Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 U.S. National Stage filing of International Application No. PCT/JP2007/054446, filed Mar. 7, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-073460, filed Mar. 16, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a machine for filling a bag with medicine in containers liable to suffer damage, such as ampoules. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In a conventionally well-known machine for filling a bag with medicine containers, medicine containers conveyed by a second belt conveyor are conveyed to a first belt conveyor while being gathered by a guide member, and are temporarily stopped by a shutter member before being charged into a bag (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 
     In another well-known machine for filling a bag with medicine containers, medicine containers conveyed by a belt conveyor are temporarily stopped by a shutter member while being gathered by a guide member, and are conveyed to a conveyor unit extending into a bag before retracting the conveyor unit from the bag, thereby charging the medicine containers into the bag (see, for example, Patent Document 2). 
     Patent Document 1: JP 2004-148033 A 
     Patent Document 2: JP 2005-153903 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In both of the above-mentioned machines for filling a bag with medicine containers, medicine containers are gathered by a guide member, making it necessary to slowly convey the medicine containers with the belt conveyor so as not to damage them. Accordingly, it is impossible to charge medicine containers into the bag at high speed. Further, the medicine containers are conveyed by belt conveyors respectively provided at two positions, and it is necessary to provide each of the belt conveyors with a drive means such as a motor. This results in a rather complicated structure, which leads to an increase in cost. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers, which can quickly fill a bag with medicine containers without involving a fear of the medicine containers being damaged. 
     As a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a machine for filling a bag with containers that includes: a bag positioning member for positioning and opening a bag; a first moving member that reciprocates between a supply position inside the bag and a waiting position outside the bag, the first moving member including a bottom surface portion for supporting medicine containers; a second moving member that reciprocates relative to the bag and includes a guide surface for guiding medicine containers to the bottom surface portion; and a drive-control means that moves the first moving member from the supply position to the waiting position while maintaining the second moving member in a fixed position relative to the bag, thereby causing medicine containers on the bottom surface portion to remain in the bag. 
     With this construction, when the medicine containers are on the bottom surface portion of the first moving member, the first moving member and the second moving member are positioned in the bag, and solely the first moving member is retracted from the bag, the medicine containers remain inside the bag by virtue of the guide surface. The first moving member and the second moving member are solely reciprocated relative to the bag. Thus, the drive mechanism is simple and relatively free from failure, and can be operated quickly. Further, it is possible to supply medicine containers into the bag solely by controlling the positional relationship of the two moving members with respect to the bag. Then, the medicine containers supplied into the bag together with the two moving members maintain their positional relationships with the bag. Thus, even when there are a plurality of medicine containers, there is no need to greatly change the positional relationship of the medicine containers, and it is possible to move the two moving members and the bag at high speed relative to each other. Thus, the medicine containers are not easily damaged, and can be quickly charged into the bag. 
     It is preferable that the machine for filling a bag with medicine containers further includes a shutter member that is positionable at an outflow preventing position to prevent outflow of medicine containers placed on the bottom surface portion of the first moving member, and is further positionable at a medicine container supply position where supply of medicine containers to the bottom surface portion is allowed and where an opening portion inner edge of the bag is pressed. 
     With this construction, the medicine containers supplied to the bottom surface of the first moving member via the guide surface of the second moving member can be temporarily stored by means of the shutter member. When supplying the medicine containers into the bag, it is possible to press the inner edge of the opening of the bag with the shutter member, and hence it is possible to secure the supply route for the medicine containers. Thus, the medicine containers can be smoothly supplied into the bag. 
     It is preferable that the second moving member include a detachment preventing portion that prevents detachment of the medicine containers from the guide surface to an exterior of the bag when the drive-control means moves the first moving member from the supply position to the waiting position. 
     With this construction, the supply of medicine containers to the bottom surface of the first moving member can be effected smoothly via the guide surface of the second moving member; when the medicine containers are to remain in the bag, it is possible to reliably prevent detachment of the medicine containers from the bag using the detachment preventing portion. Thus, the first moving member can be moved at relatively high speed, making it possible to perform the operation of filling a bag with medicine containers at still higher speed. 
     It is preferable that the second moving member include a climbing suppressing portion that comes into contact with the medicine containers to suppress climbing of the medicine containers onto the guide surface when the drive-control means moves the first moving member from the supply position to the waiting position. 
     With this construction, when the medicine containers are to remain in the bag, it is also possible to suppress climbing of medicine containers onto the guide surface using the climbing suppressing portion, and hence the movement of the medicine containers is minimized, enhancing the prevention of damage. Further, since the medicine containers scarcely ever climb onto the guide surface, it is possible to conduct the operation of filling a bag with medicine containers at still higher speed. 
     It is preferable that the machine for filling a bag with medicine containers further includes a cover member that covers an upper portion of a medicine container supply region formed by the first moving member and the second moving member, in which the cover member includes a medicine container charging port that allows supply of medicine containers onto the bottom surface portion via the guide surface when the first moving member is in the waiting position, and that prevents medicine containers from being guided onto the bottom surface portion and prevents the medicine containers from escaping from the bag when the first moving member is in the supply position. 
