する第1不良品回収部91により錠剤1が不良品回収位置PS5Aで回収される。
The tablet 1 on which the first coating layer is formed is transported along the first outward path P11 toward the pulley 31A on the X1 direction side while being sucked and held by the transport belt 32A, and the transport direction is folded back by the pulley 31A. The first print inspection camera 81 is arranged in the vicinity of the folding position PS4A. The first print inspection camera 81 is a camera that photographs the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 that has been conveyed to the folding position PS4A, and transmits the captured image to the control device 7. The control device 7 inspects whether or not the first coating layer is properly formed based on the image. Then, when the first coating layer is not properly formed, the tablet 1 is recovered at the defective product recovery position PS5A by the first defective product recovery unit 91 described below.
第1不良品回収部91は、印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911と、印刷不良品回収箱912とを有している。印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911は、第1復路P12に沿って移動する搬送ベルト32Aの上方に配置される。また、不良品回収位置PS5Aで搬送ベルト32Aを挟んで印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911の下方に印刷不良品回収箱912が配置されている。印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911は、制御装置7からの回収指令に応じて搬送ベルト32Aの内側から印刷不良品回収箱912側へ向けて、局所的に加圧された気体を吹き付ける。印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911は、制御装置7から不良品であると指定された対象錠剤に対して、大気圧よりも高い陽圧を作用させて、搬送ベルト32Aに保持された対象錠剤の吸着を解除する。これにより、対象錠剤が印刷不良品回収箱912へと回収される。
The first defective product collection unit 91 has a blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective print products and a defective print collection box 912. The blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints is arranged above the transport belt 32A that moves along the first return path P12. Further, a print defective product collection box 912 is arranged below the print defective product recovery blow mechanism 911 with the transport belt 32A sandwiched at the defective product collection position PS5A. The blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32A toward the defective print recovery box 912 in response to a recovery command from the control device 7. The blow mechanism 911 for collecting defective prints applies a positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the target tablet designated as defective by the control device 7, and holds the target tablet on the transport belt 32A. Release the adsorption. As a result, the target tablet is collected in the defective print collection box 912.
一方、第1コーティング層が適切に形成されている場合には、図1に示すように、第1コーティング層を下方に向けた状態で錠剤1は搬送ベルト32Aに吸着保持されたまま第1復路P12に沿って水平方向X2に搬送される。そして、解除用ブロー機構35Aが配置された受渡し位置PS6で第1搬送装置3Aから第2搬送装置3Bへ錠剤1が受け渡される。
On the other hand, when the first coating layer is appropriately formed, as shown in FIG. 1, the tablet 1 is adsorbed and held by the transport belt 32A with the first coating layer facing downward, and the first return path. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 along P12. Then, the tablet 1 is delivered from the first transport device 3A to the second transport device 3B at the delivery position PS6 in which the release blow mechanism 35A is arranged.
第2搬送装置3Bは、第1搬送装置3Aと同様に、一対のプーリ31Bと、搬送ベルト32Bと、吸引部33B(図5)と、ベルト駆動部34B(図5)とを有している。第2搬送装置3Bでは、図1に示すように、一対のプーリ31BはX方向において互いに離間しながら対向して配置されている。そして、これらのプーリ31Bの間に搬送ベルト32Bが環状に掛け渡されている。一対のプーリ31BのうちX1方向側のプーリ31Bに対し、第1コーティング層が第1面11に形成された錠剤1が第1搬送装置3Aから供給され、当該プーリ31Bに巻き掛けられた搬送ベルト32B上に送り込まれる。
The second transfer device 3B has a pair of pulleys 31B, a transfer belt 32B, a suction unit 33B (FIG. 5), and a belt drive unit 34B (FIG. 5), similarly to the first transfer device 3A. .. In the second transfer device 3B, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of pulleys 31B are arranged so as to face each other while being separated from each other in the X direction. A transport belt 32B is annularly hung between these pulleys 31B. Of the pair of pulleys 31B, the tablet 1 having the first coating layer formed on the first surface 11 is supplied from the first transport device 3A to the pulley 31B on the X1 direction side, and the transport belt is wound around the pulley 31B. It is sent on 32B.
搬送ベルト32Bは、第1搬送装置3Aの搬送ベルト32Aと同様に、吸引部33Bにより発生する負圧によって第1搬送装置3Aから受け取った錠剤1を第1面12を上方に向けた状態で搬送ベルト32Bによって1つずつ吸着保持する。
Similar to the transport belt 32A of the first transport device 3A, the transport belt 32B transports the tablet 1 received from the first transport device 3A by the negative pressure generated by the suction unit 33B with the first surface 12 facing upward. It is attracted and held one by one by the belt 32B.
また、一対のプーリ31Bの一方はベルト駆動部34Bと連結されている。このため、制御装置7からの動作指令に応じてベルト駆動部34Bが作動すると、搬送ベルト32Bが第1搬送装置3Aでの搬送方向と逆の方向に循環移動する。このため、第2搬送装置3Bでは、水平方向X2に向かう第2往路P21に沿って錠剤1の第2面12を上方に向けた状態で錠剤1を水平方向X2に搬送し、X2方向側のプーリ31Bで折り返し、水平方向X1に向かう第2復路P22に沿って錠剤1の第2面12を下方に向けた状態で錠剤1を水平方向X1に搬送する。なお、第2搬送装置3Bには、良品排出用ブロー機構35Bが設けられている。良品排出用ブロー機構35Bは、良品回収位置PS7に配置されており、制御装置7からの排出指令に応じて搬送ベルト32Bの内側から斜め下方に向けて局所的に加圧された気体を吹き付ける。これにより、表面全体にコーティング材が良好にコーティングされた錠剤1が良品回収位置PS7で錠剤回収装置6により回収される。一方、制御装置7から解除指令が発せられない間、錠剤1の吸着保持は継続され、第2往路P21および第2復路P22に沿って錠剤1を循環搬送することが可能となっている。
Further, one of the pair of pulleys 31B is connected to the belt drive unit 34B. Therefore, when the belt drive unit 34B operates in response to the operation command from the control device 7, the transport belt 32B circulates and moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction in the first transport device 3A. Therefore, in the second transport device 3B, the tablet 1 is transported in the horizontal direction X2 with the second surface 12 of the tablet 1 facing upward along the second outward path P21 toward the horizontal direction X2, and the tablet 1 is transported in the horizontal direction X2. The tablet 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 with the second surface 12 of the tablet 1 facing downward along the second return path P22 toward the horizontal direction X1 after being folded back by the pulley 31B. The second transport device 3B is provided with a blow mechanism 35B for discharging non-defective products. The non-defective product discharge blow mechanism 35B is arranged at the non-defective product collection position PS7, and blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32B diagonally downward in response to a discharge command from the control device 7. As a result, the tablet 1 having the coating material satisfactorily coated on the entire surface is collected by the tablet collection device 6 at the non-defective product collection position PS7. On the other hand, while the release command is not issued from the control device 7, the adsorption and holding of the tablet 1 is continued, and the tablet 1 can be circulated and transported along the second outward path P21 and the second return path P22.
搬送ベルト32Bに吸着保持された錠剤1が第2往路P21に沿って搬送される間に、第2印刷装置4Bによる印刷処理および第2乾燥装置5Bによる乾燥処理を順次受ける。つまり、第2往路P21に沿って第2印刷装置4Bおよび第2乾燥装置5Bがこの順序で配設されている。なお、第2印刷装置4BはYZ平面を対象面として面対称な構成を有している。また、第2乾燥装置5Bは第1乾燥装置5Aと同一構成を有している。したがって、本明細書では、同一構成に同一または相当符号を付して第2印刷装置4Bおよび第2乾燥装置5Bの詳しい構成説明を省略する。
While the tablet 1 adsorbed and held on the transport belt 32B is transported along the second outward path P21, it is sequentially subjected to a printing process by the second printing device 4B and a drying process by the second drying device 5B. That is, the second printing device 4B and the second drying device 5B are arranged in this order along the second outward path P21. The second printing apparatus 4B has a plane-symmetrical configuration with the YZ plane as the target plane. Further, the second drying device 5B has the same configuration as the first drying device 5A. Therefore, in the present specification, the same configuration is designated by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and detailed configuration description of the second printing apparatus 4B and the second drying apparatus 5B will be omitted.
搬送ベルト32Bに吸着保持された錠剤1は第2面12を上方に向けた状態で第2往路P21に沿って第2印刷装置4Bに搬送される。そして、転写ローラー41からインクIKが転写される転写位置PS3Bでローラー表面413が錠剤1の第2面12および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら錠剤1と密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写される。ここで、第2搬送装置3Bにおける押込量A2は、
A2=k2・T … (3)
であるが、第2面12のみならず側面13の第2面側の領域(後で説明する図7に示す第2側面領域13B)にもインクIKを転写するためには、第1印刷装置4Aと同様に、押込量A2が、
0.5×T≦A2≦1.5×T … (4)
となるように、位置調整部46Bは転写ローラー41を鉛直方向Zにおいて位置決めする。 Thetablet 1 sucked and held by the transport belt 32B is transported to the second printing device 4B along the second outward path P21 with the second surface 12 facing upward. Then, at the transfer position PS3B where the ink IK is transferred from the transfer roller 41, the roller surface 413 adheres to the tablet 1 while elastically deforming according to the shapes of the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1. Here, the pushing amount A2 in the second transport device 3B is
A2 = k2 ・ T ... (3)
However, in order to transfer the ink IK not only to thesecond surface 12 but also to the area on the second surface side of the side surface 13 (the second side surface area 13B shown in FIG. 7 to be described later), the first printing apparatus. Similar to 4A, the pushing amount A2 is
0.5 × T ≦ A2 ≦ 1.5 × T… (4)
Theposition adjusting unit 46B positions the transfer roller 41 in the vertical direction Z so as to be.
A2=k2・T … (3)
であるが、第2面12のみならず側面13の第2面側の領域(後で説明する図7に示す第2側面領域13B)にもインクIKを転写するためには、第1印刷装置4Aと同様に、押込量A2が、
0.5×T≦A2≦1.5×T … (4)
となるように、位置調整部46Bは転写ローラー41を鉛直方向Zにおいて位置決めする。 The
A2 = k2 ・ T ... (3)
However, in order to transfer the ink IK not only to the
0.5 × T ≦ A2 ≦ 1.5 × T… (4)
The
また、水平方向X2において第2印刷装置4Bの下流側に第2乾燥装置5Bが配置されている。この第2乾燥装置5Bは、第2印刷装置4Bにより錠剤1の第2面12および側面13に印刷されたインクIKを含まれる溶媒成分を取り除き、コーティング材で構成される第2コーティング層(図7中の符号14B)を形成する。本実施形態では、上記したように押込量A1、A2がそれぞれ式(2)、(4)を満足するように設定されているため、第2コーティング層は第1コーティング層とつながり、錠剤1全体がコーティング材で覆われる。つまり、錠剤1の表面全体が全コーティング層(=14A+14B)でコーティングされる。
Further, in the horizontal direction X2, the second drying device 5B is arranged on the downstream side of the second printing device 4B. The second drying device 5B removes the solvent component containing the ink IK printed on the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 by the second printing device 4B, and removes the solvent component, and is composed of a coating material. Reference numeral 14B) in 7 is formed. In the present embodiment, since the pushing amounts A1 and A2 are set to satisfy the formulas (2) and (4), respectively, as described above, the second coating layer is connected to the first coating layer, and the entire tablet 1 is connected. Is covered with a coating material. That is, the entire surface of the tablet 1 is coated with the entire coating layer (= 14A + 14B).
