Abstract:
There is provided a medicine packaging device that can resolve the problem in which fine mechanical adjustments are needed for changing setting conditions of a packaging part or when the packaging part fails. The medicine packaging device has a device body  3  having an accommodation space  5 , a slide unit  8  reciprocally attached to the accommodation space  5  of the device body  3 , and a packaging unit  4  removably attached to the slide unit  8 . The packaging unit is allowed to package medicines with a package paper  23  by moving the slide unit  8  a packaging position in the accommodation space  5 . The packaging unit is moved to a drawn-out position drawn out from the packaging position. The packaging unit is replaceable by being moved to a replacement position drawn out from the device body  3.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C §371 national stage filling of International Application No. PCT/JP2009/061577, filed Jun. 25, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-170884, filed Jun. 30, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medicine packaging device. Further, the present invention relates to a cart for replacing a packaging unit for use in such a medicine packaging device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There exists in the art a medicine packaging device including a device body, a medicine accommodating and dispensing part and a packaging part, wherein the packaging part includes many drive systems such as a printing part, a sealing part, a conveyor, etc. that are configured to be electrically connected to the device body (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-130307   

     However, when changing setting conditions of a drive system due to change in type of a packaging paper in a packaging part, the aforesaid medicine packaging device needs fine mechanical adjustments, all of which cannot be handled by means of a software. Such a task cannot be readily performed. Further, when the packaging part fails, repairing the packaging part takes a significant amount of time and the packaging operation must stop during such repair. 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine packaging device and a cart for replacing a packaging unit, which can resolve the above-described situation wherein fine mechanical adjustments are needed due to changing setting conditions of the packaging part or when the packaging part fails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As measures for solving the foregoing problems, the present invention provides a medicine packaging device comprising: a device body having an accommodation space; a slide unit reciprocally attached to the accommodation space of the device body; and a packaging unit removably attached to the slide unit, the packaging unit being allowed to package medicines with a packaging paper by moving the slide unit to a packaging position in the accommodation space. The packaging unit is moved to a drawn-out position drawn out from the packaging position. The packaging unit is replaceable by being moved to a replacement position drawn out from the device body. 
     According to such construction, a task of replacing the packaging unit can be easily performed with a simple construction wherein the slide unit is drawn out from the accommodation space of the device body frontward of the device body and then the packaging unit is moved from the packaging position to the replacement position. 
     It is preferred that the packaging unit is supported so as to be pivoted between the drawn-out position and the replacement position relative to the slide unit. 
     According to such construction, the packaging unit can be easily replaced only by pivoting the packaging unit to the replacement position relative to the slide unit. Since the packaging unit is pivoted, movement from the drawn-out position to the replacement position does not need so much strength and thus can be easily done. 
     It is preferred that the slide unit includes a bearing part with a cutout portion and the packaging unit includes a shaft member. It is preferred that the shaft member is cut with a width dimension permitting the shaft member to be inserted into the bearing part through the cutout portion in the replacement position. After insertion, the shaft member is not permitted to separate as an outer peripheral surface thereof is rotatably supported by rotating the shaft member to a position other than the replacement position. 
     As such, the packaging unit is attachable to and detachable from the slide unit through a very simple construction including the bearing part and the shaft member. Thus, the replacement task for the packaging unit can be simply performed. 
     It is preferred that the shaft member includes a shaft section integrated to the packaging unit and an anti-separation section rotatable relative to the shaft section. It is preferred that when the packaging unit is pivoted from the drawn-out position to the replacement position, the shaft section is attachable to and detachable from the bearing part through the cutout portion and the anti-separation section remains held in the bearing part. It is preferred that the shaft member is attachable to and detachable from the bearing part through the cutout portion by separately rotating the anti-separation section. 
     According to such construction, there is no problem associated with the packaging unit being pivoted to the replacement position and then unintentionally falling off. This provides an excellent safety. 
     It is preferred that the anti-separation section is integrated to a bent plate provided in an upper end of the shaft section and extending laterally and further downwardly. It is preferred that a stopper part is integrated to a lower end of the bent plate. It is further preferred that the stopper part prevents separation from the bearing part by contacting a placing part of a cart and hindering pivoting to hinder a rotation of the anti-separation section. The cart places the packaging unit separated from the slide unit thereon. 
