Patent Publication Number: US-9902513-B2

Title: Hopper and medicine supply apparatus including the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/820,349, filed Mar. 1, 2013, which claims priority to PCT/JP2011/069907, filed Sep. 1, 2011, which claims priority to JP 2010-197383 filed Sep. 3, 2010, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hopper having a passage through which a medicine can be passed downward, and a medicine supply apparatus including the hopper. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A medicine dispensing and packing apparatus mounts therein a medicine supply apparatus. The medicine supply apparatus includes a hopper. The hopper has a passage through which a flowable medicine such as a powder medicine or a pill can be passed downward (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-40506). 
     When a medicine to be supplied to the hopper is changed to a medicine of a different type, a medicine before the change remaining in the hopper causes contamination. Thus, it is desirable to prevent a medicine from remaining in the hopper as much as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, there has been hitherto used a conventional method, which includes intermittently hitting and making an impact on the hopper so as to prevent a medicine from adhering to the hopper. However, this method generates significant noise due to hitting and provides an unpleasant feeling to an operator or the like around the apparatus. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-40506 proposes using a vibration motor to transmit vibration to a hopper. This can reduce noise as described above. 
     However, the invention according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-40506 does not consider a relationship between a material or a shape of the hopper itself and remaining of a medicine. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hopper to which a medicine is prevented from adhering by adding an external force, and a medicine supply apparatus including the hopper. 
     According to the first invention, there is provided a hopper having a passage through which a medicine can be passed downward, wherein the hopper is configured to cause rippling vibration on an inner surface thereof by an external force applied to the hopper. 
     According to this configuration, the rippling vibration generated in the hopper can apply a force to the medicine, thereby separating the medicine away from the inner surface of the hopper. 
     In the first invention, it may be configured so that the external force is vibration applied over the entire hopper, and the vibration of the external force is different from the vibration on the inner surface in terms of phase, amplitude, or cycle at a given time. 
     According to this configuration, the vibrations have different phases; amplitudes, or cycles. Thus, a force separating the medicine away from the inner surface of the hopper can be effectively applied to the medicine. 
     In the first invention, the hopper may be made of an elastic material. 
     According to this configuration, the hopper to which the medicine is prevented from adhering can be easily formed. 
     According to a second invention, there is provided a medicine supply apparatus including: the hopper; and a vibrator that provides vibration to the hopper. 
     According to this configuration, the vibrator provides rippling vibration to the inner surface of the hopper to apply a force to the medicine to separate the medicine away from the inner surface of the hopper. 
     In the second invention, the medicine supply apparatus may further include a hopper holder that holds the hopper, wherein the hopper holder includes the vibrator. 
     According to this configuration, the hopper holder and the vibrator generate rippling vibration on the inner surface of the hopper to apply a force to the medicine to separate the medicine away from the inner surface of the hopper. 
     In the second invention, the hopper holder may be supported by a vertically displaceable spring. 
     According to this configuration, larger vibration can be generated in the hopper. 
     In the second invention, the hopper holder holds the hopper at a portion between an upper end and a lower end of the hopper. 
     According to this configuration, a shape of the hopper can be simplified. 
     According to the present invention, the hopper to which the medicine is prevented from easily adhering by adding an external force, and a medicine supply apparatus including the hopper can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention seen from a bottom side. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of essential portions of a medicine dispensing and packing apparatus to which the hopper according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of essential portions of the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus to which the hopper according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of essential portions around an opening and closing portion in the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus to which the hopper according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted. 
         FIG. 5(A)  and  FIG. 5(B)  show an operation of the hopper according to the embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5(A)  is a vertical sectional schematic view of a hopper body, and  FIG. 5(B)  is an enlarged schematic view of essential portions showing rippling on an inner surface of the hopper. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a hopper according to another embodiment of the present invention seen from a bottom side. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a hopper  1  will be described. The hopper  1  and an opening and closing portion  2  described later constitute a medicine supply apparatus A. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the medicine supply apparatus A is combined with a dispensing and packing apparatus B to constitute a medicine dispensing and packing apparatus. 
