HK1181362B - Hopper and medicine feeding device provided with same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a hopper (1) comprising a path (1a) through which medicines can pass downwardly, wherein, when an external force (X) is applied, a rippling vibration is generated on the inner surface (1b). With this structure, the rippling vibration is applied as a force to detach medicine (M) from the inner surface (1b) of the hopper (1). Therefore, medicine does not easily attach to the hopper (1).

Description

Hopper and medicine supply device with same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hopper having a passage through which a medicine can pass downward, and a medicine supply device including the hopper.

Background

A medicine dispensing device or the like incorporates a medicine supply device. The medicine supply device is provided with a hopper. The hopper has a passage through which a medicine having fluidity, such as powder or tablet, can pass downward (for example, patent document 1).

When the medicine to be supplied to the hopper is replaced with another kind of medicine, the medicine before replacement remains in the hopper and causes contamination. It is therefore desirable to avoid as much as possible drug residue on the hopper.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2009-40506

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

Therefore, the method currently used is to intermittently impact the hopper to give an impact, so that the medicine does not easily adhere to the hopper. However, this method has a problem that noise generated by the impact is large, and an operator or the like around the apparatus feels uncomfortable.

On the other hand, patent document 1 proposes to use a vibration motor to transmit vibration to the hopper. According to this solution, the above-mentioned noise problem can be reduced.

However, the invention of patent document 1 does not pay attention to the relationship between the material and shape of the hopper itself and the remaining amount of the medicine.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a hopper to which a medicine is not easily attached by applying an external force, and a medicine supply device having the hopper.

Technical scheme for solving technology

A first aspect of the present invention is a hopper having a passage through which a medicine can pass downward, wherein an external force is applied to the hopper to generate a corrugated vibration on an inner surface of the hopper.

According to this structure, the corrugated vibration generated in the hopper can apply a force to the medicine to separate the medicine from the inner surface of the hopper.

In the first aspect of the invention, the external force is vibration applied to the hopper so as to be applied to the entire hopper, and the vibration of the external force and the vibration of the inner surface are different in phase, amplitude, or cycle of each vibration at the same time.

According to this structure, the phase or amplitude or period of each vibration is different. Therefore, the force of the medicine away from the inner surface of the hopper can be effectively applied.

In addition, in the first invention, the hopper may be formed of an elastic material.

With this configuration, the hopper to which the medicine is less likely to adhere can be easily formed.

In addition, a second aspect of the present invention is a medicine supply device including any one of the above-described hoppers and an exciting section for vibrating the hopper.

According to this configuration, the vibration generating section generates a corrugated vibration on the inner surface of the hopper, and applies a force to the medicine to separate the medicine from the inner surface of the hopper.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the medicine supply device further includes a hopper holding portion that holds the hopper, and the hopper holding portion includes the exciting portion.

According to this configuration, the hopper holding portion and the exciting portion generate a corrugated vibration on the inner surface of the hopper, and a force for separating the medicine from the inner surface of the hopper is applied.

In the second aspect of the invention, the hopper holding portion may be supported by a spring that is vertically displaceable.

According to this structure, the hopper can be made to generate greater vibration.

In the second invention, the hopper holding portion holds the hopper between an upper end and a lower end of the hopper.

According to this structure, the shape of the hopper can be simplified.

Effects of the invention

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hopper to which a medicine is not easily attached by applying an external force, and a medicine supply apparatus having the hopper.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the bottom surface side.

Fig. 2 is a main part perspective view showing a medicine dispensing apparatus to which a hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached.

Fig. 3 is a front view of an essential part showing a medicine dispensing apparatus to which a hopper of one embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a main part around an opening/closing portion in a medicine dispensing device to which a hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached.

Fig. 5 shows the function of the hopper according to the embodiment of the present invention, fig. 5(a) is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the hopper body, and fig. 5(B) is an enlarged schematic view of a main part showing the waviness of the inner surface of the hopper.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a hopper according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the bottom surface side.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described below by taking one embodiment as an example. First, the hopper 1 will be described. The hopper 1 constitutes a part of the medicine feeder a together with an opening/closing unit 2 described later. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the medicine supply apparatus a and the dispensing apparatus B are combined to constitute a medicine dispensing apparatus.