     According to such construction, only when the packaging unit is pivoted and then moved to the cart having the placing part contacting to the stopper part, the packaging unit can be separated from the slide unit. Thus, the replacement work can be smoothly and safely performed. Furthermore, when performing a maintenance work without replacing the packaging unit, such maintenance work can be performed when the packaging unit is moved to the drawn-out position or the replacement position, thereby providing convenience. 
     Further, the packaging unit may include: an attaching member; a packaging roll removably attached to the attaching member, the packaging roll comprising a packaging paper wound therearound; a sealing part attached to the attaching member, the sealing part placing medicines into the packaging paper unwound from the packaging roll and sealing the packaging paper to package the medicines. 
     Further, as measures for solving the foregoing problems, the present invention provides a cart for replacing a packaging unit for use in a medicine packaging device. The medicine packaging device comprises: a device body having an accommodation space at a lower portion; a slide unit attached to the accommodation space of the device body to be slidable in frontward and rearward directions; and a packaging unit removably attached to the slide unit, the packaging unit being allowed to package medicines with a packaging paper by moving the slide unit to a packaging position rearward of the device body, the packaging unit being moved to a drawn-out position frontward of the device body, the packaging unit being replaceable by being moved to a replacement position drawn out frontward from the device body. The cart comprises a loading table having a placement surface located substantially at the same height as a bottom surface constituting the accommodation space of the device body. The loading table includes: a positioning part relative to the device body; and a placing part. The packaging unit is placed on the placing part by drawing out the slide unit to the drawn-out position and moving the packaging unit from the drawn-out position to the replacement position as positioned by the positioning part. 
     It is preferred that the slide unit includes a bearing part with a cutout portion and the packaging unit includes a shaft member. It is preferred that the shaft member is cut with a width dimension permitting the shaft member to be inserted into the bearing part through the cutout portion in the replacement position. After insertion, the shaft member is not permitted to separate as an outer peripheral surface thereof is rotatably supported by the rotating the shaft member to a position other than the replacement position. It is preferred that the shaft member includes a shaft section integrated to the packaging unit and an anti-separation section rotatable relative to the shaft section. It is also preferred that the anti-separation section is integrated to a bent plate provided in an upper end of the shaft section and extending laterally and further downwardly. It is preferred that a stopper part is integrated to a lower end of the bent plate. It is preferred that the stopper part prevents separation from the bearing part by contacting the placing part of the loading table and hindering pivoting to hinder a rotation of the anti-separation section. The loading table places the packaging unit separated from the slide unit thereon. 
     According to the present invention, a packaging part is constructed as a packaging unit in advance and can be detached from the device body. Thus, if a plurality of packaging units are prepared for each of the setting conditions, then it is possible to easily cope with the changes in the setting conditions. Further, even when the packaging unit fails, such packaging unit may be replaced with a spare packaging unit, thereby allowing rapid repair works. Further, since a pivot mechanism and a cart are used, the heavy packaging unit can be simply replaced with safety and reliability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a medicine packaging device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing that a slide unit and a packaging unit are drawn out to a drawn-out position from a state shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing that the packaging unit is pivoted from a state shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing that the packaging unit is pivoted to a replacement position from a state shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the packaging unit placed on a cart. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view wherein the packaging unit is removed (the slide unit is drawn out). 
         FIG. 7  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8(   a ) is a perspective view showing a positioning mechanism between the packaging unit and the slide unit. 
         FIG. 8(   b ) is a perspective view showing an engaging receptacle formed in the slide unit. 