     —Configuration of Hopper— 
     The hopper  1  of this embodiment has a shape as shown in  FIG. 1 , and has a passage  1   a  through which a medicine can be passed downward. In the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus, the hopper  1  is mounted so that the passage  1   a  is vertically oriented. The hopper  1  includes a hopper body  11  and a nozzle  12 . The hopper body  11  is an upper part of the hopper  1 . The hopper body  11  can store a medicine. The nozzle  12  is located below the hopper body  11 . A lower end of the nozzle  12  is a medicine output port  121 . The medicine stored in the hopper body  11  can be taken out from the medicine output port  121 . The passage  1   a  has a smaller lateral cross sectional area in the nozzle  12  than in the hopper body  11  so that the medicine can be taken out. In a space through which the medicine passes in the passage  1   a , no member is provided that constitutes an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the passage  1   a  (for example, an opening and closing plate or a hinge). 
     In this embodiment, the hopper  1  is made of rubber (more specifically, silicon rubber), and the hopper  1  is entirely integrally formed. The rubber is thus used to make it possible to easily form the hopper  1 , and manufacture the hopper  1  to which a medicine is prevented from adhering at low cost. The integral forming of the hopper  1  can eliminate a joint or a step in the inner surface  1   b , thereby preventing the medicine from easily remaining on the inner surface  1   b . In addition, no member is provided that constitutes an opening and closing mechanism in the space through which the medicine passes in the passage  1   a  as described above. Thus, in the hopper  1  of this embodiment, a path through which the medicine passes does not include a portion on which the medicine may remain. Thus, the medicine is prevented from easily remaining in the entire hopper  1 . The hopper  1  can be easily manufactured. Only the hopper  1  can be easily removed from the medicine supply apparatus A, thereby facilitating maintenance. Since the hopper  1  is integrally formed, rippling vibration generated on the inner surface  1   b  by an external force X as described later hardly attenuates during transmission, thereby allowing the vibration to be efficiently transmitted to the entire hopper  1 . 
     However, the present invention is not limited to the hopper  1  integrally formed, but separate members may be combined to form the hopper. Also, the hopper  1  may be made of various materials as long as the materials can generate rippling vibration on the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1 . The materials include, for example, metal or hard resin, or paper, and an elastic member such as rubber is particularly desirably used. 
     The inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1  of this embodiment is subjected to surface treatment to reduce friction between the inner surface  1   b  and the medicine passing through the passage  1   a . This prevents the medicine from easily remaining on the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1 . The surface treatment is a coating of a material different from a material of the hopper  1  (for example, resin coating) in this embodiment. Alternatively, the surface treatment may be chemical treatment by melting the inner surface  1   b  using a chemical agent or the like, or physical treatment by sandblasting of the inner surface  1   b  as long as friction between the inner surface  1   b  and the medicine can be reduced. 
     —Hopper Body— 
     The hopper body  11  has a trumpet shape spreading upward, and has a substantially square lateral cross sectional shape in this embodiment. The hopper body  11  includes a relatively thick and rigid frame  111  formed in outer edges and four corners, and relatively thin and low rigid flat plate portions  112  surrounded by the frame  111 . The frame  111  is provided to retain the shape. More specifically, the frame  11  is provided to prevent the hopper  1  from being deformed by a self-weight of the hopper  1 , and a weight and drop pressure of the medicine passing through the passage  1   a . The flat plate portion  112  has relatively lower rigidity in order to save materials and also for a vibrator  32  described later to vibrate the hopper  1  and ripple the inner surface  1   b  in the flat plate portion  112  to shake off a remaining medicine. 
     In the hopper body  11 , a plate-like holder mounting portion  113  protrudes from an outer surface. The holder mounting portion  113  is used to secure the hopper  1  to the medicine supply apparatus A. In this embodiment, the holder mounting portion  113  horizontally protrudes from the hopper body  11  along its entire circumference, but may have various shapes as long as it can secure the hopper  1 . The holder mounting portion  113  may be provided in any position from an upper end to a lower end of the hopper body  11 . 