Hopper structure

The hopper 1 of the present embodiment has a shape shown in fig. 1, and has a passage 1a through which the medicine can pass downward. In the medication dispensing apparatus, the hopper 1 is attached so that the passage 1a is oriented in the vertical direction. The hopper 1 includes a hopper body 11 and a nozzle 12. The hopper body 11 is an upper portion of the hopper 1. The medicine can be stored in the hopper body 11. The nozzle 12 is located below the hopper body 11. The lower end of the nozzle 12 is a medicine outlet 121. The medicine stored in the hopper body 11 can be taken out from the medicine take-out port 121. In order to take out the medicine, the cross-sectional area of the passage 1a is made smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hopper body 11 in the nozzle portion 12. In addition, there are no members (e.g., an opening/closing plate, a hinge, etc.) constituting an opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing the passage 1a in the space through which the medicine of the passage 1a passes.

In the present embodiment, the material of the hopper 1 is rubber (more specifically, silicone rubber), and the entire hopper is integrally molded. Since rubber is used, molding is easy, and the hopper 1 to which the medicine is not easily attached can be manufactured at low cost. Further, by the integral molding, the inner surface 1b of the hopper can be formed without seams and without height differences, and the medicine can be made less likely to remain on the inner surface 1 b. In addition, as described above, no component constituting the opening and closing mechanism is present in the space through which the medicine of the passage 1a passes. Therefore, in the hopper 1 of the present embodiment, a portion where the medicine may remain is excluded from a path through which the medicine passes. Therefore, the medicine is less likely to remain on the entire hopper 1. And the hopper 1 is easy to process. In addition, since only the hopper 1 can be very easily detached from the medicine feeder a, the maintenance and maintenance performance is excellent. Further, since the hopper 1 is integrally formed, as described later, the corrugated vibration generated on the inner surface 1b by the external force X is not easily weakened during transmission, and the vibration can be efficiently transmitted to the entire hopper 1.

However, the present invention is not limited to the integral molding, and other components may be combined to form the hopper 1. The material may be any material as long as it can generate the ripple-like vibration on the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1. For example, metal, hard resin (both thin materials), paper, and the like are used as the material, and an elastic material such as rubber is particularly preferably used.

Further, the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is subjected to a surface treatment for reducing friction with the medicine passing through the passage 1 a. Therefore, the medicine is less likely to remain on the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1. In the present embodiment, the surface treatment is a coating layer (for example, a resin coating layer) containing a material different from that of the hopper 1. In addition, chemical treatment such as melting the inner surface 1b using a drug or physical treatment such as scraping the inner surface by sandblasting may be used as long as the friction of the drug can be reduced.

Hopper body

The hopper body 11 is a portion formed in a horn shape that opens upward, and the cross-sectional shape in the present embodiment is substantially square. The hopper body 11 includes: a frame portion 111 formed at an outer edge portion and four corners and having a relatively thick plate thickness and a high rigidity; and a flat plate portion 112 surrounded by the frame portion 111, having a relatively thin plate thickness and low rigidity. The frame portion 111 is provided to maintain the shape. More specifically, the frame portion 111 is provided to prevent the hopper 1 from being deformed by the weight of the hopper 1 and the weight and lowering pressure of the medicine passing through the passage 1 a. The flat plate portion 112 has a relatively low rigidity for saving material, and at the same time, vibrates the hopper 1 by the exciting portion 32 described later, undulates the inner surface 1b of the flat plate portion 112, and shakes off residual medicine.

A plate-like holding portion mounting portion 113 protrudes from the outer surface of the hopper body 11. The hopper 1 is fixed to the medicine feeder a by using the holding portion mounting portion 113. In the present embodiment, the holding portion mounting portion 113 is provided on the entire outer periphery of the hopper body 11 and protrudes in the horizontal direction, but may be implemented in various shapes as long as it can fix the hopper 1. The holder mounting portion 113 may be provided at any position between the upper end and the lower end of the hopper body 11.