         FIG. 8(   c ) is a perspective view showing an engaging member formed in the packaging unit. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing that positioning is done by the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view showing that positioning is released by the positioning mechanism of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing a positional relationship between a shaft section and an anti-separation section of a shaft member of the packaging unit and a bearing part of the slide unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       1  . . . Medicine Packaging Device,  2  . . . Cart,  3  . . . Device Body,  4  . . . Packaging Unit,  5  . . . Accommodation Space,  6  . . . Slide Base,  7  . . . Slide Rail,  8  . . . Slide Unit,  9  . . . Bottom Plate,  10  . . . Position Indicating Hole,  11  . . . Positioning Hole,  12  . . . Bottom Plate,  13  . . . Front Panel,  14  . . . Support Part,  15  . . . Support Plate,  16  . . . Engaging Receptacle,  17  . . . Rectangular Aperture,  18  . . . Operation Part,  19  . . . Connector Receptacle,  20  . . . Bearing Part,  21  . . . Cutout Portion,  22  . . . Attaching Member,  23  . . . Packaging Paper,  24  . . . Printing Part,  25  . . . Heat-sealing part,  26  . . . Hopper,  27  . . . Conveyor,  28  . . . First Plate,  29  . . . Rotating Shaft,  30  . . . Second Plate,  31  . . . Guide Roller,  32  . . . Shaft Member,  33  . . . Electric Wire Bundle,  34  . . . Larger-diameter Section,  35  . . . First Shaft Section,  36  . . . Anti-separation Section,  37  . . . Second Shaft Section,  38  . . . Bent Plate,  39  . . . Stopper Part,  40  . . . Relief Indentation,  41  . . . Attaching Piece,  42  . . . Spring,  43  . . . Connector,  45  . . . Engaging Claw,  46  . . . Engaging Member,  47  . . . Lever,  48  . . . Loading Table,  48   a  . . . First Lateral Edge,  48   b  . . . Second Lateral Edge,  48   c  . . . Aperture,  49  . . . Grip Part,  50  . . . First Placing Part,  50   a  . . . Indent,  51  . . . Second Placing part,  51   a  . . . Flat Portion,  51   b  . . . Ramp Portion,  52  . . . Third Placing Part,  52   a  . . . Flat Portion,  52   b  . . . Ramp Portion,  53  . . . Position Indicating Piece,  54  . . . Positioning pin,  55  . . . Operating Lever,  55   a ,  55   b  . . . Pedal,  56  . . . First Locking Lever,  57  . . . Second Locking Lever,  58  . . . Shaft 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the below description, the types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangement, etc. of elements or components are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention as described as such, unless specifically described. Further, where necessary, the terms (e.g., “upper,” “lower,” “one end,” “opposite end,” “frontward,” “rearward,” etc.) are appropriately used herein for indicating a particular direction or position. However, those terms used herein are for easy understanding of the present invention with reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention on their meanings. 
     (1. CONFIGURATION)  FIGS. 1 to 4  show a medicine packaging device  1  and a cart  2  according to one embodiment. The medicine packaging device  1  is configured such that a packaging unit  4  is removably disposed in a device body  3 . 
     (1-1. Device Body  3 ) As shown in  FIG. 1 , a slide base  6  and a slide rail  7   a  are provided in an accommodation space  5  formed at a lower portion of the device body  3  in two places on a bottom surface. The slide base and the slide rail extend from the rear toward a front opening. The opening is closeable by a door (not shown). Further, a slide rail  7   b  is provided on a side surface. A position indicating hole  10  and a positioning hole  11  are formed in a front end surface of a bottom plate  9  of the device body  3  at a predetermined interval in a width direction. Each of the holes  10 ,  11  is used for positioning the cart  2  (the cart will be described below) with respect to the device body  3 . 
     A slide unit  8  (see  FIG. 6 ) is disposed above the slide base  6  and the slide rail  7   a . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the slide unit  8  includes the following: a bottom plate  12 ; a front panel  13   a  erected from a half of a front edge of the bottom plate; and a side panel  13   b  adjoining the front panel  13   a  and being erected from a lateral edge of the bottom plate  12 . The slide unit  8  is configured to reciprocate frontward and rearward, while the slide rail  7   a  guides the bottom plate and the slide rail  7   b  guides the side panel  13   b . Rollers  12   a  rolling on a bottom surface of the accommodation space  5  of the device body  3  are provided in both lateral portions of a lower surface of the bottom plate  12  at frontward and rearward locations. The rollers  12   a  are provided to assist the slide rails  7   a ,  7   b . Further, a support part  14  for the packaging unit  4  is provided in one end of a front end surface of the bottom plate  12 . As shown in  FIG. 8(   b ), the support part  14  includes a support plate  15  and an engaging receptacle  16 . The support plate is fixed to the front end surface of the bottom plate  12  and has a crank shape. The engaging receptacle is fixed to an end surface of the support plate  15  protruding frontward. A rectangular aperture  17 , to and from which an engaging claw  45  described below engages and disengages, is formed in the engaging receptacle  16 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , an operation part  18 , a connector receptacle  19  and bearing parts  20  are provided on a front surface of the front panel  13   a.    