     —Nozzle— 
     The nozzle  12  is provided to be continuous with the lower end of the hopper body  11  with a lateral cross sectional area of the passage  1   a  decreasing downward. The lower end of the nozzle  12  is opened to be the medicine output port  121 . The lower end is diagonally cut so that, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the medicine output port  121  in the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus is substantially parallel to a side end P 1  of a packing paper P center-folded in a width direction, and conveyance of the packing paper P is not prevented. A lower edge  121   a  around the medicine output port  121  has a larger thickness than other portions of the nozzle  12 . This ensures a shape retaining property at a lower end of the nozzle  12 . 
     —Deformable Portion— 
     In this embodiment, the hopper  1  is integrally formed of silicon rubber, and thus the nozzle  12  is naturally made of silicon rubber. Thus, the entire nozzle  12  is a deformable portion  122  having flexibility, and the deformable portion  122  is deformable so as to open and close the passage  1   a . The passage  1   a  is opened and closed by the opening and closing portion  2  described later. However, unlike this embodiment, an aspect in which the passage  1   a  is not opened and closed may be allowed as in an embodiment in  FIG. 6 . The deformable portion  122  is desirably made of a material that can maintain flexibility and also a shape restoring property over a long period in terms of economy. The deformable portion  122  allows the medicine to be once stored in the hopper  1 . Even in the case where the passage  1   a  is not opened and closed as described above, or a case where the passage  1   a  is opened and closed and is half opened as described later, the passage  1   a  in the nozzle  12  has a decreasing lateral cross sectional area, and a dropping medicine hits the inner surface of the nozzle  12 , thereby reducing a dropping speed of the medicine. This can prevent the medicine having dropped on the packing paper P center-folded in the width direction from rebounding upward and flying (referred to as “blowout”). 
     The wording “opening and closing” may include three meanings: (1) the passage  1   a  is forcedly opened and closed, (2) the passage  1   a  is forcedly closed and naturally opened by an elastic force or the like of the deformable portion  122 , and (3) the passage  1   a  is forcedly opened and naturally closed by the elastic force or the like of the deformable portion  122 . A case where the passage  1   a  is kept half opened or half closed is also included. Thus, the aspect in which the passage  1   a  is closed is not limited to the passage  1   a  being fully closed, but includes the passage  1   a  being closed with an opening such that the medicine cannot be taken out. On the other hand, an aspect in which the passage  1   a  is opened has the passage  1   a  being slightly opened so that the medicine can substantially pass through. 
     In this embodiment, the passage  1   a  in the deformable portion  122  is configured to be opened when no external force is applied to the deformable portion  122 , and forcedly closed by the opening and closing portion  2  described later. On the contrary, the deformable portion  122  may be configured so that the passage  1   a  is closed when no external force is applied to the deformable portion  122 , and opened by the opening and closing portion  2 . 
     —Lock Portion— 
     The deformable portion  122  includes a lock portion  123  on an outer surface. The lock portion  123  is used for deforming the deformable portion  122  in a direction of opening the passage  1   a . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the deformable portion  122  in this embodiment has a pocket shape opening downward on the outer surface of a long side of the deformable portion  122 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the hopper  1  is mounted to the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus, a hanging portion  213  (described later) on an opening and closing operation portion  21  is inserted into the pocket-shaped lock portion  123 . The opening and closing operation portion  21  can be operated to open the passage  1   a  in the deformable portion  122 . 
     The lock portion  123  may lock the opening and closing operation portion  21  so that the deformable portion  122  operates in association with the operation of the opening and closing operation portion  21 , using various means such as bonding, clasping, or fitting. In this embodiment, the lock portion  123  has a pocket shape, and in removal of the hopper  1 , the hanging portion  213  on the opening and closing operation portion  21  is unlocked from the lock portion  123  by simply moving the hopper  1  upward. This facilitates removal of the hopper  1 , and thus facilitates cleaning of the hopper  1 . In some cases, the lock portion  123  may be provided in the nozzle  12 . 