Nozzle part

The nozzle 12 is connected to the lower end of the hopper body 11 and has a shape such that the cross-sectional area of the passage 1a decreases toward the lower side. The lower end of the nozzle 12 is open and serves as a medicine outlet 121. The reason why the lower end is formed in a chamfered shape is, as shown in fig. 3, that the medicine ejection port 121 of the medicine dispensing device is substantially parallel to the side edge P1 of the dispensing paper P folded in two in the width direction, and does not interfere with the conveyance of the packaging paper P. The plate thickness of the lower edge portion 121a, which is the periphery of the medicine ejection port 121, is thicker than the other portions of the nozzle 12. Thereby ensuring shape retention of the lower end of the nozzle portion 12.

Deformable part

In the present embodiment, since the hopper 1 is integrally molded from silicone rubber, the nozzle 12 is naturally made of silicone rubber. Therefore, the entire nozzle portion 12 functions as a deformable portion 122 having flexibility, and the deformable portion 122 can be deformed to open or close the passage 1 a. The opening and closing are performed by an opening and closing unit 2 described later. It may be implemented not to open or close the passage 1a as shown in the embodiment of fig. 6, unlike the present embodiment. In addition to flexibility, the deformable portion 122 is preferably formed of a material that can maintain shape recovery for a long period of time from an economical point of view. The deformable portion 122 allows the medicine to be temporarily stored in the hopper 1. In addition, as described above, if the embodiment is carried out so as not to open or close the passage 1a, or in the case of opening or closing the passage 1a, even if the passage 1a is half-opened as described later, the cross-sectional area of the passage 1a of the nozzle portion 12 is formed in a reduced shape, and therefore, the falling medicine hits the inner surface of the nozzle portion 12, and the falling speed of the medicine is reduced. This prevents the medicine dropped on the dispensing paper P folded in half in the width direction from splashing (referred to as "splash").

Here, three examples of the meaning of "open/close" are considered: (1) forcibly opening or closing the passage 1 a; (2) forcibly closing the passage 1a and naturally opening by an elastic force or the like of the deformable portion 122; (3) the passage 1a is forcibly opened and naturally closed by the elastic force or the like of the deformable portion 122. Further, the case where the passage 1a is stopped in a half-open or half-closed state is also included. Therefore, the manner of closing the passage 1a is not limited to the complete closing, but also includes the case of closing with leaving an opening to the extent that the medicine cannot be taken out. Conversely, the way of opening the passage 1a also includes a slight opening or the like, and actually a case where the medicine can pass.

In the present embodiment, the passage 1a of the deformable portion 122 is configured to be opened when the deformable portion 122 receives no external force and to be forcibly closed by the opening/closing portion 2 described later, but the deformable portion 122 may be formed in the opposite manner, that is, the passage 1a may be closed when the deformable portion 122 receives no external force and opened by the opening/closing portion 2.

Stop part

The deformable portion 122 has an engaging portion 123 on the outer surface. The locking portion 123 is used to deform the deformable portion 122 in a direction to open the passage 1 a. As shown in fig. 1, the deformable portion 122 of the present embodiment has pocket-like members that are open downward on the outer surface of each long side of the deformable portion 122. When the hopper 1 is attached to the medicine dispensing apparatus, as shown in fig. 3, a hook portion 213 (described later) of the opening/closing operation portion 21 is inserted into the pocket-shaped locking portion 123. Further, the passage 1a in the deformable portion 122 can be opened in accordance with the operation of the opening/closing operation portion 21.

The locking portion 123 may be any one that can lock the opening/closing operation portion 21 so that the deformable portion 122 is interlocked with the operation of the opening/closing operation portion 21, and various methods such as adhesion, metal fitting, and the like may be employed as a method for locking. In the present embodiment, since the locking portion 123 is pocket-shaped, the hook portion 213 of the opening/closing operation portion 21 can be detached from the locking portion 123 by simply moving the hopper 1 upward when detaching the hopper 1. Therefore, the removal work of the hopper 1 is easy, and it can be said that the cleaning work of the hopper 1 is easy. In addition, the locking portion 123 may be provided inside the nozzle portion 12 as appropriate.