     With this construction, no new medicine containers can be charged through the charging port, and medicine containers supplied through the charging port are incapable of escaping from the charging port, when the first moving member is moved to the supply position. Thus, even if the first moving member is moved at high speed for causing the medicine containers supplied to the supply region to remain in the bag, it is possible to reliably prevent outward detachment. 
     It is preferable that the bag positioning member include a bag temporary sealing portion for temporarily sealing an opening of the bag so that the medicine containers therein become temporarily incapable of removal from the bag. 
     With this construction, even when the bag containing medicine containers is transferred to some other place, it is possible to prevent removal of the medicine containers from the bag during or after the transfer. When it becomes necessary to extract the medicine containers from the bag for inspection or the like, the medicine containers can be easily extracted from the bag solely by canceling the temporary sealing. 
     Further, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers including: a bag positioning member for positioning and opening a bag; a belt conveyor that horizontally reciprocates between a supply position inside the bag and a waiting position outside the bag, the belt conveyor being drivable to supply medicine containers placed thereon into the bag; a medicine container charging member for supplying medicine containers onto the belt conveyor; and a drive-control means that horizontally moves the belt conveyor to the waiting position, drives the medicine container charging member to supply medicine containers onto the belt conveyor, moves the belt conveyor to the supply position inside the bag, and drives the belt conveyor to supply medicine containers placed thereon into the bag. 
     It is preferable that the bag positioning member include, in addition to the above-mentioned construction, a bag temporary sealing portion for temporarily sealing an opening of the bag so that medicine containers therein may become temporarily incapable of removal from the bag. 
     Still further, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers, the machine including: a bag positioning member for positioning and opening a bag; a belt conveyor including a belt stretched between a pair of rotatable pulleys, the belt conveyor reciprocating between a supply position inside the bag and a waiting position outside the bag; a medicine container charging member for charging medicine containers onto the belt conveyor; a guide member for guiding medicine containers charged by the medicine container charging member onto the belt conveyor; and a drive-control means that horizontally moves the belt conveyor to the waiting position, drives the medicine container charging member to supply medicine containers onto the belt conveyor via the guide member, and, after moving the belt conveyor and the guide member to the supply position bag, retracts solely the belt conveyor out of the bag to prevent movement of the medicine containers by the guide member, thereby causing medicine containers to remain in the bag. 
     According to the present invention, it is only necessary to reciprocate the first moving member and the second moving member relative to the bag, and hence the machine is simplified in construction, and can be produced at low cost. Further, since the medicine containers are caused to remain in the bag by retracting the first moving member from the bag, the medicine containers do not move much and are not easily damaged, and the bag filling operation can be conducted at high speed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic front view of a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a medicine container supply portion of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the medicine container supply portion of  FIG. 3  as seen from a different angle. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the medicine container supply portion of the machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of the medicine container supply portion of the machine shown in  FIG. 1  (waiting position). 
         FIGS. 7(   a )- 7 ( b ) illustrates a front view showing in detail the motion of a region including an ascent/descent member. 
         FIG. 8(   a )- 8 ( b ) illustrates a front view showing in detail the motion of a region including the ascent/descent member. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front view showing in detail the region including the ascent/descent member. 
         FIG. 10(   a ) is a plan view showing a state in which the outer container and the ampoule extruding member are moved to the supply position from the position of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10(   b ) is a plan view showing a state in which solely the outer container is retracted from part (a). 
         FIGS. 11(   a )- 11 ( f ) are schematic explanatory views illustrating steps in the supply of medicine containers into a bag. 
         FIGS. 12(   a )- 12 ( d ) are schematic explanatory views illustrating steps in the supply of medicine containers into a bag. 
