# US 10,864,717 B2 · Tablet printing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,717 B2 - Document ID: US10864717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/204,229 - Filed: 2018-11-29 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-27 - Assignees: Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation - Applicants: Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation - Inventors: Shinichi Ogimoto; Ryo Ikuta; Yutaka Okabe; Hitoshi Aoyagi; Hikaru Hoshino; Azusa Hirano; Toru Kuribayashi; Yasutsugu Tsuruoka; Junpei Tanaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864717B2 ## CPC - B41F 17/36: for printing on tablets, pills, or like small articles - B41F 23/005: {of non-flat articles} - B65G 47/1471: {Movement in one direction, substantially outwards} - A61J 3/007: {Marking tablets or the like (apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36)} - B65G 2201/027: Tablets, capsules, pills or the like - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a first rotator having an inner space; a duct configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator; a suction pipe configured to suck inside the duct; a second rotator arranged to face the first rotator across the duct; a conveyor belt wrapped around the first rotator and the second rotator; and a print head that performs printing on a tablet held on the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of suction holes which communicate with the inner space of the first rotator and that of the duct, and are arranged in the rotation direction of the first rotator. The first rotator and the duct constitutes a suction chamber that applies a suction force to those of the suction holes of the conveyor belt located around the outer periphery of the first rotator and the duct. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tablet printing apparatus, comprising: a first rotator having an inner space; a chamber configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator; a suction pipe configured to suck inside the chamber; a second rotator arranged to face the first rotator across the chamber; a conveyor belt wrapped around the first rotator and the second rotator; and a print head configured to perform printing on a tablet that is held on the conveyor belt, wherein the first rotator is provided with a through hole extending in a rotation direction of the first rotator, the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator through the through hole, the conveyor belt includes a plurality of suction holes which communicate with the inner space of the first rotator and an inner space of the chamber, and are arranged in the rotation direction of the first rotator, and the first rotator and the chamber constitutes a suction chamber that applies a suction force to those of the suction holes of the conveyor belt that are located around an outer periphery of the first rotator and an outer periphery of the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator from a surface of the first rotator that extends in the rotation direction of the first rotator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a suction force adjuster configured to reduce the suction force in a first area of the conveyor belt including at least an area under the print head compared to a second area of the conveyor belt other than the first area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; and a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the conveyor pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a pair of guide pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the guide pulleys configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the guide pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a guide pulley having a plurality of through holes and provided to the rotating shaft, the guide pulley configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator through the through holes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein distance between the first rotator and the chamber is smaller than a thickness of the tablet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suction force adjuster configured to reduce the suction force in a first area of the conveyor belt including at least an area under the print head compared to a second area of the conveyor belt other than the first area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; and a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the conveyor pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a pair of guide pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the guide pulleys configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the guide pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a guide pulley having a plurality of through holes and provided to the rotating shaft, the guide pulley configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator through the through holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the suction force adjuster is a suction force lowering member located in the suction chamber at a position corresponding to the first area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of through holes, which communicate with the inner space of the chamber, are formed on the chamber to be arranged in conveying direction of the tablet, and the suction force adjuster is configured to adjust the suction force by reducing size of the through holes in a position corresponding to the first area smaller than in other positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; and a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the conveyor pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a pair of guide pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the guide pulleys configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space between the guide pulleys of the first rotator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotator includes: a rotating shaft; a pair of conveyor pulleys that are provided to the rotating shaft so as to face each other while being spaced apart in a direction in which the rotating shaft extends, the conveyor belt being wrapped around the conveyor pulleys; and a guide pulley having a plurality of through holes and provided to the rotating shaft, the guide pulley configured to rotate together with the conveyor pulleys in contact with the conveyor belt, and wherein the chamber is configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator through the through holes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein distance between the first rotator and the chamber is smaller than a thickness of the tablet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a supplier configured to supply the tablet onto the conveyor belt; an imager located downstream of the supplier in a conveying direction of the tablet, and configured to photograph the tablet; a gas blower located downstream of the supplier and upstream of the imager in the conveying direction of the tablet, and configured to blow gas toward the conveyor belt; and a gas suction member configured to suck the gas from the gas blower, wherein the gas suction member includes an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port is an opening arranged along the conveying direction of the tablet, and is located upstream of the print head in the conveying direction of the tablet, and the outlet port is connected to the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The tablet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a suction force adjuster, wherein the suction chamber is divided into a plurality of compartments, and the suction force adjuster is configured to adjust the suction force with respect to each of the compartments.