第2コーティング層が形成された錠剤1は搬送ベルト32Bに吸着保持されたまま第2往路P21に沿ってX2方向側のプーリ31Bに向けて搬送され、当該プーリ31Bで搬送方向が折り返される。この折り返し位置PS4Bの近傍には、第2印刷検査カメラ82が配置されている。第2印刷検査カメラ82は折り返し位置PS4Bに搬送されてきた錠剤1の第2面12および側面13を撮影するカメラであり、撮像された画像を制御装置7に送信する。制御装置7は当該画像に基づいて第2コーティング層が適切に形成されているか否かを検査する。そして、第2コーティング層が適切に形成されていない場合には、次に説明する第2不良品回収部92により錠剤1が不良品回収位置PS5Bで回収される。
The tablet 1 on which the second coating layer is formed is transported along the second outward path P21 toward the pulley 31B on the X2 direction side while being sucked and held by the transport belt 32B, and the transport direction is folded back by the pulley 31B. A second print inspection camera 82 is arranged in the vicinity of the folding position PS4B. The second print inspection camera 82 is a camera that photographs the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 that has been conveyed to the folded position PS4B, and transmits the captured image to the control device 7. The control device 7 inspects whether or not the second coating layer is properly formed based on the image. Then, when the second coating layer is not properly formed, the tablet 1 is recovered at the defective product recovery position PS5B by the second defective product recovery unit 92 described below.
第2不良品回収部92は第1不良品回収部91と同様に構成されている。すなわち、印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構921は、第2復路P22に沿って移動する搬送ベルト32Bの上方に配置される。また、不良品回収位置PS5Bで搬送ベルト32Bを挟んで印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構921の下方に印刷不良品回収箱922が配置されている。印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構921は、制御装置7からの回収指令に応じて搬送ベルト32Bの内側から印刷不良品回収箱922側へ向けて、局所的に加圧された気体を吹き付ける。印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構921は、制御装置7から不良品であると指定された対象錠剤に対して、大気圧よりも高い陽圧を作用させて、搬送ベルト32Aに保持された対象錠剤の吸着を解除する。これにより、対象錠剤が印刷不良品回収箱922へと回収される。
The second defective product collection unit 92 is configured in the same manner as the first defective product collection unit 91. That is, the blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints is arranged above the transport belt 32B that moves along the second return path P22. Further, a print defective product collection box 922 is arranged below the print defective product recovery blow mechanism 921 with the transport belt 32B sandwiched at the defective product collection position PS5B. The blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints blows locally pressurized gas from the inside of the transport belt 32B toward the defective print recovery box 922 in response to a recovery command from the control device 7. The blow mechanism 921 for collecting defective prints applies a positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to the target tablet designated as defective by the control device 7, and holds the target tablet on the transport belt 32A. Release the adsorption. As a result, the target tablet is collected in the defective print collection box 922.
一方、第1コーティング層が適切に形成されている場合には、図1に示すように、第2コーティング層を下方に向けた状態で錠剤1は搬送ベルト32Bに吸着保持されたまま第2復路P22に沿って水平方向X1に搬送される。そして、良品排出用ブロー機構35Bが配置された良品回収位置PS7で第2搬送装置3Bから錠剤回収装置6側へ向けて、局所的に加圧された気体を吹き付ける。これによって、表面全体にコーティング材が所望厚さで均一にコーティングされた、良品の錠剤1が錠剤回収装置6に回収される。
On the other hand, when the first coating layer is appropriately formed, as shown in FIG. 1, the tablet 1 is adsorbed and held by the transport belt 32B with the second coating layer facing downward, and the second return path. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1 along P22. Then, at the non-defective product collection position PS7 in which the non-defective product discharge blow mechanism 35B is arranged, locally pressurized gas is sprayed from the second transport device 3B toward the tablet collection device 6. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 having the coating material uniformly coated on the entire surface with a desired thickness is collected by the tablet collecting device 6.
図5は図1に示す錠剤コーティング装置の電気的な構成を示すブロック図である。制御装置7は、錠剤コーティング装置100の各部を動作制御するための手段である。制御装置7は、CPU等の演算処理部71、RAM等のメモリ72およびハードディスクドライブ等の記憶部73を有するコンピュータにより構成されている。記憶部73には、錠剤コーティング処理を実行するためのコンピュータプログラムPがインストールされている。そして、制御装置7は、記憶部73に記憶されたコンピュータプログラムPやデータをメモリ72に一時的に読み出し、当該コンピュータプログラムPに基づいて、演算処理部71が演算処理を行うことにより、上記の各部を動作制御する。これにより、複数の錠剤1に対するコーティング処理が次のように実行される。
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the tablet coating device shown in FIG. The control device 7 is a means for controlling the operation of each part of the tablet coating device 100. The control device 7 is composed of a computer having an arithmetic processing unit 71 such as a CPU, a memory 72 such as a RAM, and a storage unit 73 such as a hard disk drive. A computer program P for executing the tablet coating process is installed in the storage unit 73. Then, the control device 7 temporarily reads the computer program P and data stored in the storage unit 73 into the memory 72, and the arithmetic processing unit 71 performs arithmetic processing based on the computer program P. Operation control of each part. As a result, the coating treatment for the plurality of tablets 1 is executed as follows.
図6は図1に示す錠剤コーティング装置で実行されるコーティング処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。図7はコーティング処理の流れを模式的に示す図である。図7中の(a)欄~(c)欄では、それぞれコーティング処理前の錠剤1、第1コーティング層14Aが形成された錠剤1および第2コーティング層14Bがさらに形成された錠剤1が図示されている。また、図7においてコーティング層14A、14Bを明示するために、ハッチングを付している。
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the coating process executed by the tablet coating apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of the coating process. In columns (a) to (c) in FIG. 7, tablets 1 before coating treatment, tablet 1 on which the first coating layer 14A is formed, and tablet 1 on which the second coating layer 14B is further formed are shown. ing. Further, in FIG. 7, hatching is added to clearly indicate the coating layers 14A and 14B.
上記錠剤コーティング装置100では、複数個、例えば特開2018-208号公報に記載された装置と同様に8個のコーティング処理前の錠剤1が錠剤供給装置2により同時に供給されるが、コーティング処理の内容理解を容易にするために、1個の錠剤1に対して実行されるコーティング処理に絞って説明する。
In the tablet coating device 100, a plurality of tablets 1 before coating treatment are simultaneously supplied by the tablet supply device 2, as in the case of the devices described in JP-A-2018-208. In order to facilitate the understanding of the contents, the coating treatment performed on one tablet 1 will be focused on.
制御装置7の演算処理部71は上述したコンピュータプログラムPにしたがって装置各部を以下のように制御してコーティング処理を実行する。錠剤コーティング装置100では、初期動作が実行されることで、各装置では所定の動作を実行可能となっている。つまり、錠剤コーティング装置100が連続的に動作している際には、錠剤供給装置2による錠剤1の供給、第1搬送装置3Aによる錠剤1の搬送、第1印刷装置4AによるインクIKの印刷、第1乾燥装置5Aによる第1コーティング層14Aの形成、第2搬送装置3Bによる錠剤1の受取および搬送、第2印刷装置4BによるインクIKの印刷、第2乾燥装置5Bによる第2コーティング層14Bの形成、および錠剤回収装置6によるコーティング済錠剤の回収が並行して実行される。
The arithmetic processing unit 71 of the control device 7 controls each unit of the device according to the computer program P described above as follows to execute the coating process. In the tablet coating device 100, by executing the initial operation, each device can execute a predetermined operation. That is, when the tablet coating device 100 is continuously operating, the tablet 1 is supplied by the tablet supply device 2, the tablet 1 is transferred by the first transfer device 3A, and the ink IK is printed by the first printing device 4A. Formation of the first coating layer 14A by the first drying device 5A, receipt and transportation of the tablet 1 by the second transport device 3B, printing of ink IK by the second printing device 4B, and the second coating layer 14B by the second drying device 5B. The formation and the recovery of the coated tablets by the tablet recovery device 6 are performed in parallel.
錠剤供給装置2では、制御装置7からの供給指令に応じてコーティング処理前の錠剤1、つまり未コーティング錠剤1が供給位置PS1に供給される(ステップS1)。この未コーティング錠剤1では、図7の(a)欄に示すように、錠剤1の第1面11、第2面12および側面13のいずれにもコーティング材はコーティングされていない。なお、側面13のうち第1面11側の領域を「第1側面領域13A」と称するとともに第2面12側の領域を「第2側面領域13B」と称する。
In the tablet supply device 2, the uncoated tablet 1, that is, the uncoated tablet 1 is supplied to the supply position PS1 in response to the supply command from the control device 7 (step S1). In this uncoated tablet 1, as shown in column (a) of FIG. 7, no coating material is coated on any of the first surface 11, the second surface 12, and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. Of the side surfaces 13, the region on the first surface 11 side is referred to as "first side surface region 13A", and the region on the second surface 12 side is referred to as "second side surface region 13B".
未コーティング錠剤1は供給位置PS1において第1面11を上方に向けた状態で搬送ベルト32Aに吸着保持された後、第1往路P11に沿って水平方向X1に搬送される。錠剤1が転写位置PS3Aを通過する際に、第1印刷装置4AによりインクIKが第1面11と第1側面領域13Aに転写される。すなわち、第1印刷装置4Aでの押込量A1は式(2)を満足するように設定されているため、ローラー表面413が錠剤1の第1面11および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら側面13のうちの少なくとも第1側面領域13Aと第1面11の全部とに密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写され、第1コーティング膜が印刷される(ステップS2)。
The uncoated tablet 1 is sucked and held by the transport belt 32A with the first surface 11 facing upward at the supply position PS1, and then transported in the horizontal direction X1 along the first outward path P11. When the tablet 1 passes through the transfer position PS3A, the ink IK is transferred to the first side surface 11 and the first side surface region 13A by the first printing apparatus 4A. That is, since the pressing amount A1 in the first printing apparatus 4A is set so as to satisfy the equation (2), the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shapes of the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. However, at least the first side surface region 13A of the side surface 13 and all of the first surface 11 are in close contact with each other. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1 and the first coating film is printed (step S2).
それに続いて、当該錠剤1は第1乾燥装置5Aの直下位置を通過する。この通過時に、第1コーティング膜に含まれる溶媒成分が取り除かれる。これにより、第1コーティング膜の乾燥が進行し、図7の(b)欄に示すように、第1コーティング層14Aが錠剤1の第1面11および側面13に形成される(ステップS3)。
Subsequently, the tablet 1 passes directly under the first drying device 5A. At the time of this passage, the solvent component contained in the first coating film is removed. As a result, the drying of the first coating film proceeds, and as shown in the column (b) of FIG. 7, the first coating layer 14A is formed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 (step S3).
第1コーティング層14Aで第1面11側がコーティングされた、いわゆる片側コーティング錠剤1は第1往路P11に沿って水平方向X1に搬送され、さらに折り返し位置PS4Aで搬送方向が反転された後で第1復路P12に沿って水平方向X2に搬送される。このように折り返し位置PS4Aを通過する際に、錠剤1の第1面11および側面13が第1印刷検査カメラ81に撮影される。そして、撮像された画像に基づいて制御装置7は、第1コーティング層14Aが適切に形成されているか否かを検査する(ステップS4)。
The so-called one-sided coated tablet 1, whose first surface 11 side is coated with the first coating layer 14A, is transported in the horizontal direction X1 along the first outward path P11, and further, after the transport direction is reversed at the folding position PS4A, the first It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 along the return path P12. When passing through the folded position PS4A in this way, the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 are photographed by the first print inspection camera 81. Then, the control device 7 inspects whether or not the first coating layer 14A is properly formed based on the captured image (step S4).
この検査において、第1コーティング層14Aが不適切であり、当該錠剤1がコーティング不良錠剤であると判定された場合(ステップS5で「NO」のとき)、不良品回収が実行される。つまり、コーティング不良錠剤1が第1復路P12に沿って不良品回収位置PS5Aに搬送されてきた段階で加圧された気体が印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構911から当該錠剤1に吹き付けられる。これによって、コーティング不良錠剤1は印刷不良品回収箱912へと排出され、回収される(ステップS6)。一方、ステップS5で第1コーティング層14Aが適切であると判定された場合、第1コーティング層14Aでコーティングされた第1面11を下方に向けた状態で錠剤1は第1復路P12に沿って水平方向X2にさらに搬送される。
In this inspection, if the first coating layer 14A is inappropriate and it is determined that the tablet 1 is a poorly coated tablet (when "NO" in step S5), defective product collection is executed. That is, when the defective coating tablet 1 is conveyed to the defective product recovery position PS5A along the first return path P12, the pressurized gas is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the printing defective product recovery blow mechanism 911. As a result, the poorly coated tablet 1 is discharged to the defective printing product collection box 912 and collected (step S6). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5 that the first coating layer 14A is appropriate, the tablet 1 is placed along the first return path P12 with the first surface 11 coated with the first coating layer 14A facing downward. It is further conveyed in the horizontal direction X2.