     The operation part  8  includes various types of buttons (not shown). A drive motor  5  (see  FIG. 5 ), a heat-sealing part  26 , etc. can be operated by operating the buttons. A connector  43  of the packaging unit  4  may be attached to and detached from the connector receptacle  19 . By doing so, the packaging unit  4  is energized and can receive and transmit signals. The bearing parts  20 , which are provided at two vertical locations, have a substantially C-shaped cross-section with a cutout portion  21  cut out from a front mediate portion thereof. The bearing parts  20  rotatably support a shaft member  32  of the packaging unit  4  described below. 
     (1-2. Packaging Unit  4 ) As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the packaging unit  4  includes the following: a substantially L-shaped attaching member  22 ; a packaging paper  23 ; a printing part  24  performing a predetermined printing work on the packaging paper  23 ; a heat-sealing part  25  heating the packaging paper  23  in part to form the packaging paper into a pack shape and packaging the same after placing medicines therein; a hopper  26  feeding medicines into the packaging paper  23  formed into the pack shape; and a conveyor  27  obliquely upwardly conveying the packaging paper  23  packaged with medicines. 
     The packaging paper  23  is removably mounted on a rotating shaft  29  protruding from a first plate  28  of the attaching member  22 , as bifold and wound around a roll. The printing part  24  is attached to the first plate  28  adjacent to the packaging paper  23 . The printing part  24  pushes a wound ink ribbon against the packaging paper  23  by means of a heated header and then performs a predetermined printing work on the packaging paper  23  based on a prescription data inputted from a host computer (not shown). The heat-sealing part  25  is attached to a second plate  30  of the attaching member  22 . The heat-sealing part diverts a path of the packaging paper  23  through guide rollers  31  from a conveyance path running along the first plate  28  to a conveyance path running obliquely downwardly along the second plate  30  and then seals the packaging paper at predetermined intervals. Further, after medicines are accommodated in the packaging paper, the heat-sealing part packages the packaging paper by sealing a yet opened portion of the packaging paper. The hopper  26  receives medicines dispensed from medicine feeders (not shown). The hopper expands in an approximate V shape through a triangle plate. At a downstream of the hopper, the hopper feeds the medicines to the packaging paper  23  that is sealed by the heat-sealing part  25  and thus formed into a pack shape. The conveyor  27  is provided to convey the packaging paper  23  with the medicines packaged therein to an obliquely upward position where the users can easily take it out. 
     The shaft member  32 , which is rotatably supported by the bearings  20  provided in the device body  3 , is provided at a lateral edge of the second plate  30  of the attaching member  22 . A drive motor is provided in the vicinity of the shaft member to operate the heat-sealing part  25  through a plurality of gears. Reference numeral  33  indicates an electric wire bundle gathering codes that are used for supplying electric power to the drive motor or transmitting signals. The electric wire bundle is connected to the connector  43  described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaft member  32  includes the following: a larger-diameter section  34  fixed to the second plate  30 ; a first shaft section  35  and an anti-separation section  36  formed at an upper end; and a second shaft section  37  formed at a lower end. The anti-separation section  36  is rotatably connected to an upper end of the first shaft section  35 . Further, the anti-separation section is integrated to a bent plate  38 . 
     The bent plate  38  protrudes laterally from the anti-separation section  36  and then extends downwardly alongside the shaft member  32 . A stopper part  39  is formed at a lower portion of the bent plate. The stopper part  39  includes: a horizontal portion to be located near above a first placing part  50  of a loading table  48  described below; and a vertical portion bent from an edge of the horizontal portion at a right angle so as to be brought into contact with a lateral side of the first placing part  50 . A relief indentation  40  is formed in the stopper part  39  throughout the horizontal portion and the vertical portion. A lower end surface of the second shaft section  37  can be placed on the first placing part  50  through the relief indentation  40 . Further, an attaching piece  41  is provided at a midway of the bent plate  38 . The attaching piece is coupled to an opposite end of a spring  42 , one end of which is coupled to the second plate  30 . 
