Drug packaging device

• US 5,787,678 A
• Filed: 05/01/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Inventors: Koike, Naoki, Hayashi, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): MOON, DANIEL B
• Application Number:
  US08/848,862
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 53/154, 53/155, 53/168, 53/237, 53/238, 53/248, 53/493, 221/12, 221/93, 221/94, 221/95, 221/124, 221/129, 221/133, 221/252, 221/296
• US Class Current: 53/154
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/54 Feeding articles along multiple paths to a single packaging position
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/002 Pivoting plates

Abstract

A drug packaging device having a shutter provided in a guide path which can prevent drugs from rebounding from the shutter once they land on the shutter so that they can settle on the shutter as quickly as possible. The shutter is made up of a plate-shaped body made from a soft, flexible silicone resin, and a Teflon resin coating layer formed on the body. Such a shutter can absorb shocks when drugs land on the shutter and prevent them from rebounding when they land on the shutter. Thus, drugs stabilize quickly after they land on the shutter.

Claims

1. A drug packaging device comprising a plurality of drug feeders for storing drugs, a guide path through which drugs discharged from any of said drug feeders drop, a shutter provided in said guide path so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position and adapted to receive drugs discharged from any of said feeders when it is in the closed position and allow the drugs thereon to drop when moved to the open position, a shutter drive means for moving said shutter between the open and closed positions, and a packaging unit provided under said guide path for receiving and packaging drugs dropped from said shutter when said shutter is moved to the open position by said shutter drive means, said shutter comprising a body made from a shock-absorbable material and a coating layer provided on the surface of said body and made from a material harder than said shock-absorbable material.

2. A drug packaging device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shutter has a smooth top surface.

3. A drug packaging device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body is made from a flexible silicone resin and said coating layer is made from Teflon resin.

4. A drug packaging device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said Teflon coating layer is formed by baking.

5. A drug packaging device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body is made from a silicone resin, and said coating layer is a sheet of Teflon resin laminated on said body.