Hoppers (other embodiments)

Here, another embodiment different from the hopper 1 of the above embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 6. Only differences from the above description will be described, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the above-described embodiments in terms of functions. The hopper 1 of the present embodiment does not use the opening/closing portion 2. The hopper 1 includes a triangular ejection preventing portion 124 at a lower end thereof so as to protrude downward at a position on an upstream side in a moving direction (see fig. 3) of the tipping paper P. If the opening/closing part 2 is not used, the medicine is not temporarily stored in the hopper 1. Therefore, the medicine drops directly from above without stopping in the middle of the medicine, and the potential for dropping is stronger than that of using the opening/closing portion 2. Therefore, when the hopper 1 of the above embodiment is used, the medicine dropped into the dispensing paper P folded in two in the width direction may be splashed and fly (referred to as "splash"). In the present embodiment, the splash guard 124 prevents the medicine from being wound around the upstream side of the folded packing paper P. Thus, "spitting" can be prevented or reduced. A reinforcing portion 124a having a thickness larger than that of other portions such as the nozzle portion 12 is provided in the vertical direction outside the splash guard 124. Therefore, the shape retention of the lower end of the nozzle 12 is ensured in addition to the lower end edge 121 a. The hopper body 11 of the present embodiment includes a vertical reinforcing portion 114 having a larger thickness than the flat plate portion 112 at the center of the side surface, in addition to the frame portion 111. Therefore, the shape retention of the hopper body 11 is improved.

The material and shape of the hopper 1 are described above, and in summary, the hopper 1 may be selected from a material and a shape having such rigidity that the inner surface 1b is elastically deformed by the applied external force X to generate the corrugated vibration. Since it is difficult to express the numerical value of the rigidity, as an example of the hopper 1 having such rigidity, the material and shape of the hopper 1 of the present embodiment (the size is a size showing another embodiment shown in fig. 6) will be described below

Before curing Properties

Plasticity (after 10 minutes of Williams remill) 240

Characteristics after curing (measured with a test piece 2mm thick)

Density 1.14g/cm³Hardness (JIS type A) 52, tensile strength 8.2MPa, elongation at break 325%, and tear strength 23kN/m

In addition, the properties after curing were measured using a test piece 2mm thick.

Size of each part (external size)

Total length in up-down direction: 186mm

Vertical dimension of the hopper body 11: 68mm

Upper end size of hopper main body 11: 123mm X123 mm

Lower end size of hopper main body 11: 63mm (front side) × 53mm (side)

Dimension from the upper end of the hopper body 11 to the holding portion mounting portion 113: 35.6mm

Width of frame 111: 7.5mm

Lower end size (maximum size) of the nozzle portion 12: 33.5mm (front side) × 26.5mm (side)

Thickness: 0.6mm in total, 1.8mm in frame 111 and upper reinforcing portion 114.. times, 2mm in frame 111 at the upper end of hopper body 11, 1.1mm in lower end edge portion 121a and reinforcing portion (splash prevention portion) 124a.. times, 2mm in holding portion mounting portion 113 (root side). times, 4mm in holding portion mounting portion 113 (portion sandwiched by fixing clip 311).. times

Hopper motion based on external force

Since the hopper 1 is formed as described above, an external force X is applied to the hopper 1, and a corrugated vibration is generated on the inner surface 1 b. In the present embodiment, the external force X is vibration applied to the entire hopper 1 by the exciting section 32 described later.

The "external force X" is not limited to the vibration having a constant amplitude and frequency generated by the vibration motor, which is the exciting section 32 of the present embodiment. Amplitude and frequency-varying vibrations, such as shocks (in other words intermittent, amplitude and frequency-varying vibrations, which may also be considered as a form of vibration) generated by an electromagnetic coil or the like.

The "ripple vibration" may be of various forms, and as an example, the vibration of the external force X may be a vibration in which the phase of each vibration, the amplitude of each vibration, or the period (frequency) of each vibration differs at the same time. In other words, the vibration of the external force X is generated on the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1 when the waveforms of the vibrations generated on the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1 are different, or when the phases of the vibrations at the same time are different, such as when the waveforms of the vibrations are the same but the timings at which the waveforms peak. In addition, the amplitude and the period (frequency) can be determined by the average value of the amplitude and the period (frequency) in a time range from a certain time to a time when a predetermined time has elapsed, if the vibration is a vibration in which the waveform changes with time.

By the thus generated wave-like vibration, if viewed microscopically, as shown in fig. 5(B), a separating force Z for separating each medicine M from the inner surface 1B of the hopper 1 can be applied. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5(a), the medicine M can be shaken off the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1. Therefore, the medicine M can be prevented from remaining in the hopper 1.