     Cut surfaces are formed in the first shaft section  35 , the anti-separation section  36  and the second shaft section  37 . The cut surfaces are formed by cutting lateral sides of the first shaft section, the anti-separation section and the second shaft section parallel to the second plate  30 . The cut surfaces allow the first shaft section  35 , the anti-separation section  36  and the second shaft section  37  to be inserted through the cutout portion  21  from the front thereof. However, attaching and detaching the first shaft section  35  and the second shaft section  37  to and from the bearing part  20  through the cutout portion  21  are restricted to the cases satisfying the following two conditions. That is, the first case is that the packaging unit  4  is pivoted at about 90 degrees relative to the device body  3  and is then positioned in a replacement position. The second case is that placing the packaging unit  4  on the cart  2  in the replacement position positionally restricts the bent plate  38  by the first placing part  50  against a force of the spring  42 . Positionally restricting the bent plate  38  makes the position of the cut surfaces of the anti-separation section  36  integrated to the bent plate coincide with the cut surfaces of the first shaft section  35  and the second shaft section  37 . As a result, the shaft member  32  is permitted to attach to and detach from the bearing part. In a position other than the replacement position, outer peripheral surfaces of the first shaft section  35  and the second shaft section  37  are rotatably guided on an inner peripheral surface of the bearing part  20  (see  FIG. 11(   a )). Further, if the bent plate  38  is not positionally restricted in the replacement position, then an outer peripheral surface of the anti-separation section  36  is rotatably guided on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing part  20 , thereby not allowing separation from the bearing part  20  (see  FIG. 11(   b )). 
     Further, the connector  43  is provided at a side of the second plate  30  opposite to the shaft member  32 . The connector  43  is connected to the electric wire bundle connected to the drive motor. The connector  43  and the connector receptacle  19  are connected to each other, thereby collectively relaying supply of power and transmission/reception of signals in a single place. 
     Further, an engaging member  46 , which includes an engaging claw  45  engaging to and disengaging from the rectangular aperture  17  of the engaging receptacle  16 , is provided at the lower edge of the second plate  30 . The engaging claw  45  is configured to advance and retract by pivoting a lever  47  to thereby engage to and disengage from the rectangular aperture  17 . Thus, between the packaging unit  4  and the slide unit  8 , the shaft member  32  is supported by the bearing parts  20 , while the engaging claw  45  of the engaging member  46  engages to the rectangular aperture  17  of the engaging receptacle  16 . That is, positioning is conducted at two places. 
     (1-3. Cart  2 ) The packaging unit  4  is replaced by using the cart shown in  FIG. 1 . The cart  2  includes: a loading table  48  movably supported by casters (not shown) provided at four corners of a lower surface of the cart; and an inverted U-shaped grip part  49  that projects from both opposed ends of a first lateral edge  48   a  of the loading table  48  and then extends upwardly. 
     The loading table  48  is a flat plate made from a metallic material. A first placing part  50 , a second placing part  51  and a third placing part  52 , which are made from a plastic material, are anchored to an upper surface of the loading table. The first placing part  50  has a rectangular shape in a plan view and has an indent  50   a  in the middle thereof. The first placing part is provided in a second lateral edge  48   b  opposite to the grip part  49 . The shaft member  32  of the packaging unit  4  is placed in the first placing part  50 . Specifically, the lower end of the second shaft section  37  is placed in the indent  50   a  of the first placing part  50 , thereby preventing positional discrepancy therebetween. The second placing part  51  includes a flat portion  51   a  extending along the second lateral edge  48   b  and a ramp portion  51   b  gradually descending toward the third placing part  52 . Further, the third placing part  52  has the same configuration as the second placing part  51 . The third placing part includes a flat portion  52   a  and a ramp portion  52   b . The ramp portion  52   b  gradually descends toward the second lateral edge  48   b . With the above-described configuration associated with the second placing part  51  and the third placing part  52 , the packaging unit  4 , which is moved while being pivoted relative to the loading table  48 , is smoothly placed on the flat portions  51   a ,  52   a  through the ramp portions  51   b ,  52   b.    