         FIGS. 13(   a )- 13 ( f ) are schematic explanatory views illustrating steps in the supply of medicine containers into a bag according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 14(   a )- 14 ( c ) are perspective views of an example of a first moving member and a second moving member of a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 15(   a )- 15 ( f ) are schematic explanatory views illustrating steps in the supply of medicine containers into a bag according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  . . . machine main body, 
               2  . . . bag printing portion, 
               3  . . . bag conveying portion, 
               4  . . . bag positioning portion, 
               5  . . . medicine container supply portion, 
               6  . . . medicine container charging portion, 
               7  . . . bag printer, 
               8  . . . bag roll, 
               9  . . . strip-like bag, 
               10  . . . cutter, 
               11  . . . medicine containers, 
               12  . . . host computer, 
               13  . . . bag, 
               14  . . . horizontal moving member, 
               15  . . . vertical moving member, 
               16  . . . suction member, 
               17  . . . horizontal frame member, 
               18  . . . support arm, 
               19  . . . body portion, 
               20  . . . suction portion, 
               21  . . . suction cylinder, 
               22  . . . conveyor portion, 
               23  . . . rotation plate, 
               24  . . . bag opening portion, 
               25  . . . bag temporary sealing portion, 
               26  . . . bag retaining arm, 
               27  . . . bucket, 
               28  . . . guide groove, 
               29  . . . elongated hole, 
               30  . . . ascent/descent member, 
               31  . . . support frame, 
               32  . . . presser member, 
               33  . . . guide portion, 
               34  . . . arm portion, 
               35  . . . connecting portion, 
               36  . . . pressing portion, 
               37  . . . outer container (first moving member), 
               38  . . . ampoule extruding member (second moving member), 
               39  . . . shutter member, 
               40  . . . cover member, 
               41  . . . support member, 
               42  . . . slide shaft, 
               43  . . . frame, 
               44  . . . nut portion, 
               45  . . . ball screw, 
               47  . . . guide surface, 
               48  . . . detachment preventing portion, 
               49  . . . climbing suppressing portion, 
               50  . . . tray, 
               51  . . . driven gear, 
               52  . . . intermediate gear, 
               53  . . . driving gear, 
               54  . . . charging port, 
               55  . . . lifter, 
               56  . . . swinging arm, 
               57  . . . guide rail, 
               58  . . . slider, 
               59  . . . control device (drive control means), 
               100  . . . belt conveyor, 
               101  . . . pulley, 
               102  . . . belt, 
               110  . . . ridge, 
               111  . . . first inclined surface, 
               112  . . . second inclined surface, 
               113  . . . third inclined surface, 
               115  . . . inclined surface, 
               120  . . . belt conveyor, 
               121  . . . guide wall, 
               122  . . . pulley, and 
               123  . . . belt. 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     (General Construction)  FIGS. 1 and 2  schematically show a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers according to one embodiment. This machine for filling a bag with medicine containers includes a machine main body  1 , which includes a bag printing portion  2 , a bag conveying portion  3 , a bag positioning portion  4 , a medicine container supply portion  5 , and a medicine container charging portion  6 . 
     (Bag Printing Portion) The bag printing portion  2  includes upper and lower bag printers  7 . Strip-like bags  9  are successively supplied to each bag printer  7  from respective bag rolls  8 . The strip-like bags  9  include a plurality of successive bags, each previously formed into a bag open in a direction opposite to the conveying direction. The strip-like bags  9  are cut into individual bags  13  by a cutter  10  provided at the outlet portion of the bag printing portion  2 . The strip-like bags  9  are formed of a translucent material, allowing medicine containers  11  accommodated therein to be visually checked. Affixed to the surfaces of the strip-like bags  9  are a plurality of labels for printing. Each bag printer  7  prints the patient name, the name of the medicine, information on taking the medicine (use, dosage, etc.), and the like, on each label based on prescription data or the like input from a host computer  12 . Individual bags  13 , obtained by cutting the strip-like bags  9  with the cutter  10 , are supplied to a conveyor portion  22 . The conveyor portion  22  includes three belts  22   a  that can be driven in synchronism with each other. The bags  13  are transferred to a predetermined position before undergoing positioning, as described in greater detail below. 
     (Bag Conveying Portion) As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bag conveying portion  3  includes a horizontal moving member  14 , a vertical moving member  15 , and a suction member  16 . 
     The horizontal moving member  14  includes a belt  14   c  stretched between pulleys  14   a ,  14   b , which are respectively arranged on the right-hand and left-hand sides of the machine main body  1 . The entire horizontal moving member  14  is retained by a horizontal frame member  17 . When one pulley  14   a  is driven by a motor or the like (not shown) to rotate in normal/reverse rotating direction, the belt makes normal/reverse circulation movement, and the horizontal moving member  14  reciprocates in the X-axis direction. 
     The vertical moving member  15  includes a belt  15   c  stretched between pulleys  15   a ,  15   b , which are respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of the machine main body  1 . Vertical moving member  15  is substantially of the same construction as the horizontal moving member  14  except that it instead vertically reciprocates. It should be noted, however, that the horizontal frame member  17  is fixed to the belt  14   c  of the horizontal moving member  14 , and that the whole reciprocates in the vertical direction (Z-direction) as the vertical moving member  15  is driven. 
     The suction member  16  is mounted to the belt  15   c  of the vertical moving member  15  via a support arm  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , suction member  16  has a substantially I-shaped configuration, and includes a body portion  19  extending along the support arm  18  and suction portions  20  having end portions extending in orthogonal directions. The body portion  19  is hollow, and is connected to a suction device (not shown) allowing the four corners of the bag  13  to be suctioned and thus retained with suction cylinders  21 , which downwardly extend from the distal ends of each suction portion  20 . Further, as described above, the suction member  16  is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) with respect to the support arm  18  by a longitudinal moving member including pulleys and a belt. 