In addition, in order to efficiently vibrate the medicine M off the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1, the vibration of the inner surface 1b is preferably a vibration that can apply a separating force Z stronger than an adhesive force (friction force or the like) of the medicine M to the inner surface 1b to the medicine M. However, even if a separating force smaller than the adhering force is applied to the drug M, the adhesion of the drug M to the inner surface 1b can be reduced, and therefore, this is not completely meaningless and is effective to some extent. In addition, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable to perform surface treatment on the inner surface 1b because the adhesion of the drug M to the inner surface 1b can be further reduced.

The vibration of the "separating force (Z) greater than the adhering force" applied to the drug M means, for example, that the amplitude of the waveform of the vibration is large or the cycle of the waveform of the vibration is short.

Here, the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is made of rubber, and as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the held portion mounting portion 113 is fixed to the medicine feeder a. Therefore, the vibration generated by the vibration motor, which is the exciting section 32, is transmitted from the hopper holding section 31 to be described later to the holding section mounting section 113, and is transmitted from there to the entire hopper 1.

Since the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is made of a silicone rubber material and has flexibility (flexibility), the flexibility Y is generated by the transmitted vibration as shown in fig. 5 a. The flexibility Y is generated over the entire inner surface 1b of the hopper 1, and is the "ripple vibration" described above. The greater the distance from the holding portion mounting portion 113, the greater the flexibility Y (i.e., the greater the amplitude of the "ripple vibration" described above). Therefore, the vibration near the holding portion mounting portion 113 is substantially equal to the vibration of the exciting portion 32 on the inner surface 1b of the hopper 1, and the other portion forms vibration having a larger amplitude than the vibration of the exciting portion 32. From this, it is estimated that a stronger force can be applied to the medicine M inside the hopper 1 than simply transmitting the vibration of the vibration section 32 directly to the entire hopper 1, and the medicine M can be vibrated more efficiently.

In the present embodiment, the entire inner surface 1b of the hopper 1 (the hopper body 11 and the nozzle 12) is vibrated in a corrugated shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, depending on the arrangement of the hopper 1 of the medicine supply device a, when a portion to which the medicine M is particularly likely to adhere is present in the hopper 1, the inner surface 1b of the portion may be subjected to the wave-like vibration intensively, or only the inner surface 1b of the portion may be subjected to the wave-like vibration in some cases. These can be achieved by changing the shape of the hopper 1, forming a portion having a high local rigidity, or using a material that does not easily vibrate or a material that absorbs vibration in a portion.

Medicine supply device and medicine dispensing device

The medicine supply device a and the medicine dispensing device will be described below. The medicine supply device a includes the hopper 1 and an opening/closing unit 2 that opens or closes the passage 1a so that a predetermined amount of medicine can be taken out. The medicine dispensing device includes the medicine supply device a and a dispensing device B for wrapping the medicine supplied from the medicine supply device a with dispensing paper P. The dispensing device B folds the dispensing paper P continuously supplied in the longitudinal direction in two in the width direction, wraps the dispensing paper P for 1 pack of medicine supplied from the medicine supply container, and then adheres the periphery of the dispensing paper P by heat sealing or the like. Figures 2 and 3 show the main parts of the medicament dispensing apparatus. The two-dot chain line in the figure indicates the dispensing paper P folded in two in the width direction. The moving direction of the dispensing paper P is indicated by an arrow in the figure.

As shown in the drawing, the lower end of the nozzle portion 12 of the hopper 1 is sandwiched between the two-folded packing paper P. The end face of the medicine outlet 121 is shaped like an isosceles triangle as shown in fig. 1, and the apex of the shape is located on the downstream side in the moving direction of the packing paper P.