     —Hopper (Another Embodiment)— 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of a hopper  1  different from the hopper  1  of the above embodiment will be described. Only differences from the above descriptions will be described, and components having the same functions as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The hopper  1  of this embodiment does not use an opening and closing portion  2 . The hopper  1  includes a triangular blowout preventing portion  124  protruding downward in a position on an upstream side of a moving direction (see  FIG. 3 ) of a packing paper P at a lower end. In the case where the opening and closing portion  2  is not used, a medicine is not once stored in the hopper  1 . Thus, the medicine drops from above without being stopped in midstream, thereby providing a stronger dropping force than in the case where the opening and closing portion  2  is used. Thus, using the hopper  1  of the above embodiment may cause the medicine having dropped on the packing paper P center-folded in the width direction to rebound upward and fly (referred to as “blowout”). In this embodiment, the blowout preventing portion  124  can prevent the medicine from moving upstream of the center-folded packing paper P. This can prevent or reduce “blowout”. A reinforcing portion  124   a  having a larger thickness than other portions of the nozzle  12  is vertically provided outside the blowout preventing portion  124 . Thus, the reinforcing portion  124   a  and the lower edge  124   a  together ensure a shape retaining property of a lower end of the nozzle  12 . A hopper body  11  in this embodiment includes a frame  111 , and also a vertical reinforcing portion  114  having a larger thickness than a flat plate portion  112  in a middle of a side surface. This increases a shape retaining property of the hopper body  11 . 
     The material and the shape of the hopper  1  have been described above. In summary, the material and the shape of the hopper  1  may be selected to have rigidity such that when the external force X is applied to the hopper  1 , the inner surface  1   b  is elastically deformed to cause rippling vibration. Since this rigidity cannot be converted into number, the material and the shape of the hopper  1  according to this embodiment are listed below as an example of the hopper  1  having such rigidity (sizes of another embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  are listed). 
     Property Before Hardening 
     Plasticity (Williams re-kneading, after 10 minutes) 240 
     Property after Hardening (Measured Using a Test Piece of 2 mm Thick) 
     Density 1.14 g/cm 3 , hardness (JIS type A) 52, tensile strength 8.2 MPa, stretch in cutting 325%, tearing strength 23 kN/m 
     The property after hardening was measured using a test piece of 2 mm thick. 
     Size of Each Part (Outer Size) 
     Vertical entire length: 186 mm 
     Vertical size of hopper body  11 : 68 mm 
     Upper end size of hopper body  11 : 123 mm×123 mm 
     Lower end size of hopper body  11 : 63 mm (front)×53 mm (side) 
     Size from upper end of hopper body  11  to upper end of holder mounting portion  113 : 35.6 mm 
     Width of frame  111 : 7.5 mm 
     Lower end size of nozzle  12  (maximum size): 33.5 mm (front)×26.5 mm (side) 
     Thickness: the whole . . . 0.6 mm, frame  111  and upper reinforcing portion  114  . . . 1.8 mm, frame  111  at upper end of hopper body  11  . . . 2 mm, lower edge  121   a  and reinforcing portion (blowout preventing portion)  124   a . . .  11 mm, holder mounting portion  113  (base side) . . . 2 mm, holder mounting portion  113  (portion held by securing clip  311 ) . . . 4 mm 
     —Behavior of Hopper by External Force— 
     The hopper  1  is formed as described above, and the external force X is applied to the hopper  1  to cause rippling vibration on the inner surface  1   b . The external force X is vibration applied to the entire hopper  1  by a vibrator  32  described later in this embodiment. 
     The “external force (X)” is not limited to vibration having constant amplitude and frequency as vibration generated by a vibration motor that is the vibrator  32  in this embodiment. The “external force (X)” may be vibration with changing amplitude and frequency, or an impact generated, for example, by a solenoid (in other words, an intermittent impact with changing amplitude and frequency, which can be regarded as one type of vibration). 
