Medicine Packaging Apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a medicine packaging apparatus including: a packaging material unwinding unit configured to unwind a packaging material; a packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit; a tension applying unit configured to apply tension to the packaging material; and a conveyance control unit configured to control at least the packaging material unwinding unit. The conveyance control unit controls the packaging material transfer unit to intermittently transfer the packaging material, and controls at least the packaging material unwinding unit, so that when the packaging material is being intermittently transferred, an amount of the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit is made smaller than an amount of the packaging material transferred by the packaging material transfer unit.

1 . A medicine packaging apparatus comprising:
 a packaging material conveying unit configured to convey an elongated sheet-like packaging material,   the medicine packaging apparatus being configured to package medicine with the packaging material that is being conveyed by the packaging material conveying unit,   wherein the packaging material conveying unit comprises:   a packaging material unwinding unit configured to unwind the packaging material;   a packaging material transfer unit configured to transfer the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit to a downstream side of a conveyance direction;   a tension applying unit located on an upstream side of the packaging material transfer unit in the conveyance direction of the packaging material and configured to apply tension to the packaging material; and   a conveyance control unit configured to control at least the packaging material unwinding unit, and   wherein the conveyance control unit controls the packaging material transfer unit to intermittently transfer the packaging material, and controls at least the packaging material unwinding unit, so that when the packaging material is being intermittently transferred by the packaging material transfer unit, an amount of the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit is made smaller than an amount of the packaging material transferred by the packaging material transfer unit by limiting the unwinding of the packaging material by the packaging material unwinding unit, and when the intermittent transfer of the packaging material by the packaging material transfer unit is stopped, the unwinding is performed in an amount of a difference between the amount of the packaging material unwound by the packaging material unwinding unit and the amount of the packaging material transferred by the packaging material transfer unit.   
     
     
         2 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tension applying unit includes a pressing member provided movably between a limit position on a loose side and a limit position on a tension side and configured to press the packaging material, and   the conveyance control unit controls the packaging material unwinding unit so that the pressing member moves corresponding to the amount of the difference within a range between the limit position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension side, excluding both ends.   
     
     
         3 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an origin detector configured to detect whether or not the pressing member is located at an original position, wherein   the original position is set within the range between the limit position on the loose side and the limit position on the tension side, excluding both ends, and   the conveyance control unit controls the unwinding of the packaging material by the packaging material unwinding unit, based on detection results by the origin detector.   
     
     
         4 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the pressing member is vertically movable and presses the packaging material from above by its self-weight.   
     
     
         5 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the packaging material unwinding unit comprises a device configured to forcibly unwind the packaging material.   
     
     
         6 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the packaging material unwinding unit comprises:   a holding shaft provided rotatably about a predetermined axis and configured to hold a rolled body formed by winding the packaging material, with the predetermined axis and an axis of the rolled body being in coincidence with each other; and   a rotary drive unit configured to drive the holding shaft to rotate about the predetermined axis, as the device configured to forcibly unwind the packaging material.   
     
     
         7 . The medicine packaging apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the rotary drive unit is capable of limiting the rotation of the holding shaft.