Hopper holding part and the like

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the hopper 1 is locked and held in the frame of the hopper holding portion 31 having a rectangular frame shape. The hopper holding portion 31 is provided at a position between the upper end and the lower end of the hopper 1. Therefore, the holding portion mounting portion 113 can be formed only by projecting it from the outer surface of the hopper 1, and therefore, a simple shape of the hopper 1 can be formed. The hopper holding portion 31 has a fixing clip 311. The holding portion mounting portion 113 of the hopper 1 is held by the pressing piece 311a of the fixing clip 311, whereby the hopper 1 can be held by the hopper holding portion 31. In the present embodiment, as shown in the drawing, the pressing piece 311a is formed to have a certain width so as to entirely sandwich one side of the holding portion mounting portion 113. Therefore, as will be described later, the vibration generated in the exciting section 32 can be efficiently transmitted to the hopper 1.

The hopper holding portion 31 is supported by a spring 33 that is vertically displaceable. The spring 33 functions to vibrate the hopper 1 as described later, and also functions as a means (vibration insulating means) for preventing the vibration of the exciting section 32 from being transmitted to a portion other than the medicine supply device a of the medicine dispensing device.

In the present embodiment, a coil spring is used as the spring 33. The coil springs are connected to a base 4 fixed to the apparatus side at 4 places 2 each on one side and the opposite side of a rectangular frame-shaped hopper holding portion 31. The type of the spring 33 is not limited to a coil spring, and various springs such as a leaf spring can be used. The spring 33 vibrates mainly in the axial direction (vertical direction), and preferably does not substantially vibrate in the radial direction (horizontal direction). In the present embodiment, the coil spring is used as it is, and a cylindrical inner rail may be provided inside the coil spring, a cylindrical outer rail may be provided outside the coil spring, or the like, and a rail that actively restricts the vibration of the coil spring in the radial direction (horizontal direction) but allows the vibration in the vertical direction may be provided.

Vibration exciting part

The hopper holding section 31 of the present embodiment includes an exciting section 32 that vibrates the hopper 1. The vibration generator 32 of the present embodiment uses a vibration motor having an eccentric weight attached to a rotating shaft of the motor as a vibration source, and may generate vibration having a constant amplitude and frequency, or may generate an impact using a conventional electromagnetic valve or the like. Further, a method of generating vibration using an electromagnet or the like may be employed.

In the present embodiment, the exciting section 32 operates in conjunction with the dispensing device B. Specifically, the exciting section 32 operates at the timing of supplying the medicine from the medicine outlet 121 of the hopper 1 to the dispensing device B. The vibration excitation unit 32 may be operated manually without interlocking the dispensing apparatus B, and the vibration excitation unit 32 may be operated constantly during the time when the medicine dispensing apparatus is powered on, depending on the case.

As described above, since the hopper holding portion 31 is supported by the spring 33, the vibration generated by the exciting portion 32 causes the hopper holding portion 31 to shake, and the hopper 1 also shakes accordingly. The hopper 1 can be vibrated more largely than in the case where the hopper holding portion 31 is fixed. It is possible to efficiently shake off the medicine M remaining on the hopper 1.

As shown in fig. 2, the exciting portion 32 of the present embodiment is fixed to one end portion of one side portion of the hopper holding portion 31 in the longitudinal direction by an attachment portion 32a made of a metal plate. This fixation is performed so that the rotation shaft of the vibration motor is in the horizontal direction. The mounting position of the exciting section 32 is a position near the corner of the rectangular frame-shaped hopper holding section 31. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the position of the rectangular frame-shaped hopper holding portion 31 near the corner is a position where vibration occurs.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vibration of the hopper 1 caused by the vibration transmitted from the exciting section 32 is mainly caused by the vertical vibration of the spring 33. It is assumed that the vertical vibration is based on the vertical axis rotation vibration in which the hopper holding section 31 is supported at 4 by the spring 33 and the position of the hopper holding section 31 near the corner is a position where vibration occurs due to the biased fixed position of the exciting section 32.

In the present embodiment in which the vibration is transmitted to the hopper 1, the trajectory described at a predetermined position of the hopper 1 by the vibration is assumed to be "a trajectory in which a rotation trajectory rotating around an axis in the vertical direction is slightly added to a vertical trajectory along the axis.

As described above, the vibration of the hopper 1 is a combination of the vertical vibration and the vertical rotation around the vertical axis. Therefore, the medicine M remaining on the hopper 1 can be efficiently shaken off. In order to generate such combined vibration in the hopper 1, the exciting section 32 is preferably provided at a position offset from the hopper holding section 31.