     Various types of “rippling vibration” are conceivable, and include, as examples, vibration having a different phase, different amplitude, or a different cycle (frequency) at the same time from those of the vibration of the external force X. In other words, the vibration is generated on the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1  in the case where vibrations have different phases at the same time such as the case where the vibration generated on the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1  has a different waveform from that of the vibration of the external force X, or the case where the vibration has the same waveform but a different peak time of the waveform. The amplitude and the cycle (frequency) of vibration having changing waveform with time can be determined from average values of amplitudes and cycles (frequencies) within a time range from a certain time to a time after a predetermined time. 
     By the rippling vibration thus generated, as shown in  FIG. 5(B) , a separation force z from the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1  can be applied to each medicine M in a microscopic sense. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5(A) , the medicine M can be shaken off from the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1 . This prevents the medicine M from remaining on the hopper  1 . 
     In order to effectively shake off the medicine M from the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1 , the vibration on the inner surface  1   b  is desirably vibration that can apply, to the medicine M, a separation force Z stronger than adhesion (frictional force or the like) of the medicine M to the inner surface  1   b . However, even if a separation force Z weaker than the adhesion is applied to the medicine M, an operation to reduce adhesion of the medicine M to the inner surface  1   b  can be achieved. Thus, such a weak separation force Z is not useless but is effective to some extent. As in this embodiment, the inner surface  1   b  is desirably subjected to surface treatment to reduce adhesion of the medicine M to the inner surface  1   b.    
     The vibration to apply the “separation force Z stronger than the adhesion” to the medicine M has, for example, a waveform with large amplitude or a short cycle. 
     The hopper  1  of the this embodiment is made of silicon rubber, and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , secured to the medicine supply apparatus A by the holder mounting portion  113 . Thus, vibration generated by the vibration motor that is the vibrator  32  is transmitted from a hopper holder  31  described later to the holder mounting portion  113 , and then transmitted to the entire hopper  1 . 
     Since the hopper  1  of this embodiment is made of silicon rubber and has flexibility or is soft, as shown in  FIG. 5(A) , the transmitted vibration causes deflection Y. The deflection Y occurs in the entire inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1  to cause the “rippling vibration”. The deflection Y increases (that is, the amplitude of the “rippling vibration” increases) with increasing distance from the holder mounting portion  113 . Thus, on the inner surface  1   b  of the hopper  1 , vibration near the holder mounting portion  113  is substantially equal to the vibration by the vibrator  32 , while vibration in other portions has larger amplitude than the vibration by the vibrator  32 . Thus, it is assumed that a stronger force can be applied to the medicine M in the hopper  1  to effectively shake off the medicine M as compared to the vibration by the vibrator  32  being directly transmitted to the entire hopper  1 , 
     In this embodiment, the inner surface  1   b  of the entire hopper  1  (the hopper body  11  and the nozzle  12 ) vibrates in a rippling manner, but not limited to this. For example, if there is a spot in the hopper  1  to which the medicine M easily adheres in terms of arrangement of the hopper  1  in the medicine supply apparatus A, rippling vibration may be intensively generated on the inner surface  1   b  of the spot, or rippling vibration may be generated only on the inner surface  1   b  of the spot in some cases. This can be achieved by changing the shape of the hopper  1  to locally form a portion having high rigidity, or partially using a material hard to vibrate or a material that absorbs vibration. 
     —Medicine Supply Apparatus and Medicine Dispensing and Packing Apparatus— 
     Next, the medicine supply apparatus A and the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus will be described. The medicine supply apparatus A includes the hopper  1 , and the opening and closing portion  2  that opens and closes the passage  1   a  so that a predetermined amount of medicine can be taken out. The medicine dispensing and packing apparatus includes the medicine supply apparatus A, and a dispensing and packing apparatus B for packing the medicine supplied by the medicine supply apparatus A using the packing paper P. The dispensing and packing apparatus B center-folds, in a width direction, the packing paper P continuously supplied in a length direction, packs a medicine for one pack supplied from a medicine supply container with the packing paper P, and then bonding a circumference of the packing paper P by heat sealing or the like. Essential portions of the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The packing paper P center-folded in the width direction is shown by chain double-dashed lines. A moving direction of the packing paper P is as indicated by an arrow in the Figures. 