錠剤1が受渡し位置PS6に搬送されてくると、当該錠剤1に対して加圧された気体が解除用ブロー機構35Aから第2搬送装置3Bへ向けて吹き付けられる。これによって、第1コーティング層14Aで片側コーティングされた錠剤1が第2搬送装置3Bの搬送ベルト32Bに移載される(ステップS7)。なお、移載後の錠剤1は第2面12を上方に向けた状態で第2搬送装置3Bの搬送ベルト32Bに吸着保持された後、その状態のまま第2往路P21に沿って水平方向X2に搬送される。
When the tablet 1 is transported to the delivery position PS6, the gas pressurized against the tablet 1 is sprayed from the release blow mechanism 35A toward the second transport device 3B. As a result, the tablet 1 coated on one side with the first coating layer 14A is transferred to the transport belt 32B of the second transport device 3B (step S7). The transferred tablet 1 is sucked and held by the transport belt 32B of the second transport device 3B with the second surface 12 facing upward, and then in that state, the tablet 1 is held in the horizontal direction X2 along the second outward path P21. Will be transported to.
ここで、錠剤1が転写位置PS3Bを通過する際に、第2印刷装置4BによりインクIKが第2面21と第2側面領域13Bに転写される。すなわち、第2印刷装置4Bでの押込量A2は式(4)を満足するように設定されているため、ローラー表面413が錠剤1の第2面12および側面13の形状に倣って弾性変形しながら側面13のうちの少なくとも第2側面領域13Bと第2面12の全部とに密着する。その結果、ローラー表面413に担持されるインクIKが錠剤1に転写され、第1コーティング層14Aと反対側に第2コーティング膜が印刷される(ステップS8)。
Here, when the tablet 1 passes through the transfer position PS3B, the ink IK is transferred to the second side surface 21 and the second side surface region 13B by the second printing device 4B. That is, since the pressing amount A2 in the second printing device 4B is set so as to satisfy the equation (4), the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shapes of the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. However, at least the second side surface region 13B of the side surface 13 and all of the second surface 12 are in close contact with each other. As a result, the ink IK supported on the roller surface 413 is transferred to the tablet 1, and the second coating film is printed on the side opposite to the first coating layer 14A (step S8).
それに続いて、当該錠剤1は第2乾燥装置5Bの直下位置を通過する。この通過時に、第2コーティング膜に含まれる溶媒成分が取り除かれる。これにより、第2コーティング膜の乾燥が進行し、図7の(c)欄に示すように、第2コーティング層14Bが錠剤1の第2面12および側面13に形成される(ステップS9)。
Subsequently, the tablet 1 passes directly under the second drying device 5B. Upon this passage, the solvent component contained in the second coating film is removed. As a result, the drying of the second coating film proceeds, and as shown in column (c) of FIG. 7, the second coating layer 14B is formed on the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 (step S9).
こうして両側ともにコーティング材でコーティングされた、いわゆる両側コーティング錠剤1は第2往路P21に沿って水平方向X2に搬送され、さらに折り返し位置PS4Bで搬送方向が反転された後で第2復路P22に沿って水平方向X1に搬送される。このように折り返し位置PS4Bを通過する際に、錠剤1の第2面12および側面13が第2印刷検査カメラ82に撮影される。そして、撮像された画像に基づいて制御装置7は、第2コーティング層14Bが適切に形成されているか否かを検査する(ステップS10)。
The so-called double-sided coated tablet 1 coated with the coating material on both sides in this way is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 along the second outward path P21, and further, after the transport direction is reversed at the folding position PS4B, along the second return path P22. It is conveyed in the horizontal direction X1. When passing through the folded position PS4B in this way, the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 are photographed by the second printing inspection camera 82. Then, the control device 7 inspects whether or not the second coating layer 14B is properly formed based on the captured image (step S10).
この検査において、第2コーティング層14Bが不適切であり、当該錠剤1がコーティング不良錠剤であると判定された場合(ステップS11で「NO」のとき)、不良品回収が実行される。つまり、コーティング不良錠剤1が第2復路P22に沿って不良品回収位置PS5Bに搬送されてきた段階で加圧された気体が印刷不良品回収用ブロー機構921から当該錠剤1に吹き付けられる。これによって、コーティング不良錠剤1は印刷不良品回収箱922へと排出され、回収される(ステップS12)。一方、ステップS11で第2コーティング層14Bが適切であると判定された場合、当該錠剤1に対してコーティング処理が良好に行われたと結論付けることができる。つまり、当該錠剤1は表面全体にコーティング材が所望厚さで均一にコーティングされている。そこで、良品錠剤1については第2復路P22に沿って良品回収位置PS7まで搬送され、良品回収位置PS7で加圧された気体が良品排出用ブロー機構35Bから当該錠剤1に吹き付けられる。これによって、良品錠剤1が搬送ベルト32Bから錠剤回収装置6に排出され、回収される(ステップS13)。
In this inspection, if the second coating layer 14B is inappropriate and it is determined that the tablet 1 is a poorly coated tablet (when "NO" in step S11), defective product collection is executed. That is, the gas pressurized at the stage when the poorly coated tablet 1 is conveyed to the defective product recovery position PS5B along the second return path P22 is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the printing defective product recovery blow mechanism 921. As a result, the poorly coated tablet 1 is discharged to the defective printing product collection box 922 and collected (step S12). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S11 that the second coating layer 14B is appropriate, it can be concluded that the coating treatment has been successfully performed on the tablet 1. That is, the tablet 1 has a coating material uniformly coated on the entire surface with a desired thickness. Therefore, the non-defective tablet 1 is transported to the non-defective product recovery position PS7 along the second return path P22, and the gas pressurized at the non-defective product recovery position PS7 is sprayed onto the non-defective product discharge mechanism 35B. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 is discharged from the transport belt 32B to the tablet collection device 6 and collected (step S13).
以上のように、第1実施形態によれば、第1印刷装置4Aにおいて、鉛直方向Zにおいて錠剤1に対する転写ローラー41の相対位置を調整している。これにより、図7(b)に示すように、錠剤1へのインクIKの印刷は、転写ローラー41が錠剤1を上方から押し込まれ、ローラー表面413がインクIKを担持しながら錠剤1の形状に倣って弾性変形した状態で実行される。したがって、インクIKを錠剤1の上面(第1面11)のみならず錠剤1の側面13にも良好にインクIKを印刷することができる。この点に関しては、第2印刷装置4Bにおいても同様であり、インクIKを錠剤1の上面(第2面12)のみならず錠剤1の側面13にも良好にインクIKを印刷することができる。
As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the first printing apparatus 4A, the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 is adjusted in the vertical direction Z. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, when printing the ink IK on the tablet 1, the transfer roller 41 pushes the tablet 1 from above, and the roller surface 413 carries the ink IK in the shape of the tablet 1. It is executed in a state of elastic deformation. Therefore, the ink IK can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface (first surface 11) of the tablet 1 but also on the side surface 13 of the tablet 1. The same applies to the second printing apparatus 4B, and the ink IK can be satisfactorily printed not only on the upper surface (second surface 12) of the tablet 1 but also on the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
また、第1印刷装置4Aを用いて錠剤1の第1面11および側面13の少なくとも第1側面領域13AにインクIKを印刷して第1コーティング層14Aを形成している。また、これに続いて、上記第2印刷装置4Bを用いて第1コーティング層を有する錠剤1の第2面12および側面13の少なくとも第2側面領域13BにインクIKを印刷して第2コーティング層14Bを形成している。したがって、錠剤1毎に、錠剤1の表面全体を良好にコーティングすることができる。
Further, the ink IK is printed on at least the first side surface region 13A of the first side surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 using the first printing device 4A to form the first coating layer 14A. Following this, the second coating layer 4B is used to print ink IK on at least the second side surface region 13B of the second side surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1 having the first coating layer. It forms 14B. Therefore, for each tablet 1, the entire surface of the tablet 1 can be satisfactorily coated.
図8は本発明に係る印刷装置を装備する錠剤コーティング装置の第2実施形態を模式的に示す図である。図9は第2実施形態に係る錠剤コーティング装置により実行されるコーティング処理の流れを模式的に示す図である。第2実施形態が第1実施形態と相違するのは、2つの印刷装置4C、4Dと、2つの乾燥装置5C、5Dとが追加されている点であり、その他の構成は第1実施形態と同一である。そこで、以下においては、相違点を中心に説明し、同一構成については同一符号を付して構成説明を省略する。
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of a tablet coating apparatus equipped with a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of a coating process executed by the tablet coating apparatus according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two printing devices 4C and 4D and two drying devices 5C and 5D are added, and the other configurations are different from those of the first embodiment. It is the same. Therefore, in the following, the differences will be mainly described, and the same components will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description of the components will be omitted.
第2実施形態では、図8に示すように、第1乾燥装置5Aと第1印刷検査カメラ81との間に第3印刷装置4Cと第3乾燥装置5Cとが第1往路P11に沿って配置されている。第3印刷装置4Cは、いわゆるインクジェット方式でインクIKの液滴を錠剤1に吐出するヘッド47を有している。ヘッド47は図8の紙面に対して垂直なY方向に延設されている。ヘッド47の下面には、インク滴を吐出可能な複数のノズル(図示省略)がX方向およびY方向に二次元的に配列されている。そして、ヘッド47は制御装置7からの吐出指令に応じたノズルからインク滴を選択的に吐出して錠剤1にコーティング膜を形成する。より具体的には、搬送ベルト32Aにより水平方向X1に搬送される片側コーティング錠剤1(図9の(b)欄参照)の第1コーティング層14Aの周縁部に向けてヘッド47はインク滴を吐出する。このため、第1コーティング層14Aの周縁部に円環状の第3コーティング膜が形成される。
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the third printing device 4C and the third drying device 5C are arranged along the first outward path P11 between the first drying device 5A and the first printing inspection camera 81. Has been done. The third printing apparatus 4C has a head 47 that ejects droplets of ink IK onto the tablet 1 by a so-called inkjet method. The head 47 extends in the Y direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. On the lower surface of the head 47, a plurality of nozzles (not shown) capable of ejecting ink droplets are two-dimensionally arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. Then, the head 47 selectively ejects ink droplets from the nozzles in response to the ejection command from the control device 7 to form a coating film on the tablet 1. More specifically, the head 47 ejects ink droplets toward the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A of the one-sided coated tablet 1 (see column (b) of FIG. 9) transported in the horizontal direction X1 by the transport belt 32A. To do. Therefore, an annular third coating film is formed on the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A.
X1方向において第3印刷装置4Cの下流側には、図8に示すように、第3乾燥装置5Cが配置されている。第3乾燥装置5Cは搬送ベルト32Aの上方側に配置され、第3印刷装置4Cにより錠剤1の第1コーティング層14Aに印刷された第3コーティング膜に含まれる溶媒成分を取り除く。これによって、図9の(c)欄に示すように、コーティング材で構成される第3コーティング層14Cが円環状に第1コーティング層14A上に積層して形成される。
As shown in FIG. 8, a third drying device 5C is arranged on the downstream side of the third printing device 4C in the X1 direction. The third drying device 5C is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32A, and removes the solvent component contained in the third coating film printed on the first coating layer 14A of the tablet 1 by the third printing device 4C. As a result, as shown in column (c) of FIG. 9, the third coating layer 14C composed of the coating material is formed by being laminated on the first coating layer 14A in an annular shape.