     A position indicating piece  53  and a positioning pin  54  are provided at a side surface of the second lateral edge  48   b  of the loading table  48 . The position identifying piece engages to the position indicating hole  10  formed in the bottom plate  12  of the slide unit  8 . The positioning pin engages to the positioning hole  11  formed in the bottom plate  12 . The position indicating piece  53  has a large width and is configured so that its protruding end portion has a width dimension gradually decreasing toward its tip to for easy insertion into the position indicating hole  10 . The position indicating piece  53  engages to the position indicating hole  10  with little play. The positioning pin  54  has a pointing tip and has a projection dimension smaller than the position indicating piece  53 . When the position indicating piece  53  is inserted into the position indicating hole  11  and is then positioned to some extent, the positioning pin  54  is inserted into the positioning hole  11 . Then, the positioning pin  54  engages to the positioning hole  11 , thereby accurately positioning the cart  2  in a desired position with respect to the device body  3 . 
     Further, a first locking lever  56  and a second locking lever  57  that are pivoted by an operating lever  55  are provided in the loading table  48 . The levers  56 ,  57  are connected through a shaft  58  to thereby pivot integrally. The operating lever  55  is coupled to one end of the shaft  58  projecting from a side surface of the first lateral edge  48   a . The operating lever includes a pair of pedals  55   a ,  55   b  configured to be stepped on with a foot. Stepping on the pedal  55   a  of the pedals rotates the shaft  58  righthandedly (when viewed from the operating lever  55 ), while stepping on the pedal  55   b  of the pedals rotates the shaft lefthandedly (when viewed from the operating lever  55 ). The second locking lever  57  is configured to protrude and retract through a rectangular aperture  48   c  formed in the middle of the loading table  48  (specifically, between the second placing part  51  and the third placing part  52 ). The first locking lever  56  is coupled to the opposite end of the shaft  58  projecting from the side surface of the second lateral edge  48   b . The first locking lever is configured to be positioned horizontally when the second locking lever  57  protrudes upwardly and to protrude upwardly when the second locking lever  57  is horizontally positioned. 
     (2. OPERATION) Next, descriptions will be provided on a replacement work of the packaging unit  4  in the medicine packaging device  1  configured as described above. 
     (2-1. Procedure of Removing Packaging Unit) First, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the cart  2  is located in front of the device body  3 . Then, the position indicating piece  53  of the cart  2  is inserted to the position indicating hole  10  to roughly position the cart  2  relative to the device body  3 . Thereafter, the cart  2  is further moved toward the device body  3 . The positioning pin  54  of the cart  2  is then inserted to the positioning hole  11  to produce a predetermined engagement therebetween, thereby accurately positioning the cart  2  with respect to the device body  3 . 
     At this time, the operating lever  55  is operated (the pedal  55   a  is stepped on) to pivot the first locking lever  56  and the second locking lever  57 . Thus, the first locking lever  56  is allowed to engage to an engaging member (e.g., a stepped portion, an engaging piece, etc.) on the lower surface of the device body  3 . Thus, the cart  2  is not permitted to move away from the device body  3  even if the grip part  49  is pulled in. Further, the second locking lever  57  is shifted to a retraction position where it does not protrude from the upper surface of the cart  2 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the slide unit  8  with the packaging unit  4  placed thereon is drawn out from the device body  3 . If the slide unit  8  is completely drawn out, then the shaft member  32  of the packaging unit  4  is placed in the first placing part  50 . That is, the lower surface of the second shaft section  37  is positioned in the indent  50   a  of the first placing part  50  of the cart  2 . 
     Further, the lever  47  is pulled in and the engaging claw  45  is separated from the rectangular aperture  17  of the engaging receptacle  16 , thereby releasing engagement therebetween and further allowing the packaging unit  4  to pivot with respect to the slide unit  8 . Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the packaging unit  4  is pivoted relative to the slide unit  8  about the shaft member  32  placed in the first placing part  50 . By doing so, the bottom surface of the attaching member  22  is gradually guided by the ramp portion  51   b  of the second placing part  51  and the ramp portion  52   b  of the third placing part  52 . Then, the packaging unit  4  is supported by the flat portions  51   a ,  52   a  of each of the placing parts  51 ,  52  at the end, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     At such a state, the bent plate  38  is prevented from pivoting since the vertical portion of the stopper part  39  of the bent plate is in contact with a lateral surface of the first placing part  50 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 11(   c ), the position of the cut surfaces of the anti-separation section  36  coincides with the position of the cut surfaces of the first shaft section  35  and the second shaft section  37 , thereby permitting the shaft member  32  to attach to and detach from the bearing part  20 . 