     (Bag Positioning Portion) As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bag positioning portion  4  includes a rotation plate  23 , a bag opening portion  24 , a bag temporary sealing portion  25  (see  FIG. 8 ), and a bag retaining arm  26 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rotation plate  23  is rotated through driving of a motor  23   a  around a support shaft  23   e  via pulleys  23   b ,  23   d  and a belt  23   c , and can be set in a horizontal position and an inclined position in which the distal end thereof is directed obliquely downwards. The rotating position of the rotation plate  23  is judged based on whether or not a shield plate  23   f  provided at a shaft portion intercepts the light path of a sensor  23   g  (light emitting element and light receiving element) provided in the machine main body  1 . In the horizontal position, the rotation plate  23  allows charging of medicine containers  11  into the bag  13  placed on the top surface thereof, and allows, in the inclined position, the bag  13  to be supplied to a bucket  27  (see  FIG. 1 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , guide grooves  28  are formed in both side surfaces of the rotation plate  23 , and two elongated holes  29  are formed therein to extend along both side portions. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ( a )- 7 ( b ), and  8 ( a )- 8 ( b ), the bag opening portion  24  includes an ascent/descent member  30 . The ascent/descent member  30  is provided in a gate-shaped support frame  31  fixed to a frame  43  (support portion  43   a  of rotation plate  23 ) so as to be capable of ascending and descending. The ascent/descent member  30  includes an ascent/descent plate  30   b  urged downwardly by a spring  30   g . Further, the ascent/descent member  30  includes three rods  30   a  extending through an arch portion  31   a  of the support frame  31 . Of the three rods  30   a , the one situated at the center has a gear portion (not shown), which is in mesh with a gear  30   d  (see  FIG. 4 ) provided on the rotation shaft of a motor  30   c . As a result, when the motor  30   c  is rotated, the ascent/descent plate  30   b  ascends or descends via the rods  30   a . The support portion  43   a  of the rotation plate  23  and the ascent/descent member  30  have at both ends suction ports  43   b  and  30   f . The suction ports  43   b  and  30   f  are connected to a suction device (not shown) via a communication hole (not shown), and suction and retain from the outer side the opening portion of the bag  13 , which is placed on the rotation plate  23  in the horizontal position. When the ascent/descent member  30  is raised in this suction/retention state, the opening portion of the bag  13  is opened. Further, the arch portion  31   a  of the support frame  31  supports a presser member  32  of a substantially L-shaped configuration so as to allow rotation around a support shaft  32   a  between an opening position and a retaining position. The presser member  32  is urged toward the opening position by a spring  32   b  fitted onto the support shaft  32   a . Further, the presser member  32  includes a roller  32   c  which rolls on an inclined surface  33   a  and a vertical surface  33   b  of a guide portion  33  provided in the support frame  31 . As a result, when the ascent/descent member  30  is raised, the roller  32   c  rolls on the inclined surface  33   a , and the presser member  32  rotates counterclockwise around the support shaft  32   a  as shown in  FIGS. 8(   a )- 8 ( b ). When the roller  32   c  reaches the vertical surface  33   b , the presser member  32  retains the upper inner surface of the opened bag  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bag temporary sealing portion  25  includes four heating portions  25   a  provided on the support portion of the rotation plate  23 , and a roller  25   b  (see  FIGS. 7(   a )- 7 ( b )) rotatably provided on the ascent/descent member  30  so as to be opposed to each heating portion  25   a . With the bag  13  being positioned at a predetermined position on the rotation plate  23 , the ascent/descent member  30  is lowered, and the opening portion of the bag  13  is held between the heating portions  25   a  and the roller  25   b  to effect heating by supplying electricity to the heating portions  25   a . Then, the opening portion of the bag  13  is heat-sealed at four positions arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction. In this case, the heat-sealed portions are arranged at such intervals as make it impossible or less liable for the medicine containers accommodated in the bag  13  to be spilled out thereof. The heat sealing is effected to the degree that when the opening portion is pulled to both sides so as to extract the medicine containers  11  from the bag  13 , the heat-sealed portions are separated relatively easily, allowing the bag  13  to be opened. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the bag retaining arm  26  includes arm portions  34  that reciprocate along the guide grooves  28  of the rotation plate  23  and rotate around a support shaft  34   a , and a connecting portion  35  connecting the two arm portions  34 . Pressing portions  36  are provided at the two end portions of the connecting portion  35  through the intermediation of elastic portions  36   a . The pressing portions  36  are formed of a material, such as rubber, which exhibits a large coefficient of friction with respect to the bag  13 . By driving the motor  26   a , the bag retaining arm  26  is rotated around the support shaft  34   a , and the pressing portion  36  is brought into contact with the bag  13  placed on the rotation plate  23 . The elongated holes  29  of the rotation plate  23  are situated at the contact position of the pressing portion  36 . Thus, when the rotation plate  23  is rotated to the inclined position, and the bag retaining arm  26  is caused to slide, with the pressing portion  36  being at the contact position, it is possible to effectively apply the frictional resistance due to the pressing portion  36  to the bag  13 . As a result, the bag  13  moves smoothly and obliquely downwards on the rotation plate  23  to be naturally supplied to the bucket  27 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each bucket  27  is formed as a box open on the top side and has an outwardly extending flange portion  27   a  at the upper opening edge thereof. Further, a ridge  27   b  is formed on the bottom side portion of the outer surface of each bucket  27 . Thus, when the buckets  27  are stacked together, the flange portion  27   a  of each bucket supports the ridge  27   b  of the upper bucket  27 , thereby forming an accommodation space. The buckets  27  are supplied from the outside of the machine main body  1 , and are conveyed to a position below the rotation plate  23 . After the bags  13  are accommodated therein, the buckets are conveyed to the exterior of the machine main body  1  to be stacked together. 