また、図8に示すように、第2乾燥装置5Bと第2印刷検査カメラ82との間にも、第4印刷装置4Dと第4乾燥装置5Dとが第2往路P21に沿って配置されている。第4印刷装置4Dも第3印刷装置4Cと同様にインクIKの液滴を錠剤1に吐出するヘッド47を有している。そして、当該ヘッド47は、搬送ベルト32Bにより水平方向X2に搬送される両側コーティング錠剤1(図9の(d)欄参照)の第2コーティング層14Bの周縁部に向けてインク滴を吐出する。このため、第2コーティング層14Bの周縁部に円環状の第4コーティング膜が形成される。
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the fourth printing device 4D and the fourth drying device 5D are also arranged between the second drying device 5B and the second printing inspection camera 82 along the second outward path P21. There is. Like the third printing device 4C, the fourth printing device 4D also has a head 47 that ejects droplets of ink IK onto the tablet 1. Then, the head 47 ejects ink droplets toward the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B of the double-sided coated tablet 1 (see column (d) of FIG. 9) which is conveyed in the horizontal direction X2 by the conveying belt 32B. Therefore, an annular fourth coating film is formed on the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B.
X2方向において第4印刷装置4Dの下流側には、図8に示すように、第4乾燥装置5Dが配置されている。第4乾燥装置5Dは搬送ベルト32Bの上方側に配置され、第4印刷装置4Dにより錠剤1の第2コーティング層14Bに印刷された第4コーティング膜に含まれる溶媒成分を取り除く。これによって、図9の(e)欄に示すように、コーティング材で構成される第4コーティング層14Dが円環状に第2コーティング層14B上に積層して形成される。
As shown in FIG. 8, a fourth drying device 5D is arranged on the downstream side of the fourth printing device 4D in the X2 direction. The fourth drying device 5D is arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 32B, and removes the solvent component contained in the fourth coating film printed on the second coating layer 14B of the tablet 1 by the fourth printing device 4D. As a result, as shown in column (e) of FIG. 9, the fourth coating layer 14D composed of the coating material is formed by laminating on the second coating layer 14B in an annular shape.
ここで、上記したように第3コーティング層14Cおよび第4コーティング層14Dを追加積層する技術的意義は、次の点にある。第1コーティング層14Aは転写ローラー41を上方から錠剤1に押し付けて形成された第1コーティング膜を乾燥させたものである。錠剤1の周縁部、つまり第1面11と側面13との接続部位はエッジ部位であるため、エッジ部位が急峻になるにしたがって第1コーティング層14Aの周縁部が薄くなることがある。この点については第2コーティング層14Bにおいても同様である。これに対し、第2実施形態では、第1コーティング層14Aの周縁部に第3コーティング層14Cを積層形成するとともに、第2コーティング層14Bの周縁部に第4コーティング層14Dを積層形成しているため、各周縁部が補強されて錠剤1に対して均一なコーティング処理が可能となる。
Here, the technical significance of additionally laminating the third coating layer 14C and the fourth coating layer 14D as described above lies in the following points. The first coating layer 14A is obtained by pressing the transfer roller 41 against the tablet 1 from above to dry the first coating film formed. Since the peripheral edge portion of the tablet 1, that is, the connection portion between the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 is an edge portion, the peripheral edge portion of the first coating layer 14A may become thinner as the edge portion becomes steeper. This point is the same for the second coating layer 14B. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the third coating layer 14C is laminated and formed on the peripheral edge of the first coating layer 14A, and the fourth coating layer 14D is laminated and formed on the peripheral edge of the second coating layer 14B. Therefore, each peripheral edge portion is reinforced, and the tablet 1 can be uniformly coated.
なお、本発明は上記した実施形態に限定されるものではなく、その趣旨を逸脱しない限りにおいて上述したもの以外に種々の変更を行うことが可能である。例えば上記実施形態では、未コーティング錠剤1を第1往路P11、第1復路P12、第2往路P21および第2復路P22の順次で搬送しながら第1印刷装置4A、(第3印刷装置4C)、第2印刷装置4B、(第4印刷装置4D)によりインクIKを印刷しているが、搬送順序はこれに限定されるものではない。例えば図10および図11に示すように、第1コーティング処理(=第1印刷装置4Aによる印刷処理+第1乾燥装置5Aによる乾燥処理)をM(≧2)回実行した後で、第2コーティング処理(=第2印刷装置4Bによる印刷処理+第2乾燥装置5Bによる乾燥処理)をN(≧2)回実行してもよい(第3実施形態)。
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the first printing device 4A, (third printing device 4C), while transporting the uncoated tablet 1 in the order of the first outward path P11, the first return path P12, the second outward path P21, and the second return path P22. The ink IK is printed by the second printing device 4B, (fourth printing device 4D), but the transfer order is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, after the first coating process (= printing process by the first printing device 4A + drying process by the first drying device 5A) is executed M (≧ 2) times, the second coating is performed. The process (= printing process by the second printing device 4B + drying process by the second drying device 5B) may be executed N (≧ 2) times (third embodiment).
図10および図11は本発明に係る錠剤コーティング装置の第3実施形態で実行されるコーティング処理の流れを示すフローチャートである。第3実施形態では、図10に示すように、第1搬送装置3Aに供給された未コーティング錠剤1は第1往路P11に沿ってX1方向に搬送されつつ第1コーティング処理(ステップS2、S3)が実行された後、ステップS14で第1コーティング処理の回数が判定される。そして、第1コーティング処理が予め設定されたM回に達していない、つまりステップS14で「NO」と判定される間、錠剤1は第1往路P11および第1復路P12に沿って循環搬送されるとともに、第1往路P11に沿って搬送される毎に第1コーティング処理が実行される。例えばM=3に設定した場合、第1コーティング処理が3回繰り返され、錠剤1の第1面11および側面13に第1コーティング層14Aが3層積層される。
10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the flow of the coating process executed in the third embodiment of the tablet coating apparatus according to the present invention. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the uncoated tablet 1 supplied to the first transport device 3A is transported in the X1 direction along the first outward path P11 and is subjected to the first coating treatment (steps S2 and S3). Is executed, the number of times of the first coating process is determined in step S14. Then, the tablet 1 is circulated and transported along the first outward path P11 and the first return path P12 while the first coating process has not reached the preset M times, that is, is determined as “NO” in step S14. At the same time, the first coating process is executed every time the product is transported along the first outward route P11. For example, when M = 3, the first coating process is repeated three times, and three layers of the first coating layer 14A are laminated on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
一方、第1コーティング処理がM回実行されると(ステップS14で「YES」のとき)、第1実施形態と同様に、第1コーティング層14Aの検査(ステップS4)が実行される。そして、ステップS5で第1コーティング層14Aが適切であると判定された場合、図11に示すように片側コーティングされた錠剤1(図7の(b)欄)が第2搬送装置3Bに移載される(ステップS7)。
On the other hand, when the first coating process is executed M times (when "YES" in step S14), the inspection of the first coating layer 14A (step S4) is executed as in the first embodiment. Then, when it is determined in step S5 that the first coating layer 14A is appropriate, the tablet 1 coated on one side (column (b) in FIG. 7) is transferred to the second transport device 3B as shown in FIG. (Step S7).
第2搬送装置3Bに移載された片面コーティング錠剤1が第2往路P21に沿ってX2方向に搬送されつつ当該錠剤1に対して第2コーティング処理(ステップS8、S9)が実行される。そして、次のステップS15で第1コーティング処理の回数を判定する。そして、第2コーティング処理が予め設定されたN回に達していない、つまりステップS15で「NO」と判定される間、錠剤1は第2往路P21および第2復路P22に沿って循環搬送されるとともに、第2往路P21に沿って搬送される毎に第2コーティング処理が実行される。例えばN=3に設定した場合、第2コーティング処理が3回繰り返され、錠剤1の第2面12および側面13に第2コーティング層14Bが3層積層される。
The single-sided coating tablet 1 transferred to the second transport device 3B is transported in the X2 direction along the second outward path P21, and the second coating treatment (steps S8 and S9) is executed on the tablet 1. Then, in the next step S15, the number of times of the first coating process is determined. Then, the tablet 1 is circulated and transported along the second outward path P21 and the second return path P22 while the second coating process has not reached the preset N times, that is, is determined as “NO” in step S15. At the same time, the second coating process is executed every time the product is transported along the second outward path P21. For example, when N = 3, the second coating process is repeated three times, and three layers of the second coating layer 14B are laminated on the second surface 12 and the side surface 13 of the tablet 1.
一方、第2コーティング処理がN回実行されると(ステップS15で「YES」のとき)、第1実施形態と同様に、第2コーティング層14Bの検査(ステップS10)が実行される。そして、ステップS11で第2コーティング層14Bが適切であると判定された場合、両側コーティングされた錠剤1(図7の(c)欄)が良品回収位置PS7まで搬送される。そして、良品回収位置PS7で加圧された気体が良品排出用ブロー機構35Bから当該錠剤1に吹き付けられる。これによって、良品錠剤1が搬送ベルト32Bから錠剤回収装置6に排出され、回収される(ステップS13)。
On the other hand, when the second coating process is executed N times (when "YES" in step S15), the inspection of the second coating layer 14B (step S10) is executed as in the first embodiment. Then, when it is determined in step S11 that the second coating layer 14B is appropriate, the tablet 1 coated on both sides (column (c) in FIG. 7) is transported to the non-defective product collection position PS7. Then, the gas pressurized at the non-defective product recovery position PS7 is sprayed onto the tablet 1 from the non-defective product discharging blow mechanism 35B. As a result, the non-defective tablet 1 is discharged from the transport belt 32B to the tablet collection device 6 and collected (step S13).
以上のように、第3実施形態では、第1コーティング処理および第2コーティング処理をそれぞれ複数回実行しているため、第1実施形態に比べ、より確実に錠剤1をコーティング材でコーティングすることができる。その結果、不良品の発生頻度を低減させることができる。
As described above, in the third embodiment, since the first coating treatment and the second coating treatment are executed a plurality of times, the tablet 1 can be more reliably coated with the coating material as compared with the first embodiment. it can. As a result, the frequency of defective products can be reduced.
第3実施形態において、第1コーティング処理の繰り返し回数Mと第2コーティング処理の繰り返し回数Nとを一致させてもよいし、互いに相違させてもよい。また、いずれか一方を1回に設定してもよい。このように第1コーティング処理および第2コーティング処理のうちの少なくとも一方を複数回繰り返すという技術事項を第2実施形態に適用してもよいことは言うまでもない。
In the third embodiment, the number of times the first coating process is repeated M and the number of times the second coating process is repeated N may be the same or different from each other. Further, either one may be set at one time. Needless to say, the technical matter of repeating at least one of the first coating treatment and the second coating treatment a plurality of times may be applied to the second embodiment.
また、上記第3実施形態では、第1往路P11および第1復路P12に沿った錠剤1の循環搬送により第1コーティング処理を複数回行っているが、第1コーティング処理を複数回行うための構成はこれに限定されない。第1印刷装置4Aおよび第1乾燥装置5Aをそれぞれ複数個、例えば図12に示す装置では2個設けてもよい(第4実施形態)。この第4実施形態では、錠剤1が第1往路P11に沿って搬送される間に、第1コーティング処理が2回行われ、第1実施形態に比べ、より確実に錠剤1をコーティング材でコーティングすることができる。また、第4実施形態において循環搬送をM回行うと、第1コーティング処理は(2×M)回実行される。また、第1印刷装置4Aの配設数は「1」や「2」に限定されるものではなく、3以上であってもよい。さらに、これらの点については、第2コーティング処理に対しても同様である。つまり、第2印刷装置4Bを複数個設けて第2コーティング処理を複数回繰り返すように構成してもよい。このように第1印刷装置4Aや第2印刷装置4Bの配設数を増大させるという技術事項については、第1実施形態ないし第3実施形態に適用可能である。
Further, in the third embodiment, the first coating treatment is performed a plurality of times by circulating the tablet 1 along the first outward route P11 and the first return route P12, but the configuration for performing the first coating treatment a plurality of times. Is not limited to this. A plurality of the first printing apparatus 4A and the first drying apparatus 5A may be provided, for example, two in the apparatus shown in FIG. 12 (fourth embodiment). In this fourth embodiment, the first coating treatment is performed twice while the tablet 1 is transported along the first outward path P11, and the tablet 1 is more reliably coated with the coating material as compared with the first embodiment. can do. Further, when the circulation transfer is performed M times in the fourth embodiment, the first coating process is executed (2 × M) times. Further, the number of arrangements of the first printing apparatus 4A is not limited to "1" and "2", and may be 3 or more. Further, these points are the same for the second coating treatment. That is, a plurality of second printing devices 4B may be provided so that the second coating process is repeated a plurality of times. As described above, the technical matter of increasing the number of arrangements of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B can be applied to the first to third embodiments.
