IP Library Granted Patent US 12,612,200
Granted Patent B2
US 12,612,200 · App. 18/615,842 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Drug supply apparatus

Inventors: Syou Oumi (Ehime, JP); Shiyouji Shibata (Ehime, JP); Toshiaki Ueta (Tokushima, JP)
Assignee: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
B65B9/087B65B1/30B65B41/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,612,200
App. No.
18/615,842
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drug supply apparatus of the present disclosure includes a drug supply unit configured to supply a drug to a drug delivery position; a downstream conveying unit configured to convey a strip-shaped first drug packaging paper, folded in half in advance along its longitudinal direction, in such a way that the first drug packaging paper receives the drug at the drug delivery position; an upstream conveying unit configured to convey a strip-shaped second drug packaging paper folded in half in advance along its longitudinal direction toward the first drug packaging paper; and a connecting part configured to connect a downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper to the first drug packaging paper.

Claims (30)

1 . A drug supply apparatus, comprising:

a drug supply unit configured to supply a drug to a drug delivery position;

a downstream conveying unit configured to convey a first drug packaging paper in such a way that the first drug packaging paper receives the drug at the drug delivery position, wherein the first drug packaging paper is strip shaped and folded in half in advance along a longitudinal direction of the first drug packaging paper;

an upstream conveying unit configured to convey a second drug packaging paper toward the first drug packaging paper, wherein the second drug packaging paper is strip shaped and folded in half in advance along a longitudinal direction of the second drug packaging paper; and

a connecting part configured to connect a downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper to the first drug packaging paper, wherein:

the downstream conveying unit includes a pair of downstream rollers,

the upstream conveying unit includes a first upstream guide member, a second upstream guide member, a first pair of rollers, a second pair of rollers, and a moving member,

the first upstream guide member, the second upstream guide member, the first pair of rollers, and the second pair of rollers are disposed in the moving member, and

the first upstream guide member has a plate shape, and the first upstream guide member is configured to guide the first drug packaging paper with the first upstream guide member being sandwiched by the first drug packaging paper.

2 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a packaging paper holding part configured to hold a package of the second drug packaging paper.

3 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the packaging paper holding part is configured to further hold a package of the first drug packaging paper.

4 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the connecting part includes a pressing part configured to press a connecting member that is configured to connect the first drug packaging paper with the second drug packaging paper.

5 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cutting part configured to cut the first drug packaging paper, wherein

the connecting part connects the downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper to an upstream end part of the first drug packaging paper, the upstream end part being formed when the cutting part cuts the first drug packaging paper.

6 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the upstream conveying unit conveys the second drug packaging paper in such a way that the downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper holds, in an inside of the downstream end part, the upstream end part of the first drug packaging paper, and a ridge line of the second drug packaging paper overlaps a ridge line of the first drug packaging paper.

7 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the moving member is configured to move the second drug packaging paper in such a way that the downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper faces the upstream end part of the first drug packaging paper.

8 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the second upstream guide member has a plate shape, and the second upstream guide member is configured to guide the second drug packaging paper with the second upstream guide member being sandwiched by the second drug packaging paper.

9 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a pair of holding members disposed between the upstream conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit, and each of the pair of holding members has a plate shape.

10 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving member is configured to be located at a first guide position and a second guide position,

when the moving member is located at the first guide position, the first pair of rollers guide the first drug packaging paper without nipping the first drug packaging paper, and the first upstream guide member guides the first drug packaging paper,

when the moving member is located at the second guide position, the second pair of rollers nip and convey the second drug packaging paper, and the second upstream guide member guides the second drug packaging paper at the time of replacing the first drug packaging paper with the second drug packaging paper, and

a position of the second upstream guide member when the moving member is located at the second guide position is the same as a position of the first upstream guide member when the moving member is located at the first guide position.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 12, 2024
From: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069618/0382 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66903 FRAME: 993. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 29, 2024
From: OUMI, SYOU; SHIBATA, SHIYOUJI; UETA, TOSHIAKI
To: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066948/0752 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2024
From: OUMI, SYOU; SHIBATA, SHIYOUJI; UETA, TOSHIAKI
To: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066903/0993 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-159486 · Sep 29, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022035218 · Sep 21, 2022
Related Publication 20240228087A1 · Jul 11, 2024
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