Tablet printing apparatus and tablet printing method

Abstract

The present invention provides a tablet printing apparatus and a tablet printing method, which can suppress subsequent drop of ink from a tablet even when ink droplets are ejected from a tablet with high water resistance on a surface such as a film-coated tablet, a sugar-coated tablet, etc., and with difficult liquid permeation. The tablet printing apparatus (1) is an apparatus that prints an image on the surface of a tablet (9) by an inkjet method, and has: a conveying mechanism that conveys the tablet (9) along a prescribed conveying path; nozzles (431, 531) ejecting ink droplets on the surface of the tablet (9) transported by the conveying mechanism; and a preheating section (25) disposed on the conveying path, and heating the tablet (9) on the upstream side of the nozzles (431, 531). Furthermore, after the tablet (9) is heated by the preheating section (25), ink droplets are ejected onto the surface of the heated tablet (9). Thus, fixability of the ink on the surface of the tablet(9) is improved.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a tablet printing device and a tablet printing method for printing an image on a tablet by an inkjet method. Background technique [0002] Characters and codes for identifying products are printed on tablets that are medicines. Sometimes such characters or codes are recorded by engraving, but the engraving has a problem of low legibility. In particular, in recent years, the popularity of generic drugs has led to a diversification of the types of tablets. Therefore, it is required to print clearly on the surface of the tablet so that the tablet can be reliably identified. In addition, since the tablet cannot withstand pressure, it is preferable to reduce the pressure applied to the tablet during printing. In view of these circumstances, in recent years, a technique of printing an image on a tablet by an inkjet method has been attracting attention. [0003] For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 describe...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] However, in the case of tablets such as film-coated tablets (FC tablets), sugar-coated tablets, etc., whose surface has high water resistance and is difficult for liquid to permeate, or when the surface tension of the ink coated on the tablet is large, Or when the ink is difficult to dry, after the ink is applied to the tablet, there may be a phenomenon in which the applied ink flows on the surface of the tablet to minimize the surface area (bulging phenomenon)

In this case, even when the tablet is subsequently dried and then coated, the ink may be difficult to fix to the tablet and the ink may come off from the tablet due to slight contact such as friction.

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