また、上記第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、第1コーティング処理および第2コーティング処理はいずれも同一のインクIKを用いている。つまり本発明の「第1インク」および「第2インク」としてインクIKが用いられている。しかしながら、同一インクIKを用いることは本発明の必須構成要件ではなく、相互に異なるインクを用いてもよい。例えば、互いに異なる色のインクを用いてもよい。また、錠剤1は医薬品・食品・健康食品等であることを考慮すると、医薬品添加物規格、食品添加物規格および日本薬局方規格の少なくとも1つを満たしており、可食であることが望ましい。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the same ink IK is used for both the first coating treatment and the second coating treatment. That is, ink IK is used as the "first ink" and "second ink" of the present invention. However, using the same ink IK is not an essential component of the present invention, and different inks may be used. For example, inks of different colors may be used. Further, considering that the tablet 1 is a drug, food, health food, etc., it is desirable that the tablet 1 satisfies at least one of the drug additive standard, the food additive standard, and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia standard and is edible.
また、第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、インクIKを転写ローラー41のローラー表面413に塗工してインク膜(インクIKの液膜)を形成した後、当該インク膜の一部を錠剤1に転写して印刷している。このため、ブランケット部412を構成する材料の成分の一部がインクIKに混入してコーティング層に入り込む可能性がある。したがって、この点を考慮すると、ブランケット部412は食品衛生法で認可された弾性材料で構成するのが望ましい。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, ink IK is applied to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41 to form an ink film (liquid film of ink IK), and then a part of the ink film is tableted. It is transferred to 1 and printed. Therefore, there is a possibility that some of the components of the material constituting the blanket portion 412 may be mixed with the ink IK and enter the coating layer. Therefore, in consideration of this point, it is desirable that the blanket portion 412 is made of an elastic material approved by the Food Sanitation Law.
また、第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、グラビアローラー422を用いて転写ローラー41にインクIKを供給してインク膜を塗工している。このため、グラビアローラー422から転写ローラー41に供給されるインク量が少なすぎても、逆に多すぎてもコーティング処理を良好に行うことは難しく、凹部422aのセル容積が50cm3/m2以上でかつ500cm3/m2以下であるグラビアローラー422を用いるのが望ましい。この点については、後の実施例にて詳しく説明する。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the gravure roller 422 is used to supply ink IK to the transfer roller 41 to coat the ink film. Therefore, if the amount of ink supplied from the gravure roller 422 to the transfer roller 41 is too small or too large, it is difficult to perform a good coating treatment, and the cell volume of the recess 422a is 50 cm 3 / m 2 or more. It is desirable to use a gravure roller 422 which is 500 cm 3 / m 2 or less. This point will be described in detail in a later embodiment.
また、転写ローラー41上でのインク量のムラはインクIKの粘性とも密接に関連している。つまり、せん断速度100/sのときのせん断粘度が100mPa未満のインクIKを用いると、転写ローラー41のローラー表面413上にインク膜を塗工することが困難となる。逆に、せん断速度100/sのときのせん断粘度が30000mPaを超えるインクIKを用いると、ローラー表面413上で十分なレベリングが生じず、均一なインク膜を形成することが難しい。したがって、せん断速度100/sのときのせん断粘度が100mPa以上でかつ30000mPa以下のインクIKを用いるのが望ましい。この点については、後の実施例にて詳しく説明する。
In addition, the unevenness of the amount of ink on the transfer roller 41 is closely related to the viscosity of the ink IK. That is, if an ink IK having a shear viscosity of less than 100 mPa at a shear rate of 100 / s is used, it becomes difficult to coat the ink film on the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41. On the contrary, when ink IK having a shear viscosity of more than 30,000 mPa at a shear rate of 100 / s is used, sufficient leveling does not occur on the roller surface 413, and it is difficult to form a uniform ink film. Therefore, it is desirable to use an ink IK having a shear viscosity of 100 mPa or more and 30,000 mPa or less at a shear rate of 100 / s. This point will be described in detail in a later embodiment.
また、第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、インク供給部42はグラビアローラー422を用いたグラビアコータであるが、その他のロールコータによりインク供給部42を構成してもよい。また、ロールコータ以外の方式、例えばスリットノズルからインクを転写ローラー41のローラー表面413に吐出して供給するスリットコート方式を用いてもよい。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the ink supply unit 42 is a gravure coater using the gravure roller 422, but the ink supply unit 42 may be configured by another roll coater. Further, a method other than the roll coater, for example, a slit coating method in which ink is discharged from the slit nozzle to the roller surface 413 of the transfer roller 41 and supplied may be used.
また、第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、いわゆるコンベア方式で錠剤1を搬送しているが、錠剤1の搬送方式はこれに限定されるものではなく、任意である。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the tablet 1 is transported by a so-called conveyor method, but the transport method of the tablet 1 is not limited to this, and is arbitrary.
また、第1実施形態ないし第4実施形態では、転写ローラー41を鉛直方向Zに移動させて押込量A1、A2を調整しているが、転写位置PS3A、PS3Bで搬送ベルト32A、32Bを上方に移動させて押込量A1、A2を調整してもよい。また、転写ローラー41および搬送ベルト32A、32Bを鉛直方向Zに移動させて調整してもよい。つまり、鉛直方向Zにおいて錠剤1に対する転写ローラー41の相対位置を調整することで押込量A1、A2を調整すればよい。
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the transfer roller 41 is moved in the vertical direction Z to adjust the pushing amounts A1 and A2, but the transfer belts 32A and 32B are moved upward at the transfer positions PS3A and PS3B. The push-in amounts A1 and A2 may be adjusted by moving them. Further, the transfer roller 41 and the transport belts 32A and 32B may be moved in the vertical direction Z for adjustment. That is, the pushing amounts A1 and A2 may be adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the transfer roller 41 with respect to the tablet 1 in the vertical direction Z.
また、上記第2実施形態では、インクジェット方式の印刷装置4C、4Dをそれぞれコーティング層14A、14Bの周縁部を補強する目的で使用している。したがって、インクIKの液滴、つまりインク滴をヘッド47のノズルから適切に吐出させるためには、インクIKの粘性を1mPa・s以上かつ15mPa・s以下に設定するのが望ましい。
Further, in the second embodiment, the inkjet printing devices 4C and 4D are used for the purpose of reinforcing the peripheral edges of the coating layers 14A and 14B, respectively. Therefore, in order to properly eject ink droplets of ink IK, that is, ink droplets from the nozzle of the head 47, it is desirable to set the viscosity of ink IK to 1 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less.
また、上記第2実施形態では、第1印刷装置4A~第4印刷装置4Dの各々に対応して第1乾燥装置5A~第4乾燥装置5Dをそれぞれ設けているが、乾燥装置の一部を省略してもよい。例えば第1乾燥装置5Aを省略し、第1印刷装置4Aおよび第3印刷装置4Cで印刷された第1コーティング膜を第3乾燥装置5Cで一括して乾燥させて第1コーティング層14Aを形成してもよい。また、第2乾燥装置5Bを省略し、第2印刷装置4Bおよび第4印刷装置4Dで印刷された第2コーティング膜を第4乾燥装置5Dで一括して乾燥させて第2コーティング層14Bを形成してもよい。また、第1コーティング膜を印刷する第1印刷装置4Aおよび第3印刷装置4Cを入れ替えてもよい。さらに第2コーティング膜を印刷する第2印刷装置4Bおよび第4印刷装置4Dを入れ替えてもよい。
Further, in the second embodiment, the first drying device 5A to the fourth drying device 5D are provided corresponding to each of the first printing device 4A to the fourth printing device 4D, but a part of the drying device is provided. It may be omitted. For example, the first drying device 5A is omitted, and the first coating film printed by the first printing device 4A and the third printing device 4C is collectively dried by the third drying device 5C to form the first coating layer 14A. You may. Further, the second drying device 5B is omitted, and the second coating film printed by the second printing device 4B and the fourth printing device 4D is collectively dried by the fourth drying device 5D to form the second coating layer 14B. You may. Further, the first printing device 4A and the third printing device 4C for printing the first coating film may be replaced. Further, the second printing device 4B and the fourth printing device 4D for printing the second coating film may be replaced.
上記したように、第1印刷装置4Aおよび第2印刷装置4Bが本発明に係る「印刷装置」の一例に相当している。また、第1印刷装置4Aおよび第2印刷装置4Bの転写ローラー41がそれぞれ本発明の「第1転写ローラー」および「第2転写ローラー」の一例に相当している。また、第1印刷装置4Aおよび第2印刷装置4Bのローラー表面413がそれぞれ本発明の「第1ローラー表面」および「第2ローラー表面」の一例に相当している。第1印刷装置4Aおよび第2印刷装置4Bのインク供給部42がそれぞれ本発明の「第1インク供給部」および「第2インク供給部」の一例に相当している。回転駆動部45A、45Bがそれぞれ本発明の「第1回転駆動部」および「第2回転駆動部」の一例に相当している。また、位置調整部46A、46Bがそれぞれ本発明の「第1位置調整部」および「第2位置調整部」の一例に相当している。また、第1側面領域13Aおよび第2側面領域13Bが本発明の「錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部」の一例に相当し、第1側面領域13Aと第1面11とを合わせた領域が本発明の「第1被コーティング領域」の一例に相当し、第2側面領域13Bと第2面12とを合わせた領域が本発明の「第2被コーティング領域」の一例に相当している。また、インク貯留パン421およびグラビアローラー422がそれぞれ本発明の「インク貯留部」および「インク供給ローラー」の一例に相当している。また、X1方向およびX2方向がそれぞれ本発明の「第1水平方向」および「第2水平方向」に相当としている。さらに、第1コーティング層14Aを構成するコーティング材が本発明の「第1コーティング材」の一例に相当し、第2コーティング層14Bを構成するコーティング材が本発明の「第2コーティング材」の一例に相当している。
As described above, the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B correspond to an example of the "printing device" according to the present invention. Further, the transfer rollers 41 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B correspond to examples of the "first transfer roller" and the "second transfer roller" of the present invention, respectively. Further, the roller surface 413 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B corresponds to an example of the "first roller surface" and the "second roller surface" of the present invention, respectively. The ink supply unit 42 of the first printing device 4A and the second printing device 4B corresponds to an example of the "first ink supply unit" and the "second ink supply unit" of the present invention, respectively. The rotation drive units 45A and 45B correspond to examples of the "first rotation drive unit" and the "second rotation drive unit" of the present invention, respectively. Further, the position adjusting units 46A and 46B correspond to examples of the "first position adjusting unit" and the "second position adjusting unit" of the present invention, respectively. Further, the first side surface region 13A and the second side surface region 13B correspond to an example of "at least a part of the side surface of the tablet" of the present invention, and the region where the first side surface region 13A and the first surface 11 are combined is the present invention. Corresponds to an example of the "first coated region", and the combined region of the second side surface region 13B and the second surface 12 corresponds to an example of the "second coated region" of the present invention. Further, the ink storage pan 421 and the gravure roller 422 correspond to an example of the "ink storage unit" and the "ink supply roller" of the present invention, respectively. Further, the X1 direction and the X2 direction correspond to the "first horizontal direction" and the "second horizontal direction" of the present invention, respectively. Further, the coating material constituting the first coating layer 14A corresponds to an example of the "first coating material" of the present invention, and the coating material constituting the second coating layer 14B is an example of the "second coating material" of the present invention. Corresponds to.
