Patent ID: 9033447
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A tablet printing apparatus for printing on tablets comprising: a tablet supplying unit configured to supply tablets; a distributing unit configured to distribute supplied tablets in a predetermined plurality of rows; a tablet conveying unit configured to convey distributed tablets along plural conveyance paths corresponding to the plurality of rows and extending in a conveyance direction, whereby the tablets are suction-held on at least a portion of each respective conveyance path and the tablets are conveyed randomly in the conveyance direction; a tablet detecting unit configured to detect the tablets during conveyance by said tablet conveying unit whereby the tablet detecting unit detects positions and orientations of the tablets and detects a heads or tails state of two opposite sides of the tablets and produces corresponding data; a contactless-printing unit to print on the tablets contactlessly during conveyance by said tablet conveying unit based on data produced by said tablet detecting unit; a tablet inspection unit to check a printing state on the tablets; and a defective rejection unit to reject a defective tablet during conveyance of the tablets in the plurality of rows, said defective tablet being determined to include a printing failure based on a check result of said tablet inspection unit.