     (Medicine Container Supply Portion) As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 , the medicine container supply portion  5  includes an outer container  37  serving as a first moving member, an ampoule extruding member  38  serving as a second moving member, a shutter member  39 , and a cover member  40 . 
     The outer container  37  is formed as a box that is open on the top and front sides, and is fixed to a support member  41  via four slide shafts  42 . A buffer member formed of urethane, sponge or the like is attached to the bottom surface of the outer container  37  so that the supplied medicine containers  11  may not suffer damage. The frictional resistance of the surface of this buffer member is minimized so that the medicine containers  11  may easily slide when the outer container  37  moves as described below. 
     The support member  41  is fixed to a belt  41   c  stretched between pulleys  41   a ,  41   b . The pulleys  41   a ,  41   b  are rotatably supported by the frame  43  of the machine main body  1 . One pulley  41   b  is driven by a motor  41   d  to rotate in the normal or reverse direction. As a result, the outer container  37  reciprocates in the directions indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 5 , and is positioned at a waiting position shown in  FIG. 5  and a supply position shown in  FIGS. 10(   a ) and  11 ( c ). Further, together with the outer container  37 , a slider  58  reciprocates along a guide rail  57  provided on the frame  43 . The slider  58  is provided for the purpose of effecting accurate positioning on the outer container  37  with respect to the frame  43 . In an example of a specific construction for this purpose, a portion to be detected is provided to extend along the guide rail  57 , and this portion to be detected is detected by a sensor provided on the slider. 
     At the rear of the outer container  37 , there is provided a nut portion  44 , which is threadedly engaged with a ball screw  45 . The ball screw  45  is driven to rotate by the motor  45   a  via the pulleys  45   b ,  45   d , and the belt  45   c . Thus, when the motor  45   a  is driven to rotate the ball screw  45  in the normal or reverse direction, the position at which the nut portion  44  is threadedly engaged with the ball screw  45  is displaced in the axial direction. As a result, the outer container  37  reciprocates, and its positional relationship with the ampoule extruding member  38  described below varies. The upper edges of the forward ends of both side surfaces of the outer container  37  are formed in an arcuate configuration, thereby preventing damage of the bag  13  when medicine containers are inserted into the bag  13 . 
     The ampoule extruding member  38  is formed of a synthetic resin material, and is accommodated in the outer container  37 , thereby forming a medicine container storage region within the outer container  37 . One end portion of the ball screw  45  is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the ampoule extruding member  38  through the intermediation of a bearing, and, at the same time, one end portion of each slide shaft  42  is connected thereto. As a result, the ampoule extruding member  38  reciprocates between the waiting position and the supply position together with the outer container  37 . When, at the supply position, solely the outer container  37  is caused to retreat through rotation of the ball screw  45 , it is possible to allow the medicine containers  11  in the medicine container storage region to remain in the bag  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ampoule extruding member  38  includes a guide surface  47 , a detachment preventing portion  48 , and a climbing suppressing portion  49 . 
     The material, the surface roughness, and the inclination angle of the guide surface  47  are selected such that the medicine containers  11 , supplied from a tray  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) via a charging port  54  (see  FIG. 3 ), can be smoothly supplied. While in this case the guide surface  47  is formed as a flat surface, it is also possible to adopt some other form, such as a convex surface arcuate in section or a concave surface arcuate in section. When the guide surface  47  is formed as a convex surface, the tangential direction of the arc of its section becomes closer to the vertical direction on the bottom surface side of the outer container  37 , and hence it is possible to eliminate the climbing suppressing portion  49 . 
     The detachment preventing portion  48  is formed by a ridge protruding upwardly from the upper edge portion of the guide surface  47 . As described below, by causing the outer container  37  to retreat relative to the ampoule extruding member  38 , it is possible to prevent the medicine containers  11  supplied onto the bottom surface of the outer container  37  from moving in the reverse direction via the guide surface  47  to flow to the exterior. 
     The climbing suppressing portion  49  is formed by a vertical surface formed at the lower edge portion of the guide surface  47 . When the outer container  37  is caused to retreat relative to the ampoule extruding member  38 , the climbing suppressing portion  49  comes into contact with the medicine containers  11  supplied onto the bottom surface of the outer container  37 , thereby preventing them from climbing onto the guide surface  47 . When a material such as rubber of large coefficient of friction is used for the vertical surface forming the climbing suppressing portion  49 , it is advantageously possible to more effectively prevent the medicine containers  11  from climbing onto the guide surface. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the shutter member  39  is a plate-like member provided on the support portion of the rotation plate  23  so as to be rotatable around a support shaft. A support shaft  39   a  includes a driven gear  51 , and power is transmitted from a driving gear  53  provided on the rotation shaft of a motor (not shown) via an intermediate gear  52 . As a result, the shutter member  39  rotates between a closing position where it closes a front opening of the outer container  37  situated at the waiting position, and a retaining position where it is placed on the rotation plate  23  in the horizontal position and presses the lower inner surface of the bag  13 , whose opening is open. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover member  40  is provided on the frame  43  of the machine main body  1  so as to cover the entire upper surface of the medicine container supply portion  5 , and includes a charging port  54  to make it possible to supply the medicine containers  11  from the tray  50  to the medicine container storage region. The charging port  54  is opened when the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  are situated at the waiting position, making it possible to supply the medicine containers  11  to the medicine container storage region via the guide surface  47  of the ampoule extruding member  38 . When the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  advance toward the supply position, the charging of medicine containers  11  into the charging port  54  becomes impossible. 