     As shown in the Figure, the lower end of the nozzle  12  in the hopper  1  is located to be held by the center-folded packing paper P. An end surface shape of the medicine output port  121  is an isosceles triangle as shown in  FIG. 1 , and an apex of the shape is located on a downstream side in the moving direction of the packing paper P. 
     —Hopper Holder— 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in this embodiment, the hopper  1  is locked and held in a hopper holder  31  having a rectangular frame shape. The hopper holder  31  is provided at a portion between the upper end and the lower end of the hopper  1 . Thus, the holder mounting portion  113  may be simply formed to protrude from the outer surface of the hopper  1 , thereby simplifying the shape of the hopper  1 . The hopper holder  31  includes a securing clip  311 . The holder mounting portion  113  of the hopper  1  can be held by a pressing piece  311   a  of the securing clip  311  to hold the hopper  1  in the hopper holder  31 . In this embodiment, the pressing piece  311   a  is formed to be wide so as to hold one side of the holder mounting portion  113  over the entire width as shown. Thus, as described later, the vibration generated by the vibrator  32  can be effectively transmitted to the hopper  1 . 
     The hopper holder  31  is supported by a vertically displaceable spring  33 . The spring  33  operates to vibrate the hopper  1  as described later, and operates as means (vibration insulating means) for preventing the vibration by the vibrator  32  from being transmitted to portions other than the medicine supply apparatus A of the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus. 
     In this embodiment, a coil spring is used as the spring  33 . The coil springs are connected to a base  4  secured to the apparatus at four places: two on one side and two on the other side of the hopper holder  31  having a rectangular frame shape. The spring  33  is not limited to the coil spring, but may be various springs such as a leaf spring. It is desirable that the spring  33  mainly vibrates in an axial (vertical) direction, and does not substantially vibrate in a radial direction (horizontal direction). In this embodiment, the coil spring is used as it is, but a guide may be provided that allows vertical vibration while positively regulating vibration in the radial direction (horizontal direction) of the coil spring such as by providing a cylindrical inner guide inside the coil spring, or providing a cylindrical outer guide outside the coil spring. 
     —Vibrator— 
     The hopper holder  31  in this embodiment includes the vibrator  32  that vibrates the hopper  1 . For the vibrator  32  in this embodiment, a vibration motor having an eccentric weight mounted to a rotating shaft of the motor is used as a vibration source to generate vibration having constant amplitude and frequency. The vibrator  32  may be conventional means for generating an impact using a solenoid or the like. The vibrator  32  may be means for generating vibration using an electromagnet or the like. 
     In this embodiment, the vibrator  32  operates in association with the dispensing and packing apparatus B. Specifically, the vibrator  32  operates at timing when a medicine is supplied from the medicine output port  121  in the hopper  1  to the dispensing and packing apparatus B. The vibrator  32  may be manually operated without operating in association with the dispensing and packing apparatus B, or in some cases, the vibrator  32  may be always operated during power-on of the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus. 
     As described above, the hopper holder  31  is supported by the spring  33 , and thus the vibration generated by the vibrator  32  vibrates the hopper holder  31  and thus vibrates the hopper  1 . Thus, as compared to the hopper holder  31  being secured, larger vibration can be generated in the hopper  1 . This can effectively shake off the medicine M remaining in the hopper  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vibrator  32  in this embodiment is secured via a mounting portion  32   a  formed of a metal plate in a position closer to one end in a longitudinal direction of one side of the hopper holder  31 . The vibrator  32  is secured so that the rotating shaft of the vibration motor is horizontal. The mounting position of the vibrator  32  is closer to a corner of the hopper holder  31  having a rectangular frame shape. Thus, in this embodiment, the position closer to the corner of the hopper holder  31  having a rectangular frame shape is a vibration generating position. 
