Tablet dividing apparatus, tablet packing machine, and tablet dividing method

A tablet dividing method that is performed by using

• retaining means for retaining a tablet at a designated position, the retaining means being disposed midway along a falling path of the tablet,
• tablet cutting means for cutting the tablet by moving into and out of the falling path, and
• center-position determination means for aligning a center position of the tablet with an entry position of the tablet cutting means,
• wherein the retaining means controls
• a first movable member that is located above the entry position, that forms a lateral surface of the falling path, and that is capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to the falling path, and
• a second movable member that is positioned below the entry position in such a manner as to narrow the falling path and that is capable of moving in a direction parallel to, but opposite to, the first movable member,
• wherein the tablet dividing method executes
• a step of moving the first movable member toward a wall surface of the falling path, the wall surface facing the first movable member, when the tablet moves to a position where the tablet is in contact with the second movable member,
• a step of moving the second movable member in a direction away from a wall surface of the falling path, the wall surface facing the second movable member,
• a determination step in which the center-position determination means determines that the center position and the entry position are aligned with each other in the step of moving the first movable member and the step of moving the second movable member, and
• a cutting step of cutting the tablet by using the tablet cutting means.