     (Medicine Container Charging Portion) As shown in  FIG. 1 , the medicine container charging portion  6  includes a lifter  55  and a swinging arm  56 . 
     The lifter  55  causes a support stand  55   b  to ascend and descend through driving a belt  55   a  arranged to extend in the vertical direction. The swinging arm  56  rotates the tray  50  conveyed to the upper position by the lifter  55  to place it in an inclined state, thereby charging the accommodated medicine containers  11  into the medicine container supply portion  5  (charging port  54 ). 
     The tray  50  is formed such that the end portion thereof, which is situated on the lower side when it is rotated by the swinging arm  56 , is gradually reduced in width and depth toward the forward end. As a result, when the tray  50  is inclined by the swinging arm  56 , the medicine containers  11  accommodated in the tray  50  are gathered and charged smoothly into the charging port  54 . 
     The bag printing portion  2 , the bag conveying portion  3 , the bag positioning portion  4 , the medicine container supply portion  5 , and the medicine container charging portion  6  are drive-controlled by a control device  59  based on input data from a host computer  12 . 
     The supply of the medicine containers  11  to the tray  50  is effected by a conventionally well-known medicine container supply device. Here, the medicine containers  11  include objects such as ampoules or vials, which are subject to damage by impact. 
     (Operation) Next, the operation of the machine for filling a bag with medicine containers, constructed as described above, is illustrated. 
     (Medicine Container Supply) When receiving prescription data from the host computer  12 , a medicine container supply device (not shown) supplies the corresponding medicine containers  11  into the tray  50  based on the prescription data. Then, the tray  50  to which the medicine containers  11  has been supplied is conveyed to the medicine container charging portion  6 . 
     In the medicine container charging portion  6 , the control device  59  drive-controls the motor  41   d  ( FIG. 5 ) based on an input signal from the host computer  12 , and moves the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  to the waiting position, thereby closing the charging port  54  of the cover member  40 . In this state, the guide surface  47  of the ampoule extruding member  38  is continuous with the charging port  54 , and the medicine containers  11  charged from the tray  50  can be smoothly guided to the medicine container storage region. Further, the shutter member  39  is rotated to the closing position so that the medicine containers  11  supplied to the medicine container storage region may not be spilled. 
     Then, the lifter  55  (see  FIG. 1 ) is driven to move the tray  50  to the upper position, and the swinging arm  56  is swung, whereby the medicine containers  11  in the tray  50  are supplied to the medicine container storage region via the charging port  54 . The medicine containers  11  roll or slide on the guide surface  47  until they reach the bottom surface of the outer container (see  FIG. 11(   a )). The guide surface  47  exhibits a small coefficient of friction, and helps to supply the medicine containers  11 , in particular, medicine containers  11  subject to damage, such as ampoules, to the bottom surface. Even when the medicine containers  11  are supplied with momentum via the guide surface  47 , the bottom surface of the outer container  37  mitigates the impact. 
     (Supply of the Bag) In parallel with the supply of the medicine containers  11 , the bag  13  is supplied. That is, the control device  59  drives the bag printer  7  based on the prescription data received from the host computer  12 , and effect corresponding printing on each label of the bag strip  9  from the bag roll  8 . Then, the bag strip is cut by the cutter  10  to obtain the individual bags  13 , which are supplied to a conveyor portion  22 . In the conveyor portion  22 , a belt  22   a  is driven, positioning the bag  13  at a predetermined position. 
     Then, the bag conveying portion  3  (horizontal moving member  14 , vertical moving member  15 , etc.) is drive-controlled, and the suction cylinders  21  of the suction member  16  are opposed to the four corners of the bag  13 . Then, a suction device (not shown) is driven, and the bag  13  is suctioned by the suction cylinders  21 , such that the suction member  16  retains the bag  13 . Subsequently, the conveying portion  3  is drive-controlled, and the bag  13  is conveyed to the rotation plate  23  (see  FIG. 11(   a )). The placing position on the rotation plate  23  is specified based on previously registered coordinate data. 
     (Charging of Medicine Containers into the Bag) Both sides of the opening of the bag  13  supplied onto the rotation plate  23  are suctioned via the suction holes  23   a  and  30   f . By upwardly moving the ascent/descent member  30 , the bag  13  is opened to allow charging with the medicine containers  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 7(   a )- 7 ( b ) and  8 ( a )- 8 ( b ), at this time, the presser member  32  rotates, and the upper inner surface of the opening portion of the bag  13  is pressed. Further, the shutter member  39  is rotated to press the lower inner surface of the opening portion of the bag  13  (see  FIG. 11(   b )). 