     Thus, in this embodiment, the vibration in the hopper  1  generated by the transmitted vibration by the vibrator  32  is mainly vertical vibration by the operation of the spring  33 . It is assumed that the vibration in the hopper  1  is the vertical vibration plus slight rotational vibration around a vertical axis based on the hopper holder  31  being supported by the springs  33  at four places, and the position closer to the corner of the hopper holder  31  being the vibration generating position due to the biased securing position of the vibrator  32 . 
     In this embodiment in which the vibration as described above is transmitted to the hopper  1 , it is assumed that a predetermined spot of the hopper  1  follows “a vertical trajectory along the vertical axis plus a slight rotational trajectory around the axis” by the vibration. 
     As described above, the vibration in the hopper  1  is a combination of the vertical vibration and the rotational vibration around the vertical axis. This can effectively shake off the medicine M remaining on the hopper  1 . Since such combined vibration is generated in the hopper  1 , the vibrator  32  is desirably provided in a biased position of the hopper holder  31 . 
     The vertical vibration in the hopper  1  attenuates as being transmitted through the hopper holder  31 , and is assumed to be larger in a position closer to the vibrator  32 . Thus, the vibration in the hopper  1  may be uneven depending on positions. Thus, the uneven vibration can also effectively shake off the medicine M remaining in the hopper  1 . 
     —Opening and Closing Operation Portion— 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening and closing portion  2  includes a pair of opening and closing operation portions  21  that can hold the deformable portion  122  in the nozzle  12  of the hopper  1  from one side and the other side, and a driving portion  22  for driving the opening and closing operation portions  21 . Each of the opening and closing operation portions  21  is made of metal and has a rectangular sectional shape with one side removed. The opening and closing operation portion  21  includes pressing portions  211  that each have an elongated plate shape and can come close to each other to press the deformable portion  122 , and coupling portions  214  extending from opposite ends of the pressing portions  211  to the driving portion  22 . The pressing portions  211 ,  211  extend diagonally (that is, in a direction crossing a vertical direction so as to cross the deformable portion  122  on side view). The pressing portions  211  and  211  are parallel to each other with the deformable portion  122  therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pressing portions  211 ,  211  are provided in parallel with the lateral side of the packing paper P on an outside of the packing paper P moving in the medicine dispensing and packing apparatus. 
     The pressing portions  211 ,  211  are provided on the outside of the packing paper P because if the pressing portions  211 ,  211  are located within lines (a range of the chain double-dashed lines in  FIG. 3 ) of the packing paper P, timing when a paper holder (not shown) for holding the packing paper P on a downstream side of the nozzle  12  holds the packing paper P matches timing when the opening and closing portion  2  opens the deformable portion  12  (that is, the pressing portions  211 ,  211  apply opposite forces to the packing paper P), thereby causing a tear of the packing paper P. Further, if the pressing portions  211 ,  211  are located within the lines of the packing paper P, the medicine may adhere to the pressing portions  211 ,  211 . 
     The opening and closing operation portion  21  is provided above the lower end of the hopper  1 . Thus, the opening and closing operation portion  21  is separated from the medicine passing through the passage  1   a  by the hopper  1 , and the medicine does not remain around the opening and closing operation portion  21 . The opening and closing operation portion  21  is provided as close as possible to the lower end of the hopper  1  so as to reduce a dropping distance of the medicine, and prevent “blowout” of the medicine. 
     In this embodiment, the driving portion  22  is provided on a lateral side of the nozzle  12 . The opening and closing operation portion  21  on a right side in the Figure is moved to left in the Figure when the passage  1   a  of the hopper  1  is closed, and the opening and closing operation portion  21  on a left side in the Figure is moved to right in the Figure when the passage  1   a  of the hopper  1  is closed. The driving portion  22  is driven by a motor, and meshing of gear (not shown) moves the coupling portions  214  to left and right in the Figure. During the movement, the pressing portions  211 ,  211  are kept in parallel with each other. 