以下、本発明の好ましい態様について、実施例を参照しつつより具体的に説明する。ただし、本発明はもとより下記の実施例によって制限を受けるものではない。したがって、前後記の趣旨に適合しうる範囲で適当に変更を加えて実施することももちろん可能であり、それらはいずれも本発明の技術的範囲に含まれる。
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the following examples. Therefore, it is of course possible to make appropriate changes within the scope of the above-mentioned purpose, and all of them are included in the technical scope of the present invention.
A.押込量の評価
上記実施形態では、ローラー表面413にインクIKの液膜を担持した転写ローラー41により錠剤1を上方から押し込むことでローラー表面413を錠剤1の形状に倣って弾性変形させながら錠剤1の上面(第1面や第2面)のみならず錠剤1の側面にもインクIKが転写されて錠剤1にコーティング膜が塗工される。そこで、押込量を互いに異なる11段階(表1中の「押込量」の欄参照)で切替えながら、各押込量にて以下の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を第1面11および側面13について目視観察し、第1面11での塗布ムラと側面13での塗布状況とを以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。 A. Evaluation of Pushing Amount In the above embodiment, thetablet 1 is pushed from above by the transfer roller 41 having the ink IK liquid film supported on the roller surface 413, so that the roller surface 413 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the tablet 1 while the tablet 1 is deformed. The ink IK is transferred not only to the upper surface (first surface and the second surface) of the tablet 1 but also to the side surface of the tablet 1, and the coating film is applied to the tablet 1. Therefore, while switching the pressing amount in 11 different steps (see the column of "pressing amount" in Table 1), the first coating process is repeated three times under the following printing conditions for each pressing amount, and then the pressing amount is changed. The surface condition of the first coating layer 14A was visually observed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13, and the coating unevenness on the first surface 11 and the coating state on the side surface 13 were evaluated based on the following criteria.
上記実施形態では、ローラー表面413にインクIKの液膜を担持した転写ローラー41により錠剤1を上方から押し込むことでローラー表面413を錠剤1の形状に倣って弾性変形させながら錠剤1の上面(第1面や第2面)のみならず錠剤1の側面にもインクIKが転写されて錠剤1にコーティング膜が塗工される。そこで、押込量を互いに異なる11段階(表1中の「押込量」の欄参照)で切替えながら、各押込量にて以下の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を第1面11および側面13について目視観察し、第1面11での塗布ムラと側面13での塗布状況とを以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。 A. Evaluation of Pushing Amount In the above embodiment, the
<印刷条件>
・インクIKの組成
コーティング材(HPMC)…20wt%
溶媒1(エタノール)…10wt%
溶媒2(純水)…69.9wt%
着色剤(赤色102号)…0.1wt%
・未コーティング錠剤1(R錠)
直径8mm×厚み3.45mm
・グラビアローラー422
凹部422aの角度・形状…斜線45゜左上がり
凹部422aのタイプ…29ライン/インチ
凹部422aの深さ…285μm
凹部422aの理論セル容積…160.4cm3/m2
周速…0.12m/sec
・ブランケット部412
ブランケット厚み…30mm
硬度…ショアE1、ショアFP68
・第1搬送装置3A
搬送速度…72mm/sec
<判定基準>
・表面塗布ムラ
〇:表面ムラなし、△:表面ムラあり、×:表面に未塗布部分あり
・側面塗布状況
〇:半分以上まで塗れている、△:側面についているが半分までいってない、×:全く側面についていない <Printing conditions>
-Composition of ink IK Coating material (HPMC): 20 wt%
Solvent 1 (ethanol) ... 10 wt%
Solvent 2 (pure water) ... 69.9 wt%
Colorant (Red No. 102) ... 0.1 wt%
・ Uncoated tablet 1 (R tablet)
Diameter 8 mm x thickness 3.45 mm
・Gravure roller 422
Angle and shape of recess 422a: Diagonal line 45 ° rising to the left Type of recess 422a: 29 lines / inch Depth of recess 422a: 285 μm
Theoretical cell volume of recess 422a ... 160.4 cm 3 / m 2
Peripheral speed: 0.12 m / sec
・Blanket part 412
Blanket thickness ... 30 mm
Hardness ... Shore E1, Shore FP68
・First transport device 3A
Transport speed: 72 mm / sec
<Criteria>
・ Surface coating unevenness 〇: No surface unevenness, △: Surface unevenness, ×: Uncoated part on the surface ・ Side coating status 〇: More than half coated, △: Side surface but not half, × : Not on the side at all
・インクIKの組成
コーティング材(HPMC)…20wt%
溶媒1(エタノール)…10wt%
溶媒2(純水)…69.9wt%
着色剤(赤色102号)…0.1wt%
・未コーティング錠剤1(R錠)
直径8mm×厚み3.45mm
・グラビアローラー422
凹部422aの角度・形状…斜線45゜左上がり
凹部422aのタイプ…29ライン/インチ
凹部422aの深さ…285μm
凹部422aの理論セル容積…160.4cm3/m2
周速…0.12m/sec
・ブランケット部412
ブランケット厚み…30mm
硬度…ショアE1、ショアFP68
・第1搬送装置3A
搬送速度…72mm/sec
<判定基準>
・表面塗布ムラ
〇:表面ムラなし、△:表面ムラあり、×:表面に未塗布部分あり
・側面塗布状況
〇:半分以上まで塗れている、△:側面についているが半分までいってない、×:全く側面についていない <Printing conditions>
-Composition of ink IK Coating material (HPMC): 20 wt%
Solvent 1 (ethanol) ... 10 wt%
Solvent 2 (pure water) ... 69.9 wt%
Colorant (Red No. 102) ... 0.1 wt%
・ Uncoated tablet 1 (R tablet)
Diameter 8 mm x thickness 3.45 mm
・
Angle and shape of recess 422a: Diagonal line 45 ° rising to the left Type of recess 422a: 29 lines / inch Depth of recess 422a: 285 μm
Theoretical cell volume of recess 422a ... 160.4 cm 3 / m 2
Peripheral speed: 0.12 m / sec
・
Blanket thickness ... 30 mm
Hardness ... Shore E1, Shore FP68
・
Transport speed: 72 mm / sec
<Criteria>
・ Surface coating unevenness 〇: No surface unevenness, △: Surface unevenness, ×: Uncoated part on the surface ・ Side coating status 〇: More than half coated, △: Side surface but not half, × : Not on the side at all
これらをまとめたものが表1である。なお、同表における「押込量(mm)」は転写ローラー41の移動量であり、「押込量A1」は錠剤1の厚みTを基準としたものである。
Table 1 summarizes these. The "pushing amount (mm)" in the table is the moving amount of the transfer roller 41, and the "pushing amount A1" is based on the thickness T of the tablet 1.
同表から明らかなように、押込量A1が0.5×Tよりも少ないと、側面13に塗布できず、第1面11に未塗布箇所が出てくる。逆に、押込量A1が1.5×Tを超えると、錠剤1の周縁部の膜厚が薄くなる。また、錠剤1が比較的脆い場合、割れる可能性がある。したがって、コーティング処理を良好に行うためには、上記した(2)式が満足されるように押込量A1を設定するのが望ましい。また、より均一なコーティング層を形成するためには、次式
0.7×T≦A1≦1.4×T … (5)
が満足されるように設定するのが好適であり、さらに均一性を高めるためには、次式
0.9×T≦A1≦1.2×T … (6)
が満足されるように設定するのがさらに望ましい。なお、ここでは、第1コーティング処理について検討したが、第2コーティング処理についても同様の結果が得られた。 As is clear from the table, if the pushing amount A1 is less than 0.5 × T, the coating cannot be applied to theside surface 13, and an unapplied portion appears on the first surface 11. On the contrary, when the pressing amount A1 exceeds 1.5 × T, the film thickness of the peripheral portion of the tablet 1 becomes thin. Also, if tablet 1 is relatively brittle, it may crack. Therefore, in order to perform the coating treatment well, it is desirable to set the pushing amount A1 so that the above-mentioned equation (2) is satisfied. Further, in order to form a more uniform coating layer, the following equation 0.7 × T ≦ A1 ≦ 1.4 × T… (5)
It is preferable to set so as to satisfy the above, and in order to further improve the uniformity, the following equation 0.9 × T ≦ A1 ≦ 1.2 × T… (6)
It is more desirable to set so that Although the first coating treatment was examined here, the same result was obtained for the second coating treatment.
0.7×T≦A1≦1.4×T … (5)
が満足されるように設定するのが好適であり、さらに均一性を高めるためには、次式
0.9×T≦A1≦1.2×T … (6)
が満足されるように設定するのがさらに望ましい。なお、ここでは、第1コーティング処理について検討したが、第2コーティング処理についても同様の結果が得られた。 As is clear from the table, if the pushing amount A1 is less than 0.5 × T, the coating cannot be applied to the
It is preferable to set so as to satisfy the above, and in order to further improve the uniformity, the following equation 0.9 × T ≦ A1 ≦ 1.2 × T… (6)
It is more desirable to set so that Although the first coating treatment was examined here, the same result was obtained for the second coating treatment.
B.セル容積の評価
上記実施形態では、凹部422aが設けられたグラビアローラー422を用いて転写ローラー41にインクIKを供給してインク膜を塗工している。そこで、凹部422aのセル容積を互いに異なる11段階(表2中の「理論セル容積」の欄参照)で切替えながら、各理論セル容積にて以下の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を第1面11および側面13について目視観察するとともにコーティング膜の乾燥に要する時間を計測し、第1面11での塗布ムラ、側面13での塗布状況および乾燥性を以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。 B. Evaluation of Cell Volume In the above embodiment, ink IK is supplied to thetransfer roller 41 by using a gravure roller 422 provided with a recess 422a to coat the ink film. Therefore, while switching the cell volume of the recess 422a in 11 different steps (see the column of "theoretical cell volume" in Table 2), the first coating process is repeated three times under the following printing conditions for each theoretical cell volume. After this, the surface condition of the first coating layer 14A was visually observed on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 and the time required for drying the coating film was measured, and the coating unevenness on the first surface 11 and the side surface 13 were measured. The coating condition and dryness were evaluated based on the following criteria.