Further, it is estimated that the vertical vibration of the hopper 1 is attenuated as it is transmitted to the hopper holding portion 31, and thus the position closer to the exciting portion 32 is larger. The vibration of the hopper 1 is therefore considered to be uneven due to the difference in position. Therefore, even if such uneven vibration is generated, it is considered that the medicine M remaining on the hopper 1 can be efficiently vibrated off.

Opening and closing operation part

As shown in fig. 4, the opening/closing unit 2 includes a pair of opening/closing operation units 21 that can sandwich the deformable unit 122 of the nozzle unit 12 of the hopper 1 from one side and the other side, and a driving unit 22 for operating the opening/closing operation units 21. Each opening/closing operation part 21 is made of a metal material and has a rectangular shape with one missing side in cross section. The opening/closing operation unit 21 includes an elongated plate-shaped pressing portion 211 that can approach the deformable portion 122 to be pressed, and a coupling portion 214 that extends from both ends of the pressing portion 211 toward the driving portion 22. The pressing portions 211, 211 are provided to extend in an oblique direction (i.e., a direction crossing the vertical direction across the deformable portion 122 when viewed from the side). The pressing portions 211, 211 are parallel to each other with the deformable portion 122 interposed therebetween. As shown in fig. 3, the pressing portions 211 and 211 are provided outside the dispensing paper P moving in the medicine dispensing device and parallel to the side edges of the dispensing paper P.

The reason why the pressing portions 211, 211 are provided outside the wrapping paper P is that if the pressing portions 211, 211 are located within the line of the wrapping paper P (the two-dot chain line in fig. 3), the wrapping paper P is sandwiched by a paper sandwiching portion (not shown) for sandwiching the wrapping paper P on the downstream side of the nozzle portion 12 at the same timing as the opening/closing portion 2 opens the deformable portion 12 (that is, the forces applied to the wrapping paper P by the two portions are opposite), and therefore the wrapping paper P is damaged. Another reason is that if the pressing portions 211, 211 are positioned in the line of the packaging paper P, the medicine may adhere to the pressing portions 211, 211 themselves.

The opening/closing operation unit 21 is provided at a position above the lower end of the hopper 1. By this, the opening/closing operation portion 21 is separated from the medicine passing through the passage 1a by the hopper 1, and the medicine does not remain around the opening/closing operation portion 21. Further, the opening/closing operation portion 21 is provided as close as possible to the lower end of the hopper 1, so that the falling distance of the medicine is further reduced and "ejection" of the medicine is less likely to occur.

In the present embodiment, the driving unit 22 is provided on the side surface of the nozzle unit 12. The illustrated right switch operating portion 21 moves leftward when the chute 1a of the hopper 1 is closed, and the illustrated left switch operating portion 21 moves rightward when the chute 1a of the hopper 1 is closed. The driving unit 22 is driven by a motor, and moves each coupling unit 214 to the left and right as shown by meshing gears (not shown). During this movement, the pressing portions 211, 211 are kept in parallel.

The shape and operation of the pressing portion 211 are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the pressing portion may be a cantilever-based pressing portion, a pressing portion driven by a cylinder, a pressing portion provided at one end thereof with a hinge that rotates in a sector shape, or the like. In short, the pressing portion 211 may be changed to any form as long as it can move relative to the deformable portion 122 and deform the deformable portion 122 so as to open or close the passage 1 a. The operation in the pressing direction (the direction approaching the deformable portion 122) may be performed only by the driving portion 22, and the operation in the opposite direction may be performed by the repulsive force of a spring or the like (without depending on the driving portion 22).

In the case where the deformable portion 122 of the hopper 1 is formed so as to be closed when the path 1a is not subjected to an external force and opened by the opening/closing portion 2, for example, only the hook portion 213 described later may be provided to open the path 1a without providing the pressing portion 211 in the switch operating portion 21.

