# US 11,897,647 B2 · Individual packaging device for tablets

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- Number: US 11,897,647 B2
- Document ID: US11897647B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/712,364
- Filed: 2022-04-04
- Published: 2022-07-21
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-09
- Assignees: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yasuyuki Takada; Takashi Iwatani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897647B2

## CPC

- B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets}
- A61J 7/0084: {for multiple medicaments}
- A61J 7/04: Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- B65B 5/12: Introducing successive articles, e.g. confectionery products, of different shape or size in predetermined positions
- B65B 43/54: Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- G07F 11/44: in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
- G07F 11/62: in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
- G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)}
- A61J 1/035: {Blister-type containers (blisters in general B65D75/36)}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- 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
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A tablet packaging device capable of shortening operation time required for packaging tablets for one tray. The tablet packaging device includes a packaging portion configured to accommodate tablets dispensed from a dispensing port into a tray. The packaging portion includes: a tray loading unit to which the tray is mountable; a tray unloading unit to which the tray accommodating the tablets is mountable; a tray driving unit, which is configured to removably support the tray, move the supported tray among positions of the dispensing port, the tray loading unit, and the tray unloading unit, and move the desired accommodation recess portion to the dispensing port for tablets; a tray attaching unit configured to attach the tray from the tray loading unit to the tray driving unit; and a tray detaching unit configured to detach the tray from the tray driving unit and place the tray on the tray unloading unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tablet packaging device, comprising:
a packaging portion configured to dispense a tablet from a tablet accommodating portion based on prescription information, and distribute and accommodate the tablet to a tray having a plurality of accommodation recess portions,
wherein the packaging portion includes:
a tray loading unit which is movable between a first tray handling position at which the tray before loading a tablet is handled, the first tray handling position being outside the packaging portion and a first waiting position at which the tray before loading a tablet waits, the first waiting position being inside of the packaging portion, and to which the tray before loading a tablet is mountable,
a tray unloading unit which is movable between a second tray handling position at which the tray accommodating a tablet is handled, the second tray handling position being outside the packaging portion and a second waiting position at which the tray accommodating a tablet waits, the second waiting position being inside of the packaging portion; the tray unloading unit being arranged adjacent to the tray loading unit, and to which the tray accommodating the tablet is mountable, and
a tray driving unit configured to removably support the tray and move the supported tray, in a width direction and a front-and-rear direction of the tablet packaging device, between the first waiting position of the tray loading unit and the second waiting position of the tray unloading unit the tray driving unit being further configured to move a desired accommodation recess portion of the tray to allow the tablet dispensed from the tablet accommodating portion to directly fall into the accommodation recess portion of the tray;
the tray before prescription is mounted to the tray loading unit at the first tray handling position outside the packaging portion,
a tablet dispensed from the tablet accommodating portion based on prescription information is discharged into the accommodation recess portions of the tray, and
the tray accommodating the tablet is detachable at the second tray handling position outside the packaging portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tablet packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a tray attaching unit configured to attach the tray from the tray loading unit to the tray driving unit; and
a tray detaching unit configured to detach the tray accommodating the tablet from the tray driving unit and place the tray on the tray unloading unit, wherein
the tray driving unit is configured to support the tray at positions above the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit,
the tray driving unit is configured to move the tray in a horizontal plane,
the tray attaching unit is configured to lift up the tray from the tray loading unit and attach the tray to the tray driving unit, and
the tray detaching unit is configured to detach the tray accommodating the tablet from the tray driving unit, lower the tray, and place the tray on the tray unloading unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tablet packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the tray driving unit includes an XY robot configured to move the supported tray in the width direction and the front-and-rear direction of the device in a horizontal plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tablet packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the tray driving unit includes:
a conveyance stage which is capable of being positioned above the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit, and includes division chambers which are arranged at positions matching with positions of the accommodation recess portions of the tray and are opened in the up-and-down direction; and
a tray fixing member configured to attach the tray to a lower side of the conveyance stage under a state in which positions of the division chambers and positions of the accommodation recess portions of the tray match each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tablet packaging device according to claim 1, wherein
the tray is mounted to the tray loading unit under a state in which the tray is placed on an adapter, which is opened on an upper side and is capable of accommodating the tray from the upper side,
the adapter includes stage engagement ratchets which are attachable to and detachable from tray fixing members of the conveyance stage,
the tray fixing members extend downward from side edges of the conveyance stage and have engagement holes which are engageable with the stage engagement ratchets,
the tray is attached to the tray driving unit in a state of being sandwiched between a lower surface of the conveyance stage and an upper surface of the adapter, and the conveyance stage is driven such that one of the division chambers is located at a position corresponding to the dispensing port so that tablets are discharged, and
the tray having the tablets discharged thereto and accommodated therein is mounted to the tray unloading unit in a state of being placed on the adapter.

### Claim 6

A tablet packaging device, comprising:
a packaging portion configured to dispense a tablet from a tablet accommodating portion based on prescription information, and distribute and accommodate the tablet to a tray having a plurality of accommodation recess portions,
wherein the packaging portion includes:
a tray loading unit which is movable between a first tray handling position at which the tray before loading a tablet is handled, the first tray handling position being outside the packaging portion and a first waiting position at which the tray before loading a tablet waits, the first waiting position being inside of the packaging portion, and to which the tray before loading a tablet is mountable,
a tray unloading unit which is movable between a second tray handling position at which the tray accommodating a tablet is handled, the second tray handling position being outside the packaging portion and a second waiting position at which the tray accommodating a tablet waits, the second waiting position being inside of the packaging portion; the tray unloading unit being arranged adjacent to the tray loading unit, and to which the tray accommodating the tablet is mountable, and
a tray driving unit configured to removably support the tray and move the supported tray, in a width direction and a front-and-rear direction of the tablet packaging device, between the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit; the tray driving unit being further configured to move a desired accommodation recess portion of the tray to allow the tablet dispensed from the tablet accommodating portion to directly fall into the accommodation recess portion of the tray;
wherein
the tray is mounted to the tray loading unit under a state in which the tray is placed on an adapter, which is opened on an upper side and is capable of accommodating the tray from the upper side,
the adapter includes stage engagement ratchets which are attachable to and detachable from tray fixing members of the conveyance stage,
the tray fixing members extend downward from side edges of the conveyance stage and have engagement holes which are engageable with the stage engagement ratchets,
the tray is attached to the tray driving unit in a state of being sandwiched between a lower surface of the conveyance stage and an upper surface of the adapter, and the conveyance stage is driven such that one of the division chambers is located at a position corresponding to the dispensing port so that tablets are discharged, and
the tray having the tablets discharged thereto and accommodated therein is mounted to the tray unloading unit in a state of being placed on the adapter,
the tray before prescription is mounted to the tray loading unit at the first tray handling position outside the packaging portion,
a tablet dispensed from the tablet accommodating portion based on prescription information is discharged into the accommodation recess portions of the tray, and
the tray accommodating the tablet is detachable at the second tray handling position outside the packaging portion.