EP-4741302-A1 - MEDICINE PACKAGING DEVICE, MEDICINE PACKAGING METHOD, AND ROLL

EP4741302A1EP 4741302 A1EP4741302 A1EP 4741302A1EP-4741302-A1

Abstract

In order to allow use of even a roll of a packaging sheet including a splice, provided is a medicine packaging device (10), including: a support portion (21) configured to support a roll (6) of a packaging sheet (7); a hopper (24) configured to guide a medicine to the packaging sheet (7) fed from the roll (6); a packaging portion (25) configured to package the medicine in the packaging sheet (7); and a splice sensor (22), which is provided on an upstream side of the hopper (24) in a feeding direction for the packaging sheet (7), and is configured to detect a splice (5) of the packaging sheet (7) fed from the roll (6).

Inventors

YUYAMA, HIROYUKI
MATSUMURA, KAZUAKI

Assignees

YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240918

Claims (20)

A medicine packaging device, comprising: a support portion configured to support a roll of a packaging sheet; a guide configured to guide a medicine to the packaging sheet fed from the roll; a packaging portion configured to package the medicine in the packaging sheet; and a splice sensor, which is provided on an upstream side of the guide in a feeding direction for the packaging sheet, and is configured to detect a splice of the packaging sheet fed from the roll.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a printing portion, which is provided on the upstream side of the guide in the feeding direction for the packaging sheet, and is configured to perform printing on the packaging sheet fed from the roll, wherein the splice sensor is provided on an upstream side of the printing portion in the feeding direction for the packaging sheet.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement portion configured to acquire a feed amount of the packaging sheet.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet absence sensor configured to detect a terminal end of the packaging sheet fed from the roll, wherein the sheet absence sensor also serves as the splice sensor.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a control portion configured to execute various processes, wherein, when the splice sensor detects the splice, the control portion is allowed to execute a comparison process of comparing a remaining number representing the number of required packages for the medicine and a packageable number representing the number of packs being produceable between a detection position for the splice sensor and a packaging position for the packaging portion.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 5, wherein, when the remaining number is less than or equal to or less than the packageable number as a result of the comparison process, the control portion executes a normal process of continuing introduction of the medicine through the guide and the packaging performed by the packaging portion, for the remaining number.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, when the remaining number is equal to or more than or more than the packageable number as a result of the comparison process, the control portion executes an exception process on a subsequent packaging portion including the splice in the packaging sheet.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 1, wherein, when the splice sensor detects the splice, introduction of the medicine through the guide into a subsequent packaging portion including the splice in the packaging sheet is stopped.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 8, wherein the introduction of the medicine through the guide is further stopped for the subsequent packaging portion adjacent to the subsequent packaging portion including the splice.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, after the introduction of the medicine is stopped, the introduction of the medicine through the guide into the subsequent packaging portion to be subsequently sent to an introducing position for the medicine is resumed.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 2, wherein, when the splice sensor detects the splice, the printing portion prints an indication for presence of a splice or interrupts the printing for a subsequent packaging portion including the splice in the packaging sheet.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 11, wherein the printing portion further prints the indication for the presence of the splice or interrupts the printing for the subsequent packaging portion adjacent to the subsequent packaging portion including the splice.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 2, wherein the printing portion is allowed to perform printing on the packaging sheet fed from the roll for each subsequent packaging portion, which is to be a medicine pack, wherein the packaging portion produces a medicine pack strip including a plurality of successive medicine packs by repeating packaging, wherein, when the splice is undetected, the printing portion continuously prints indications in a predetermined order in accordance with the order, and when the splice is detected, the printing portion continues printing the indications in the predetermined order in accordance with the order while skipping at least a subsequent packaging portion including the splice.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 13, wherein, when the splice is detected, the printing portion prints an indication for presence of a splice or interrupts the printing for the subsequent packaging portion including the splice.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, when the splice is detected, the medicine is introduced through the guide while skipping at least the subsequent packaging portion including the splice.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 2, wherein, when the splice sensor detects the splice, the printing portion performs printing an indication for interruption of packaging on the packaging sheet or interrupts the printing on the packaging sheet, and interrupts introduction of the medicine through the guide.
The medicine packaging device according to claim 2, wherein, when the splice sensor detects the splice, the printing portion is allowed to selectively execute: a first process of continuously printing indications in a predetermined order in accordance with the order while skipping at least a subsequent packaging portion including the splice, and introducing the medicine through the guide while skipping at least the subsequent packaging portion including the splice; or a second process of printing an indication for interruption of packaging or interrupting the printing on the packaging sheet and interrupting the introduction of the medicine through the guide.
A medicine packaging method, comprising: an introducing step of introducing a medicine to a packaging sheet fed from a roll of the packaging sheet; and a packaging step of packaging the medicine that has been introduced, in the packaging sheet, wherein a splice of the packaging sheet fed from the roll is detected before reaching an introducing position at which the medicine is introduced to the packaging sheet, and wherein, when the splice is detected, a process for medicine packaging that is different from a process performed in a case in which the packaging sheet has no splice is performed.
The medicine packaging method according to claim 18, further comprising a printing step of printing on the packaging sheet fed from the roll before the introducing step, wherein, when the splice is detected, printing that is different from printing performed in a case in which the packaging sheet has no splice is performed on the packaging sheet.
A roll, which is formed by winding a packaging sheet, wherein the packaging sheet includes: a first sheet; a second sheet connected to the first sheet with presence of a splice therebetween; and a mark on the splice.