上記実施形態では、凹部422aが設けられたグラビアローラー422を用いて転写ローラー41にインクIKを供給してインク膜を塗工している。そこで、凹部422aのセル容積を互いに異なる11段階(表2中の「理論セル容積」の欄参照)で切替えながら、各理論セル容積にて以下の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を第1面11および側面13について目視観察するとともにコーティング膜の乾燥に要する時間を計測し、第1面11での塗布ムラ、側面13での塗布状況および乾燥性を以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。 B. Evaluation of Cell Volume In the above embodiment, ink IK is supplied to the
<印刷条件>
・インクIKの組成
コーティング材(HPMC)…20wt%
溶媒1(純水)…69.9wt%
溶媒2(エタノール)…10wt%
着色剤(赤色102号)…0.1wt%
・未コーティング錠剤1(R錠)
直径8mm×厚み3.45mm
・押込量
1.15×T(実際の押込量:3.97mm)
・グラビアローラー422
周速…0.12m/sec
・ブランケット部412
ブランケット厚み…30mm
硬度…ショアE1、ショアFP68
・第1搬送装置3A
搬送速度…72mm/sec
<判定基準>
・表面塗布ムラ
〇:表面ムラなし、△:表面ムラあり、×:表面に未塗布部分あり
・側面塗布状況
〇:半分以上まで塗れている、△:側面についているが半分までいってない、×:全く側面についていない
・乾燥性
〇:乾燥時間30sec未満、×:30sec以上乾燥時間を要する <Printing conditions>
-Composition of ink IK Coating material (HPMC): 20 wt%
Solvent 1 (pure water) ... 69.9 wt%
Solvent 2 (ethanol) ... 10 wt%
Colorant (Red No. 102) ... 0.1 wt%
・ Uncoated tablet 1 (R tablet)
Diameter 8 mm x thickness 3.45 mm
・ Pushing amount 1.15 × T (actual pushing amount: 3.97 mm)
・Gravure roller 422
Peripheral speed: 0.12 m / sec
・Blanket part 412
Blanket thickness ... 30 mm
Hardness ... Shore E1, Shore FP68
・First transport device 3A
Transport speed: 72 mm / sec
<Criteria>
・ Surface coating unevenness 〇: No surface unevenness, △: Surface unevenness, ×: Uncoated part on the surface ・ Side coating status 〇: More than half coated, △: Side surface but not half, × : Not attached to the side at all ・ Drying property 〇: Drying time less than 30 sec, ×: Drying time required 30 sec or more
・インクIKの組成
コーティング材(HPMC)…20wt%
溶媒1(純水)…69.9wt%
溶媒2(エタノール)…10wt%
着色剤(赤色102号)…0.1wt%
・未コーティング錠剤1(R錠)
直径8mm×厚み3.45mm
・押込量
1.15×T(実際の押込量:3.97mm)
・グラビアローラー422
周速…0.12m/sec
・ブランケット部412
ブランケット厚み…30mm
硬度…ショアE1、ショアFP68
・第1搬送装置3A
搬送速度…72mm/sec
<判定基準>
・表面塗布ムラ
〇:表面ムラなし、△:表面ムラあり、×:表面に未塗布部分あり
・側面塗布状況
〇:半分以上まで塗れている、△:側面についているが半分までいってない、×:全く側面についていない
・乾燥性
〇:乾燥時間30sec未満、×:30sec以上乾燥時間を要する <Printing conditions>
-Composition of ink IK Coating material (HPMC): 20 wt%
Solvent 1 (pure water) ... 69.9 wt%
Solvent 2 (ethanol) ... 10 wt%
Colorant (Red No. 102) ... 0.1 wt%
・ Uncoated tablet 1 (R tablet)
Diameter 8 mm x thickness 3.45 mm
・ Pushing amount 1.15 × T (actual pushing amount: 3.97 mm)
・
Peripheral speed: 0.12 m / sec
・
Blanket thickness ... 30 mm
Hardness ... Shore E1, Shore FP68
・
Transport speed: 72 mm / sec
<Criteria>
・ Surface coating unevenness 〇: No surface unevenness, △: Surface unevenness, ×: Uncoated part on the surface ・ Side coating status 〇: More than half coated, △: Side surface but not half, × : Not attached to the side at all ・ Drying property 〇: Drying time less than 30 sec, ×: Drying time required 30 sec or more
これらをまとめたものが表2である。
Table 2 summarizes these.
同表から明らかなように、セル容積が50cm3/m2未満となると、錠剤1上に転写されるインク量が少なく膜厚が稼げない。また、ローラー表面413上でレベリングされず錠剤1に転写された後でムラが出やすい。したがって、コーティング処理を良好に行うためには、セル容積が50cm3/m2以上でかつ500cm3/m2以下であるグラビアローラー422を用いるのが望ましい。また、より好ましくは、セル容積が60cm3/m2以上でかつ300cm3/m2以下であるグラビアローラー422を用いるのが望ましい。さらに、セル容積が80cm3/m2以上でかつ180cm3/m2以下であるグラビアローラー422を用いるのが好適である。
As is clear from the table, when the cell volume is less than 50 cm 3 / m 2, the amount of ink transferred onto the tablet 1 is small and the film thickness cannot be increased. In addition, unevenness is likely to occur after being transferred to the tablet 1 without being leveled on the roller surface 413. Therefore, in order to perform the coating treatment well, it is desirable to use a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 50 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 500 cm 3 / m 2 or less. Further, more preferably, it is desirable to use a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 60 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 300 cm 3 / m 2 or less. Further, it is preferable to use a gravure roller 422 having a cell volume of 80 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 180 cm 3 / m 2 or less.
C.インクIKの粘性の評価
インクIKの粘性がコーティング性能に与える影響を評価するために、粘性が互いに異なる10種類のインクIKを調製し、上述の「A.押込量の評価」および「B.セル容積の評価」と同一の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を目視観察し、錠剤1への塗布性を以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。
〇:錠剤全面に対して均一にコーティングできている
△:錠剤の全面にコーティングできているが、膜厚が薄い部分が見られる
×:錠剤の一部にしかインクを塗布できていない C. Evaluation of Ink IK Viscosity In order to evaluate the effect of ink IK viscosity on coating performance, 10 types of ink IK with different viscosities were prepared, and the above-mentioned "A. Evaluation of pressing amount" and "B. Cell" were prepared. After repeating the first coating treatment three times under the same printing conditions as "evaluation of volume", the surface condition of thefirst coating layer 14A was visually observed, and the applicability to the tablet 1 was determined based on the following criteria. Evaluated.
〇: The entire surface of the tablet is uniformly coated. Δ: The entire surface of the tablet is coated, but a thin portion is seen. ×: Ink can be applied only to a part of the tablet.
インクIKの粘性がコーティング性能に与える影響を評価するために、粘性が互いに異なる10種類のインクIKを調製し、上述の「A.押込量の評価」および「B.セル容積の評価」と同一の印刷条件で第1コーティング処理を3回繰り返して行った後で、第1コーティング層14Aの表面状態を目視観察し、錠剤1への塗布性を以下の判定基準に基づいて評価した。
〇:錠剤全面に対して均一にコーティングできている
△:錠剤の全面にコーティングできているが、膜厚が薄い部分が見られる
×:錠剤の一部にしかインクを塗布できていない C. Evaluation of Ink IK Viscosity In order to evaluate the effect of ink IK viscosity on coating performance, 10 types of ink IK with different viscosities were prepared, and the above-mentioned "A. Evaluation of pressing amount" and "B. Cell" were prepared. After repeating the first coating treatment three times under the same printing conditions as "evaluation of volume", the surface condition of the
〇: The entire surface of the tablet is uniformly coated. Δ: The entire surface of the tablet is coated, but a thin portion is seen. ×: Ink can be applied only to a part of the tablet.
これらをまとめたものが表3である。
Table 3 summarizes these.
同表から明らかなように、せん断速度100/sのときのせん断粘度が100mPa以上でかつ30000mPa以下のインクIKを用いるのが望ましい。
As is clear from the table, it is desirable to use an ink IK having a shear viscosity of 100 mPa or more and 30,000 mPa or less at a shear rate of 100 / s.
以上、特定の実施例に沿って発明を説明したが、この説明は限定的な意味で解釈されることを意図したものではない。発明の説明を参照すれば、本発明のその他の実施形態と同様に、開示された実施形態の様々な変形例が、この技術に精通した者に明らかとなるであろう。故に、添付の特許請求の範囲は、発明の真の範囲を逸脱しない範囲内で、当該変形例または実施形態を含むものと考えられる。
The invention has been described above according to a specific embodiment, but this description is not intended to be interpreted in a limited sense. With reference to the description of the invention, various variations of the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those familiar with the art. Therefore, the appended claims are considered to include such modifications or embodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention.
この発明は、錠剤にコーティング材を含むインクを印刷する印刷技術および当該印刷技術を用いて錠剤の全面にコーティング材をコーティングする錠剤コーティング技術全般に適用することができる。
The present invention can be applied to a printing technique for printing an ink containing a coating material on a tablet and a tablet coating technique for coating the entire surface of a tablet with a coating material using the printing technique.
4A…第1印刷装置
4B…第2印刷装置
4C…第3印刷装置
4D…第4印刷装置
5A…第1乾燥装置
5B…第2乾燥装置
5C…第3乾燥装置
5D…第4乾燥装置
11…第1面(上面)
12…第2面(上面)
13…(錠剤の)側面
14A…第1コーティング層
14B…第2コーティング層
41…転写ローラー
42…インク供給部
45A、45B…回転駆動部
46A、46B…位置調整部
413…ローラー表面
421…インク貯留パン(インク貯留部)
422…グラビアローラー(インク塗布ローラー)
422a…凹部
IK…インク(第1インク、第2インク)
P11…第1往路
P12…第1復路
P21…第2往路
P22…第2復路
T…高さ(錠剤の厚み)
X…水平方向
X1…第1水平方向
X2…第2水平方向
Z…鉛直方向
4A ...1st printing device 4B ... 2nd printing device 4C ... 3rd printing device 4D ... 4th printing device 5A ... 1st drying device 5B ... 2nd drying device 5C ... 3rd drying device 5D ... 4th drying device 11 ... First surface (upper surface)
12 ... Second surface (upper surface)
13 ... Side surface (of tablet) 14A ...First coating layer 14B ... Second coating layer 41 ... Transfer roller 42 ... Ink supply unit 45A, 45B ... Rotation drive unit 46A, 46B ... Position adjustment unit 413 ... Roller surface 421 ... Ink storage Pan (ink storage)
422 ... Gravure roller (ink coating roller)
422a ... Concave IK ... Ink (1st ink, 2nd ink)
P11 ... 1st outward route P12 ... 1st return route P21 ... 2nd outward route P22 ... 2nd return route T ... Height (thickness of tablet)
X ... horizontal direction X1 ... first horizontal direction X2 ... second horizontal direction Z ... vertical direction
4B…第2印刷装置
4C…第3印刷装置
4D…第4印刷装置
5A…第1乾燥装置
5B…第2乾燥装置
5C…第3乾燥装置
5D…第4乾燥装置
11…第1面(上面)
12…第2面(上面)
13…(錠剤の)側面
14A…第1コーティング層
14B…第2コーティング層
41…転写ローラー
42…インク供給部
45A、45B…回転駆動部
46A、46B…位置調整部
413…ローラー表面
421…インク貯留パン(インク貯留部)
422…グラビアローラー(インク塗布ローラー)
422a…凹部
IK…インク(第1インク、第2インク)
P11…第1往路
P12…第1復路
P21…第2往路
P22…第2復路
T…高さ(錠剤の厚み)
X…水平方向
X1…第1水平方向
X2…第2水平方向
Z…鉛直方向
4A ...
12 ... Second surface (upper surface)
13 ... Side surface (of tablet) 14A ...
422 ... Gravure roller (ink coating roller)
422a ... Concave IK ... Ink (1st ink, 2nd ink)
P11 ... 1st outward route P12 ... 1st return route P21 ... 2nd outward route P22 ... 2nd return route T ... Height (thickness of tablet)
X ... horizontal direction X1 ... first horizontal direction X2 ... second horizontal direction Z ... vertical direction
Claims (21)
- 水平方向に搬送される錠剤にコーティング材を含むインクを印刷する印刷装置であって、
前記錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料でローラー表面が形成された転写ローラーと、
コーティング材を含むインクを前記ローラー表面に供給するインク供給部と、
鉛直方向における前記錠剤に対する前記転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する位置調整部と、
前記転写ローラーを回転させる回転駆動部と、を備え、
前記位置調整部が前記錠剤に対して前記転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように前記相対位置を調整し、前記回転駆動部が前記インクを前記ローラー表面で担持している前記転写ローラーを回転させることで、
前記転写ローラーに担持された前記インクを前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の上面に転写することを特徴とする印刷装置。 A printing device that prints ink containing a coating material on tablets that are transported in the horizontal direction.
A transfer roller whose roller surface is formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet.
An ink supply unit that supplies ink containing a coating material to the roller surface,
A position adjusting unit that adjusts the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction,
A rotary drive unit for rotating the transfer roller is provided.