Buffer part

Each of the pressing portions 211, 211 of the present embodiment has a buffer portion 212 having elasticity on the inner surface (i.e., the portion facing the deformable portion 122 of the hopper 1). The buffer portion 212 can absorb the thickness variation of the deformable portion 122 caused by the forming error of the hopper 1. That is, when the thickness of the deformable portion 122 varies over the entire circumference, if the inelastic pressing portions 211, 211 made of a metal material as in the present embodiment directly press the deformable portion 122, it is difficult to cause the deformable portion 122 to adhere closely and completely close the passage 1 a. Therefore, the portion where the thickness of the deformable portion 122 becomes small can be pressed with a relatively large force by the buffer portion 212. In addition, a portion where the thickness of the deformation portion 122 becomes large may be pressed with a relatively small force. So that the passage 1a can be completely closed. In some cases, the buffer portion 212 may be provided only on the inner surface of either one of the pressing portions 211 and 211.

Here, when the deformable portion 122 is brought into close contact with and closes the duct 1a, as shown in fig. 4(B), the end portion of the duct 1a needs to be folded and deformed. Therefore, if the pressing force of the end portion of the passage 1a is not made larger than the center portion of the passage 1a, the passage 1a cannot be completely closed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cushioning portion 212a near the center in the extending direction of each of the pressing portions 211, 211 has a larger elasticity than the cushioning portions 212b near both ends. In other words, the cushioning portion 212a near the center is softer than the cushioning portions 212b near the both ends. In the present embodiment, the buffer portion 212a near the center is made of sponge, and the buffer portions 212b near the both ends are made of rubber. Thus, in the state shown in fig. 4(B), the pressing force at the end of the passage 1a can be made larger, and the passage 1a can be reliably closed. In the present embodiment, the cushioning portion 212a near the center is made thicker than the cushioning portions 212b near the both ends in order to maintain the balance of the pressing forces. Thus, the buffer portions 212a near the center press the center side of the deformable portion 122 first, and the buffer portions 212b near both ends press the center side of the deformable portion 122 slightly later. It is possible to completely close the passage 1a uniformly and snugly.

The pressing portion 211 of each of the switch operating portions 21 and 21 of the present embodiment integrally has a hook portion 213 projecting upward. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the hook 213 is inserted into a pocket-like locking portion 123 provided in the nozzle 12. When the pressing portion 211 moves in a direction away from the deformable portion 122, the hook portion 213 moves the deformable portion 122 in a direction to open the passage 1 a. By which the passage 1a can be surely opened. Instead of using the hook 213, the passage 1a may be naturally opened by the elasticity of the deformable portion 122 itself.

Description of the symbols

1 hopper, 1a channel, 1b inner surface of hopper, 31 hopper holding part,

32 excitation part, 33 spring, A medicine supply device, M medicine and X external force.

Claims (6)

1. A hopper having a passage through which a medicine can pass downward,

the hopper has: a frame portion having a relatively thick plate thickness and a high rigidity; and a flat plate portion surrounded by the frame portion, having a relatively thin plate thickness and low rigidity,

the inner surface of the hopper is formed without a step,

by being applied with an external force, a corrugated vibration is generated in the inner surface.

2. A medication supply device is provided with:

a hopper having a passage through which the medicine can pass downward, having an inner surface formed without a step, and generating a corrugated vibration on the inner surface by applying an external force,

a hopper holding portion for holding the hopper, an

An excitation section provided in the hopper holding section and configured to apply vibration to the hopper,

wherein the hopper has: a frame portion having a relatively thick plate thickness and a high rigidity; and a flat plate portion surrounded by the frame portion, having a relatively thin plate thickness and low rigidity.

3. The medication delivery device of claim 2,

the external force is a vibration applied to the hopper in such a manner as to be applied to the entire hopper,

the vibration of the external force and the vibration of the inner surface differ in phase, amplitude, or cycle of each vibration at the same time.

4. The medication supply device of claim 2, wherein the hopper is formed of a resilient material.

5. The medication delivery device of claim 4,

the hopper holding part is supported by a spring capable of displacing in the vertical direction,

the spring vibrates in the axial direction, is practically not vibrated in the radial direction, and

the hopper holding portion is rectangular frame-shaped, and the mounting position of the exciting portion is a position near a corner of the rectangular frame-shaped hopper holding portion.

6. The medication delivery device of claim 4 or 5, wherein,

the plate-like holding portion mounting portion of the hopper projects from an outer side surface,

the hopper holding part has a fixing clip, and

the hopper holding portion holds the hopper between an upper end and a lower end of the hopper by sandwiching the holding portion mounting portion by the fixing clip.