     The shape and the operation of the pressing portion  211  are not limited to those in this embodiment, but may be changed in various manners. For example, the pressing portion  211  includes a cantilevered pressing portion, a pressing portion by cylinder driving, and a pressing portion having a hinge at one end and pivotally moved. In short, the pressing portion  211  may be changed in any manners as long as it moves relative to the deformable portion  122 , and can deform the deformable portion  122  so as to open and close the passage  1   a . Only an operation in a pressing direction (direction approaching the deformable portion  122 ) may be performed by the driving portion  22 , and an operation in an opposite direction may be performed by repulsion of a spring or the like (rather than by the driving portion  22 ). 
     In a case where the deformable portion  122  of the hopper  1  is configured to be closed when an external force is not applied to the passage  1   a , and opened by the opening and closing portion  2 , for example, only a hanging portion  213  described later may be provided to open the passage  1   a  without providing the pressing portion  211  in the opening and closing operation portion  21 . 
     —Cushioning Portion— 
     Each of the pressing portions  211 ,  211  in this embodiment includes an elastic cushioning portion  212  on an inner surface (that is, a portion facing the deformable portion  122  of the hopper  1 ). The cushioning portion  212  can absorb unevenness in thickness of the deformable portion  122  due to a formation error of the hopper  1 . Specifically, if the pressing portions  211 ,  211  that are made of metal and are not elastic as in this embodiment directly press the deformable portion  122  when the deformable portion  122  has an uneven thickness over the entire circumference, it is difficult to achieve close contact of the deformable portion  122  to fully close the passage  1   a . Thus, the cushioning portion  212  can press a portion with a smaller thickness in the deformable portion  122  with a relatively large force. The cushioning portion  212  can press a portion with a larger thickness in the deformable portion  122  with a relatively small force. This can fully close the passage  1   a . In some cases, the cushioning portion  212  may be provided on an inner surface of any one of the pressing portions  211 ,  211 . 
     In order to achieve close contact of the deformable portion  122  to close the passage  1   a , as shown in  FIG. 4(B) , the end of the passage  1   a  needs to be deformed to be folded. Thus, in order to fully close the passage  1   a , a pressing force at the end of the passage  1   a  needs to be larger than a pressing force at a center portion of the passage  1   a . Thus, in this embodiment, a cushioning portion  212   a  closer to the center portion in an extending direction of the pressing portions  211 ,  211  has higher elasticity than cushioning portions  212   b  closer to opposite ends. In other words, the cushioning portion  212   a  closer to the center portion is softer than the cushioning portions  212   b  closer to the opposite ends. In this embodiment, the cushioning portion  212   a  closer to the center portion is made of sponge, and the cushioning portions  212   b  closer to the opposite ends are made of rubber. Thus, a larger pressing force can be applied to the ends of the passage  1   a  in a state as shown in  FIG. 4(B) , thereby reliably closing the passage  1   a . In this embodiment, in order to provide a balance of pressing forces, the cushioning portion  212   a  closer to the center portion is thicker than the cushioning portions  212   b  closer to the opposite ends. Thus, the cushioning portion  212   a  closer to the center portion first presses the center portion of the deformable portion  122 , and then a little late, the cushioning portions  212   b  closer to the opposite ends press the opposite end portions of the deformable portion  122 . Thus, the passage  1   a  can be reliably closed without uneven close contact. 
     The pressing portion  211  of each of the opening and closing operation portions  21 ,  21  in this embodiment includes the hanging portion  213  formed integrally therewith to protrude upward. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hanging portion  213  is inserted into the pocket-shaped lock portion  123  provided in the nozzle  12 . When the pressing portion  211  is moved in a direction away from the deformable portion  122 , the hanging portion  213  moves the deformable portion  122  in a direction of opening the passage  1   a . This can reliably open the passage  1   a . The passage  1   a  may be naturally opened by elasticity of the deformable portion  122  itself without using the hanging portion  213 .