By adjusting the relative position so that the position adjusting unit pushes the transfer roller against the tablet from above, and the rotation driving unit rotates the transfer roller carrying the ink on the roller surface. ,
A printing apparatus comprising transferring the ink carried on the transfer roller to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the upper surface of the tablet. - 請求項1に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記水平方向に搬送される前記錠剤の前記鉛直方向における高さをTとしたとき、
前記位置調整部は、前記錠剤に対する前記転写ローラーの押込量が0.5×T以上でかつ1.5×T以下となるように、前記錠剤に対して前記転写ローラーを位置決めする印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
When the height of the tablet transported in the horizontal direction in the vertical direction is T,
The position adjusting unit is a printing device that positions the transfer roller with respect to the tablet so that the pressing amount of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet is 0.5 × T or more and 1.5 × T or less. - 請求項1または2に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記弾性材料は食品衛生法で認可された材料である印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The elastic material is a printing device that is a material approved by the Food Sanitation Law. - 請求項1ないし3のいずれか一項に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記インクを構成する材料は、医薬品添加物規格、食品添加物規格および日本薬局方規格の少なくとも1つを満たしており、可食である印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A printing device that meets at least one of the pharmaceutical additive standard, the food additive standard, and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia standard, and is edible. - 請求項1ないし4のいずれか一項に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記インクは、せん断速度100/sのときのせん断粘度が100mPa以上でかつ30000mPa以下である印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The ink is a printing apparatus having a shear viscosity of 100 mPa or more and 30,000 mPa or less at a shear rate of 100 / s. - 請求項1ないし5のいずれか一項に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記インク供給部は、
前記インクを貯留するインク貯留部と、
表面に凹凸が設けられたインク塗布ローラーと、を有し、
前記インク貯留部に貯留された前記インクを前記インク塗布ローラーを介して前記転写ローラーの表面に供給して前記インクの液膜を塗布する印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The ink supply unit
An ink storage unit that stores the ink and
It has an ink coating roller with irregularities on the surface.
A printing apparatus that supplies the ink stored in the ink storage unit to the surface of the transfer roller via the ink coating roller to apply a liquid film of the ink. - 請求項6に記載の印刷装置であって、
前記インク塗布ローラーに設けられた凹部のセル容積が50cm3/m2以上でかつ500cm3/m2以下である印刷装置。 The printing apparatus according to claim 6.
A printing apparatus having a cell volume of a recess provided in the ink coating roller of 50 cm 3 / m 2 or more and 500 cm 3 / m 2 or less. - 錠剤の一方主面を上方に向けた状態で前記錠剤を水平方向に搬送する工程と、
前記錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料でローラー表面が形成された転写ローラーにコーティング材を含むインクを供給して前記ローラー表面に前記インクを担持させる工程と、
前記錠剤を前記転写ローラーが上方から押し込むように鉛直方向における前記錠剤に対する前記転写ローラーの相対位置を調整した状態で、前記水平方向に前記錠剤を搬送するとともに前記インクを担持する前記転写ローラーを回転させ、前記インクを前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の前記一方主面に転写する工程と
を備えることを特徴とする印刷方法。 A step of horizontally transporting the tablet with one main surface of the tablet facing upward,
A step of supplying ink containing a coating material to a transfer roller whose roller surface is formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet to support the ink on the roller surface.
In a state where the relative position of the transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction is adjusted so that the transfer roller pushes the tablet from above, the tablet is conveyed in the horizontal direction and the transfer roller carrying the ink is rotated. A printing method comprising a step of transferring the ink to at least a part of a side surface of the tablet and to the one main surface of the tablet. - 第1水平方向に延びる第1往路に沿って錠剤の第1面を上方に向けた状態で前記錠剤を搬送する第1搬送装置と、
前記第1搬送装置により前記第1水平方向に搬送される前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の第1面を含む第1被コーティング領域に対し、第1コーティング材を含む第1インクを印刷する第1印刷装置と、
前記錠剤に印刷された前記第1インクを乾燥させて前記錠剤に第1コーティング層を形成する第1乾燥装置と、
第2水平方向に延びる第2往路に沿って前記第1コーティング層が形成された前記錠剤を受け取り、前記錠剤の第2面を上方に向けた状態で前記錠剤を搬送する第2搬送装置と、
前記第2搬送装置により前記第2水平方向に搬送される前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の第2面を含む第2被コーティング領域に対し、第2コーティング材を含む第2インクを印刷する第2印刷装置と、
前記錠剤に印刷された前記第2インクを乾燥させて前記錠剤に第2コーティング層を形成する第2乾燥装置と、を備え、
前記第1印刷装置は、前記錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料で第1ローラー表面が形成された第1転写ローラーと、前記第1インクを前記第1ローラー表面に供給する第1インク供給部と、鉛直方向における前記錠剤に対する前記第1転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する第1位置調整部と、前記第1転写ローラーを回転させる第1回転駆動部と、を有し、前記第1回転駆動部が前記第1インクを前記第1ローラー表面で担持している前記第1転写ローラーを回転させつつ、前記第1位置調整部が前記錠剤に対して前記第1転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように前記相対位置を調整することで、前記第1転写ローラーに担持された前記第1インクを前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の上面に転写して印刷し、
前記第2印刷装置は、前記錠剤に対して弾性変形可能な弾性材料で第2ローラー表面が形成された第2転写ローラーと、前記第2インクを前記第2ローラー表面に供給する第2インク供給部と、鉛直方向における前記錠剤に対する前記第2転写ローラーの相対位置を調整する第2位置調整部と、前記第2転写ローラーを回転させる第2回転駆動部と、を有し、前記第2回転駆動部が前記第2インクを前記第2ローラー表面で担持している前記第2転写ローラーを回転させつつ、前記第2位置調整部が前記錠剤に対して前記第2転写ローラーを上方から押し込むように前記相対位置を調整することで、前記第2転写ローラーに担持された前記第2インクを前記錠剤の側面の少なくとも一部および前記錠剤の上面に転写して印刷する
ことを特徴とする錠剤コーティング装置。 A first transport device for transporting the tablet with the first surface of the tablet facing upward along the first outward path extending in the first horizontal direction.
The first ink containing the first coating material is applied to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the first coated region including the first surface of the tablet, which are conveyed in the first horizontal direction by the first transfer device. The first printing device to print and
A first drying device that dries the first ink printed on the tablet to form a first coating layer on the tablet.
A second transport device that receives the tablet on which the first coating layer is formed along a second outward path extending in the second horizontal direction and transports the tablet with the second surface of the tablet facing upward.
A second ink containing a second coating material is applied to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the second coated region including the second surface of the tablet, which are conveyed in the second horizontal direction by the second transfer device. The second printing device for printing and
A second drying device for drying the second ink printed on the tablet to form a second coating layer on the tablet is provided.
The first printing apparatus includes a first transfer roller whose surface is formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet, and a first ink supply that supplies the first ink to the surface of the first roller. The first rotation has a portion, a first position adjusting portion for adjusting the relative position of the first transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a first rotation driving portion for rotating the first transfer roller. While the driving unit rotates the first transfer roller carrying the first ink on the surface of the first roller, the first position adjusting unit pushes the first transfer roller against the tablet from above. By adjusting the relative position, the first ink carried on the first transfer roller is transferred to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the upper surface of the tablet for printing.
The second printing apparatus includes a second transfer roller whose surface is formed of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed with respect to the tablet, and a second ink supply that supplies the second ink to the surface of the second roller. The second rotation includes a second position adjusting portion for adjusting the relative position of the second transfer roller with respect to the tablet in the vertical direction, and a second rotation driving portion for rotating the second transfer roller. The second position adjusting unit pushes the second transfer roller against the tablet from above while the driving unit rotates the second transfer roller carrying the second ink on the surface of the second roller. By adjusting the relative position, the second ink carried on the second transfer roller is transferred to at least a part of the side surface of the tablet and the upper surface of the tablet for printing. apparatus. - 請求項9に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第1搬送装置により前記第1水平方向に搬送される前記錠剤の前記第1被コーティング領域の一部に前記第1インクの液滴を吐出して印刷する第3印刷装置を備える錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 9.
A tablet coating device including a third printing device that ejects and prints droplets of the first ink onto a part of the first coated region of the tablet that is conveyed in the first horizontal direction by the first transfer device. .. - 請求項10に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第3印刷装置で使用する前記第1インクの粘度は1mPa・s以上かつ15mPa・s以下である錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 10.
A tablet coating apparatus having a viscosity of the first ink used in the third printing apparatus of 1 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. - 請求項10または11に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第3印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第1インクを乾燥させる第3乾燥装置を備える錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 10 or 11.
A tablet coating device including a third drying device that dries the first ink printed on the tablet by the third printing device. - 請求項10または11に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第1印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第1インクと、前記第3印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第1インクとを一括して乾燥させる錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 10 or 11.
A tablet coating device that collectively dries the first ink printed on the tablet by the first printing device and the first ink printed on the tablet by the third printing device. - 請求項9ないし13のいずれか一項に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第1印刷装置は前記第1往路に沿って複数配設される錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to any one of claims 9 to 13.
The first printing apparatus is a tablet coating apparatus arranged in plurality along the first outbound route. - 請求項9ないし14のいずれか一項に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第1搬送装置は、前記第1往路に沿って搬送された前記錠剤を前記第1往路に戻す第1復路を有し、前記錠剤を循環搬送可能となっており、
前記第1搬送装置により複数回、前記錠剤を循環搬送している間に前記第1コーティング層を重ね合わせた後で、前記第1コーティング層が複数積層された前記錠剤を前記第2搬送装置は前記第1搬送装置から受け取る錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to any one of claims 9 to 14.
The first transport device has a first return route for returning the tablet transported along the first outward route to the first outward route, and the tablet can be circulated and transported.
After stacking the first coating layer while circulating and transporting the tablet a plurality of times by the first transport device, the second transport device transfers the tablet on which a plurality of the first coating layers are laminated. A tablet coating device received from the first transport device. - 請求項9ないし15のいずれか一項に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第2搬送装置により前記第2水平方向に搬送される前記錠剤の前記第2被コーティング領域の一部に前記第2インクの液滴を吐出して印刷する第4印刷装置を備える錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to any one of claims 9 to 15.
A tablet coating device including a fourth printing device that ejects and prints droplets of the second ink onto a part of the second coated region of the tablet that is conveyed in the second horizontal direction by the second transfer device. .. - 請求項16に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第4印刷装置で使用する前記第2インクの粘度は1mPa・s以上かつ15mPa・s以下である錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 16.
A tablet coating apparatus having a viscosity of the second ink used in the fourth printing apparatus of 1 mPa · s or more and 15 mPa · s or less. - 請求項16または17に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第4印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第2インクを乾燥させる第4乾燥装置を備える錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 16 or 17.
A tablet coating device including a fourth drying device that dries the second ink printed on the tablet by the fourth printing device. - 請求項16または17に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第2印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第2インクと、前記第4印刷装置により前記錠剤に印刷された前記第2インクとを一括して乾燥させる錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to claim 16 or 17.
A tablet coating device that collectively dries the second ink printed on the tablet by the second printing device and the second ink printed on the tablet by the fourth printing device. - 請求項9ないし19のいずれか一項に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第2印刷装置は前記第2往路に沿って複数配設される錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to any one of claims 9 to 19.
The second printing apparatus is a tablet coating apparatus arranged in plurality along the second outward route. - 請求項9ないし20のいずれか一項に記載の錠剤コーティング装置であって、
前記第2搬送装置は、前記第2往路に沿って搬送された前記錠剤を前記第2往路に戻す第2復路を有し、前記錠剤を循環搬送可能となっており、
前記第2搬送装置により複数回、前記錠剤を循環搬送している間に前記第2コーティング層を重ね合わせる錠剤コーティング装置。 The tablet coating device according to any one of claims 9 to 20.
The second transport device has a second return route for returning the tablet transported along the second outward route to the second outward route, and the tablet can be circulated and transported.
A tablet coating device that superimposes the second coating layer while circulating and transporting the tablets a plurality of times by the second transport device.
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Citations (3)
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JPS4920316A (en) * | 1972-06-21 | 1974-02-22 | ||
JPS49133516A (en) * | 1973-05-02 | 1974-12-21 | ||
WO2009123242A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-08 | 東レエンジニアリング株式会社 | Method for manufacturing unsymmetric laminated preparation |
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JPS4920316A (en) * | 1972-06-21 | 1974-02-22 | ||
JPS49133516A (en) * | 1973-05-02 | 1974-12-21 | ||
WO2009123242A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-08 | 東レエンジニアリング株式会社 | Method for manufacturing unsymmetric laminated preparation |
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