     Next, the motor  46   d  is driven to cause the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  to enter the bag  13  before stopping at the supply position (see  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ( a ), and  11 ( c )). Since it is possible to reliably open the opening of the bag  13  in a predetermined size by the shutter member  39  and the presser member  32 , it is possible to allow the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  to smoothly enter the bag  13 . Since the forward end portion of the side wall of the outer container  37  is formed in an arcuate configuration, there is no fear of the bag  13  being damaged. 
     At the supply position, the medicine container storage region is situated completely within the bag  13 . Then, the motor  45   a  is driven to retract solely the outer container  37  from the bag  13  (see  FIGS. 10(   b ) and  11 ( d )). As a result, the medicine containers  11  in the medicine container storage region cease to be supported by the bottom surface of the outer container  37 , and are forcibly caused to remain in the bag  13  by the ampoule extruding member  38 , more specifically, by the climbing suppressing portion  49  and the guide surface  47 . In this case, the medicine containers  11  simply undergo regulation in position by the ampoule extruding member  38 , so their position in the bag  13  is scarcely changed. Thus, there occurs substantially no problem of medicine container damage due to collision of medicine containers with each other. Even when the medicine containers  11  slide on the guide surface  47  to move to the upper side, they are prevented from flowing out by the detachment preventing portion  48 . Further, the inner surface of the bag  13  is situated in the vicinity of the upper side of the detachment preventing portion, and hence the medicine containers  11  do not flow out of the bag  13 . 
     When the supply of the medicine containers  11  into the bag  13  is completed, the motor is driven to move both the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  out of the bag  13  (see  FIG. 11(   e )). Further, the ascent/descent member  30  is lowered, and the positioning of the bag  13  by the shutter member  39  and the presser member  32  is canceled. As a result, the opening portion of the bag  13  is held between the support portion and the ascent/descent member  30 . Here, electricity is supplied to the heating portion  25   a  to effect temporary sealing through heat sealing at four positions of the opening portion of the bag  13 . Further, the bag retaining arm  26  is caused to slide along the rotation plate  23 , and is rotated to bring the pressing portion  36  into press contact with the portion in the vicinity of the opening (both side portions) of the bag  13  (see  FIG. 11(   f )). The elongated holes  29  are situated on the side of the bag  13  opposite to the side where it is held in press contact with the pressing portion  36 . Thus, it is possible to effectively apply solely the frictional force of the pressing portion  36  to the bag  13 . Then, the rotation plate  23  is rotated to the inclined position (see  FIG. 12(   a )). Then, the bag retaining arm  26  is moved (see  FIG. 12(   b )). Finally, the bag retaining arm  26  is rotated to the former position, whereby the retaining state of the bag  13  is canceled, and the bag  13  is supplied into the bucket  27  (see  FIG. 12(   c )). In this way, the bag  13  whose opening has already been temporarily sealed can be smoothly conveyed to the bucket  27  supplied to the predetermined position. 
     As described above, in the machine for filling a bag with medicine containers according to the above embodiment, solely inclining the tray  50 , the medicine containers  11  in the tray  50  can be charged into the medicine container storage region in the outer container  37  via the charging port  54 . In this case, the medicine containers  11  can be smoothly guided to the medicine container storage region by the guide surface  47  continuous with the inclined tray  50 . Further, after moving both the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  to the bag  13 , solely the outer container  37  is retracted, whereby the medicine containers  11  in the medicine container storage region remain in the bag  13 . Thus, it is possible to cause medicine containers  11  to remain in the bag  13  after moving them into the bag  13 , while maintaining the positional relationship between medicine containers. Thus, even if the operation of filling the bag  13  with the medicine containers  11  is conducted at high speed, there is no fear of the medicine containers suffering damage from colliding with each other. 
     (Other Embodiment) While in the above-mentioned embodiment the first moving member is formed by the outer container  37 , it may also be formed by a belt conveyor  100  as shown in  FIGS. 13(   a )- 13 ( f ). The belt conveyor  100  has a simple construction in which a belt  102  is stretched between a pair of rotatable pulleys  101  arranged at a predetermined interval. 
     With this construction, in the state shown in  FIG. 13(   a ), the bag  13  is opened by the suction holes  43   b  and  30   f  as in the above-mentioned embodiment, and the open state is reliably attained by the shutter member  39  (see  FIG. 13(   b )). Then, both the belt conveyor  100  and the ampoule extruding member  38  are moved into the bag  13  (see  FIG. 13(   c )), and solely the belt conveyor  100  is retracted out of the bag  13 , whereby the medicine containers  11  placed on the belt conveyor  100  are pushed back into the bag  13  by the ampoule extruding member  38  (see  FIG. 13(   d )). The belt  102  of the belt conveyor  100  is simply stretched between the rotatable pulleys  101 . Thus, by being pushed by the ampoule extruding member  38 , the medicine containers  11  cause the belt  102  to move. Thus, no excessive load is applied to the medicine containers  11 , which are allowed to smoothly remain in the bag  13 . After that, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the belt conveyor  100  and the ampoule extruding member  38  are retracted out of the bag  13  (see  FIG. 13(   e )), and the opening of the bag  13  is temporarily sealed shut by the bag retaining arm  26  (see  FIG. 13(   f )) before the bag  13  is transferred to the bucket  27 . 