     As such, the packaging unit  4  can be simply transferred from the device body  3  to the cart  2  only by pivoting the packaging unit about the shaft member  32  supported by the bearing part  20 . When the packaging unit  4  is pivoted, the shaft member  32  is supported in the first placing part  50  of the cart  2 . Thus, the packaging unit can be smoothly transferred with little strength irrespective of its weight. 
     Thereafter, the operating lever  55  is operated. Then, the first locking lever  56  disengages from the engaging piece formed on the bottom surface of the device body  3 . Further, the second locking lever  57  protrudes from the upper surface of the loading table  48  to engage to an engaging receptacle (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the placed packaging unit  4  (i.e., the lower surface of the first plate  28 ). Further, the connector  43  is separated from the connector receptacle  19 . The supply of power to the packaging unit  4  and the transmission/reception of signals of the packaging unit are integrated to a connection between the connector  43  and the connector receptacle  19 . Accordingly, only separating the connector  43  can cut off all the wiring, thereby providing high convenience. 
     Thereafter, the cart  2  is pulled in through the grip part  49  to separate the position indicating piece  53  and the positioning pin  54  from the position indicating hole  10  and the positioning hole  11 , respectively. Then, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the placed packaging unit  4  is allowed to be carried. In such a case, the packaging unit  4  on the loading table  48  is positioned by means of the second locking lever  57 . Accordingly, this provides safety since the packaging unit  4  is not out of position during carry. 
     (2-2. Procedure of Mounting Packaging Unit  4 ) Mounting the packaging unit  4  is performed through procedures opposite to those of the above-described removal. 
     That is, a new packaging unit  4  to be substituted is placed on another cart  2  in advance. Such a cart  2  is moved and then positioned with respect to the device body  3  using the position indicating piece  53  and the positioning pin  54 . At this time, the slide unit  8  is drawn out and placed in the drawn-out position (or, the slide unit is already situated in the drawn-out position through the foregoing removal procedures). Next, the shaft member  32  of the packaging unit  4  is held in the bearing part  20  of the slide unit  8 . Thereafter, the second locking lever  57  is pivoted downwardly to release engagement to the packaging unit  4  by stepping on the pedal  55   a , while the first locking lever  56  is pivoted upwardly to position the cart  2  with respect to the device body  3 . Subsequently, the packaging unit  4  is pivoted about the shaft member  32  supported by the bearing part  20 . If the packaging unit is pivoted until the heat-sealing part  25  of the packaging unit  4  faces forward, then the engaging claw  45  of the engaging member  46  engages to the rectangular aperture  17  of the engaging receptacle  16 . As a result, the packaging unit  4  is integrated to the slide unit  8 . Thereafter, the packaging unit  4  is slid from the drawn-out position to a packaging position along with the slide unit  8 . In the packaging position, the slide unit  8  may be positioned by a positioning means (not shown). 
     The present invention should not be limited to the foregoing embodiments. Various variations and modifications may be made within the subject matter of the following claims. 
     For example, while the slide unit  8  is configured to be slid in the frontward and backward directions of the device body  3 , the slide unit may be configured to be slid in right and left directions in light of an installation location. 
     Further, while the packaging unit  4  is configured to be pivoted from the drawn-out position to the replacement position relative to the slide unit  8 , the packaging unit may be configured to be moved to the replacement position by further sliding the packaging unit toward the cart  2 . 
     Furthermore, the cutout portion  21  is formed in the bearing part  20 . However, the bearing part may be made in a simple cylinder shape. Further, the first shaft section  35  or the second shaft section  36  of the shaft member  32  may be configured to extend from and retract to the lager-diameter section  34 . Alternatively, the bearing part  20  may be configured such that a pair of half cylinders is pivotally connected to each other via a hinge to open and close. Moreover, the cart  2  may be positioned to the device body  3  by means of a magnet (including a solenoid).