Description

Technical Field The invention of the present disclosure relates to a medicine packaging device, a medicine packaging method, and a roll of a packaging sheet to be used for the device and the method. Background Art There has been known a medicine packaging device that packages a medicine such as a tablet or a powdered medicine in a packaging sheet for each dose (each pack) based on a prescription to produce a medicine pack (see Patent Literature 1). Citation List Patent Literature [PTL 1] JP 2008-273624 A Summary of Invention Technical Problem In the medicine packaging device as described above, the packaging sheet is fed from a roll of the packaging sheet. One dose unit of a medicine is supplied to a subsequent packaging portion of the packaging sheet, which is to be one medicine pack, and the medicine is packaged in the packaging sheet (the subsequent packaging portion). This operation is repeatedly performed to produce a strip of medicine packs. Each of the medicine packs may have a patient's name, a medicine name, administration instructions on when to take the medicine (for example, morning, midday, evening, before meals, after meals, or the like), and the like, which are printed thereon. The roll of the packaging sheet is manufactured from a roll stock in a roll manufacture factory. The roll stock may include a splice between packaging sheets. A plurality of rolls are manufactured from the roll stock including a splice. In this case, the rolls are manufactured so as not to include the splice, thus resulting in a low yield. Meanwhile, when a roll including a splice is formed and the medicine packaging device uses the roll to produce medicine packs, the splice appears on one of the medicine packs at a certain time. The medicine pack having the splice may be unacceptable for pharmacists and patients because, for example, it is difficult (for a pharmacist) to check a medicine in the medicine pack, and the medicine pack having the splice has an unattractive appearance. Accordingly, the present disclosure has an object to provide novel technical means that allows use of even a roll of a packaging sheet including a splice. Solution to Problem According to the present disclosure, there is provided a medicine packaging device roll, including: a support portion configured to support a roll of a packaging sheet; a guide configured to guide a medicine to the packaging sheet fed from the roll; a packaging portion configured to package the medicine in the packaging sheet; and a splice sensor, which is provided on an upstream side of the guide in a feeding direction for the packaging sheet, and is configured to detect a splice of the packaging sheet fed from the roll. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a medicine packaging method, including: an introducing step of introducing a medicine to a packaging sheet fed from a roll of the packaging sheet; and a packaging step of packaging the medicine that has been introduced, in the packaging sheet. A splice of the packaging sheet fed from the roll is detected before reaching an introducing position at which the medicine is introduced to the packaging sheet. When the splice is detected, a process for medicine packaging that is different from a process performed in a case in which the packaging sheet has no splice is performed. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a roll, which is formed by winding a packaging sheet. The packaging sheet includes: a first sheet; a second sheet connected to the first sheet with presence of a splice therebetween; and a mark on the splice. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the medicine packaging device and the medicine packaging method of the present disclosure, even the roll of the packaging sheet including the splice can be used for medicine packaging. According to the roll of the present disclosure, the detection of the splice is facilitated, and a different process can be performed depending on the presence/absence of a splice. Thus, the roll can be used for medicine packaging. Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is an overall view for illustrating a medicine packaging device according to one embodiment.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging unit of the medicine packaging device.FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the packaging unit.FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an example of a medicine pack strip.FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a packaging sheet.FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the packaging sheet.FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a sensor.FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for illustrating one example of a heat sealing portion.FIG. 9 is an explanatory view when viewed in a direction along center axes of heater shafts.FIG. 10 is an explanatory view when viewed in the direction along the center axes of the heater shafts.FIG. 11 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the medicine packaging device.FIG. 12A is a flowchart of a post-detection process.FIG. 12B is a flowchart of the post-