     (Other Embodiment) While in the above-mentioned embodiment the second moving member includes the ampoule extruding member  38  as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , etc., it is also possible to adopt a form as shown in  FIGS. 14(   a )- 14 ( c ). 
     In  FIG. 14(   a ), the guide surface  47  (including the climbing suppressing portion  49 ) of the ampoule extruding member  38  includes a first inclined surface  111  and a second inclined surface  112 , which are gradually inclined downwards toward both sides from a ridge  110 , and a third inclined surface  113  which is inclined gradually downwards from the central portion toward the forward end. With this construction, the charged medicine containers  11  are aligned in the charging direction by the first and second inclined surfaces  111  and  112 . Thus, if solely the outer container  37  is retracted out of the bag  13  (operation corresponding to  FIG. 10(   b ) and  FIG. 11(   d )), the medicine containers  11  aligned in the charging direction do not easily move toward the ampoule extruding member  38  side. Further, the medicine containers  11  (mainly ampoules) that tend to move on the third inclined surface  113  are divided into both sides by the ridge  110 , and respectively move (roll or slide) on the first inclined surface  111  and the second inclined surface  112 , or move as they are on the third inclined surface  113  to remain in the bag  13 . In this way, the medicine containers  11  are caused to remain in the bag  13  in a dispersed state, and hence it is possible to adequately prevent a problem such as medicine containers being damaged from colliding with each other. While the example of  FIG. 14(   a ) is formed by three inclined surfaces, it is also possible to form it by two or four or more inclined surfaces. In brief, any construction will suffice that helps to disperse the medicine containers  11  tending to climb onto the inclined surfaces because of retreat of the outer container  37 , thereby allowing the medicine containers  11  to remain in the bag  13 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 14(   b ), the outer container  37  is formed so as to have a semi-arc-like sectional configuration and as to be gradually reduced in radius of curvature toward the forward end, and the ampoule extruding member  38  is accordingly formed such that its bottom surface swells in an arcuate fashion, with an elliptical inclined surface  115  being provided at the forward end. In this construction, due to the semi-arc-like sectional configuration of the outer container  37 , the supplied medicine containers  11  (mainly ampoules) are aligned in orientation along the longitudinal direction. Thus, when solely the outer container  37  is retracted from the bag  13 , the medicine containers  11  do not climb onto the inclined surface  115  of the ampoule extruding member  38 , and are reliably allowed to remain in the bag  13 . 
     In  FIG. 14(   c ), instead of the construction having the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  shown in  FIG. 14(   b ), there is adopted a construction having solely the outer container  37 , which is vertically (between the horizontal position and the inclined position) rotatable around the forward end as indicated by the arrows. In the horizontal position, the outer container  37  moves into the bag  13 , with the medicine containers  11  placed thereon, then it is rotated to the inclined position, where the medicine containers  11  placed thereon are forcibly charged into the bag  13 , and thereafter, it moves out of the bag (it may be temporarily restored to the horizontal position). 
     (Other Embodiment)  FIGS. 15(   a )- 15 ( f ) are schematic front views of a machine for filling a bag with medicine containers according to another embodiment. This machine for filling a bag, instead of including the first and second moving members, includes a belt conveyor  120  and guide walls  121  on both sides thereof. In the belt conveyor  120 , a belt  123  is stretched between a pair of pulleys  122 , and one pulley  122  is capable of normal and reverse rotation through driving of a motor (not shown). The medicine containers  11  are directly charged from the medicine container charging portion  6  and are placed on the belt conveyor  120 . 
     With the above-mentioned construction, the medicine containers are charged onto the belt conveyor  120  from the medicine container charging portion  6  (see  FIG. 15(   a )), and the bag  13  is opened by the suction holes  43   b  and  30   f  as in the above-mentioned embodiment (see  FIG. 15(   b )). Then, after the belt conveyor  120  is moved into the bag  13 , the belt conveyor  120  is driven, and the medicine containers  11  placed thereon are forcibly supplied into the bag  13  (see  FIG. 15(   c )). In this case, the configuration and size of the medicine containers are stored in a storage means (e.g., a hard disk) (not shown), and the belt conveyor  120  is gradually retracted out of the bag  13  so that the medicine containers  11  may be properly accommodated in the bag  13  based on the data and the number of medicine containers to be accommodated in the bag  13 . From this onward, the same processes (see  FIGS. 15(   d ) through  15 ( f )) as those of the above embodiment are conducted. 
     While in the above embodiments both the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38  are moved into the bag  13 , it is also possible to adopt a construction in which the bag  13  is moved toward the outer container  37  and the ampoule extruding member  38 .

Technology Category: 7